On 25 February 2026 the Council of the EU and the European Parliament formally adopted a joint procedure to choose the host city of the new European Customs Authority (EUCA). Nine bids are competing—including Liège in eastern Belgium—and the co-legislators will each shortlist two candidates before a final vote on 25 March. If both institutions pick the same city, that bid wins automatically; otherwise, a run-off ballot will decide. (consilium.europa.eu)
EUCA will coordinate risk analysis, data exchange and enforcement across the bloc’s 27 national customs administrations, a critical upgrade as e-commerce and geopolitical tensions strain current systems. The Authority is expected to employ around 800 specialists and host a 24/7 data-fusion centre connecting border posts, airports and seaports.
Liège’s candidacy leverages its multimodal airport-rail-road hub and its status as Europe’s busiest cargo airport for express parcels. Regional officials argue the authority would fit naturally alongside existing customs IT centres in Brussels. A win could generate hundreds of high-skill jobs, spur expatriate assignments and boost demand for short-term accommodation in the Wallonia region. (consilium.europa.eu)
![EU Customs Authority Seat Race Narrows; Liège Still in the Running]()
For organisations that may need to redeploy staff swiftly once the host city is announced, platforms like VisaHQ can simplify the bureaucratic side of international moves. Its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides up-to-date guidance on Schengen, work and dependent visas, along with appointment scheduling and document-courier services—helping mobility managers secure the right permits without derailing project timelines.
Corporate mobility teams should monitor the outcome: EU agencies usually enjoy staff-privilege visas and European School enrolment rights, which can influence relocation packages. If Liège prevails, housing stock near the airport and the city’s new tram line may tighten quickly, so early lease negotiations are advisable.
Even if another city secures the agency, the March vote will set a precedent for how the EU allocates future border-management bodies—information mobility strategists will want to track closely.
EUCA will coordinate risk analysis, data exchange and enforcement across the bloc’s 27 national customs administrations, a critical upgrade as e-commerce and geopolitical tensions strain current systems. The Authority is expected to employ around 800 specialists and host a 24/7 data-fusion centre connecting border posts, airports and seaports.
Liège’s candidacy leverages its multimodal airport-rail-road hub and its status as Europe’s busiest cargo airport for express parcels. Regional officials argue the authority would fit naturally alongside existing customs IT centres in Brussels. A win could generate hundreds of high-skill jobs, spur expatriate assignments and boost demand for short-term accommodation in the Wallonia region. (consilium.europa.eu)
For organisations that may need to redeploy staff swiftly once the host city is announced, platforms like VisaHQ can simplify the bureaucratic side of international moves. Its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides up-to-date guidance on Schengen, work and dependent visas, along with appointment scheduling and document-courier services—helping mobility managers secure the right permits without derailing project timelines.
Corporate mobility teams should monitor the outcome: EU agencies usually enjoy staff-privilege visas and European School enrolment rights, which can influence relocation packages. If Liège prevails, housing stock near the airport and the city’s new tram line may tighten quickly, so early lease negotiations are advisable.
Even if another city secures the agency, the March vote will set a precedent for how the EU allocates future border-management bodies—information mobility strategists will want to track closely.
