Policy of European Union Establishment 1958 GDP (nominal) 2014 estimate | GDP (PPP) 2014 estimate | |
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Membership 29 member statesAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMonacoNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenUnited Kingdom3 states with bilateral agreementsAndorraSan MarinoTurkey | ||
The European Union Customs Union (EUCU) is a customs union which consists of all the member states of the European Union (EU), Monaco, and some territories of the United Kingdom which are not part of the EU (Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Isle of Man). Some territories within the EU do not participate in the customs union, usually as a result of their geographic circumstances. Besides the EUCU, the EU, through separate agreements, is in customs unions with Andorra, San Marino, and Turkey, with the exceptions of certain goods.
Contents
- Non EU participants
- Bilateral customs unions
- EU territories with an opt out
- Union Customs Code
- References
The customs union is a principal condition of the European Economic Community, established in 1958, and now succeeded by the European Union. No customs duties are levied on goods travelling within the customs union and—unlike a free trade area—members of the customs union impose a common external tariff on all goods entering the union. One of the consequences of the customs union is that the European Union negotiates as a single entity in international trade deals such as the World Trade Organisation, instead of individual member states negotiating for themselves.
Non-EU participants
Monaco and the British territories of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey are integral parts of the EU's customs territory.
Bilateral customs unions
Andorra, San Marino and Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, are each in a customs union with the EU.
EU territories with an opt-out
While all EU member states are part of the customs union, not all of their respective territories participate. Territories of member states which have remained outside of the EU (overseas countries and territories of the European Union) generally do not participate in the customs union.
However, there are seven territories that are within the EU which do not participate in the customs union:
Union Customs Code
The Union Customs Code (UCC), intended to modernise customs procedures, entered into force on 1 May 2016. Implementation will take place over a period of time and full implementation is anticipated by 31 December 2020 at the latest. The European Commission has stated that the aims of the UCC are simplicity, service and speed.