Zagreb favourite for new EU Customs Authority headquarters

Zagreb

BRUSSELS, 11 February 2026 (Hina) – Zagreb has emerged as one of the leading contenders to host the European Union Customs Authority (EUCA), a new decentralised EU agency set to become the central hub supporting national customs administrations across the bloc.

Members of the European People’s Party (EPP) within the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection voted on Tuesday on which cities they would support in the selection process for the agency’s future headquarters.

Zagreb and Warsaw each received the maximum five votes, placing them joint top among EPP favourites. Malaga followed closely with four votes.

Nine European Cities in the Running

A total of nine countries are competing to host EUCA. The candidate cities are:

• Liège (Belgium)
• Zagreb (Croatia)
• Lille (France)
• Rome (Italy)
• The Hague (Netherlands)
• Warsaw (Poland)
• Porto (Portugal)
• Bucharest (Romania)
• Malaga (Spain)

The European Parliament is expected to decide on its preferred candidate by the end of this month.

At the same time, discussions are ongoing within the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States (Coreper) regarding the procedure for selecting the final location.

There is currently no agreement between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament on how the decision will ultimately be made.

Member States must first agree among themselves on the selection method before entering formal negotiations with the Parliament.

Croatia Highlights Strategic and Security Advantages

Tomislav Sokol (HDZ/EPP), a member of the Committee on the Internal Market, welcomed the outcome of the vote.

“I am pleased that the EPP Group has supported Zagreb as one of its favourites, alongside Warsaw and Malaga,” Sokol said.

He added that in recent months Croatian representatives had worked intensively to inform fellow Members of the European Parliament about the strengths of Zagreb’s candidacy.

In discussions, Sokol stressed that Croatia has yet to host any EU body or institution, highlighted Zagreb’s reputation as a safe city, and underlined its strategically important geographical position within the European Union.

Proposed Location in New Zagreb

The Croatian government has proposed housing EUCA in a modern office building in Radoslava Cimermana Street in Novi Zagreb.

The building was originally constructed for the Regional Centre for the Development of Entrepreneurial Competences for South East European Countries (SEECEL).

SEECEL building in Zagreb

It is currently being used temporarily by the University of Zagreb’s rectorate while its main headquarters in Republic of Croatia Square undergoes post-earthquake renovation.

If selected, the agency is expected to employ at least 250 staff members, with the possibility of further expansion over time.

Role of the New EU Customs Authority

EUCA is scheduled to be formally established next year, with initial access to its customs data centre planned by 2028.

The agency will oversee, among other responsibilities, a central customs data hub. Its broader mission is to simplify customs procedures across the EU, enhance the security of online shopping for EU citizens, and provide national authorities with more streamlined and harmonised tools.