European Union Customs Union
European Union Customs Union | |
|---|---|
 EU member states (including participating member state territories which are not part of the EU) Non-EU states which participate in the customs union, or are in bilateral customs unions with the EU | |
| Policy of |  European Union |
| Type | Customs union |
| Membership | 29 member states
|
| Establishment | 1958 |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,200,000 km2 (2,000,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2014 estimate | 585,000,000 |
| GDP (PPP) | 2014 estimate |
• Total | $19.6 trillion |
| GDP (nominal) | 2014 estimate |
• Total | $19.2 trillion |
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).[1] 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.[2]
The customs union is a principal condition of the European Economic Community, established in 1958, and now succeeded by the European Union. No customs 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 and bilateral customs unions
Monaco and the British territories of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey are integral parts of the EU's customs territory, while Andorra, San Marino and Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, are each in a customs union with the EU.
| State | Agreement | Entry into force | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Andorra
|
Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra – Joint Declarations[3] | 1 January 1991 | Excludes agricultural products |
 Monaco
|
Franco-Monegasque Treaty[4][5] | 1958 | |
 San Marino
|
Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Economic Community and the Republic of San Marino[6] | 1991 | |
 Turkey
|
Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of the European Union–Turkey Customs Union[7] | 31 December 1995 | Excludes agricultural products |
 United Kingdom in respect of
|
Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded Protocol No 3 on the sovereign base areas of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Cyprus[8] |
1 May 2004 | |
| United Kingdom in respect of
|
Documents concerning the accession to the European Communities of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Protocol No 3 on the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man[9] |
1 January 1973 |
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:
- Büsingen am Hochrhein (a German exclave within Switzerland, part of the Switzerland–Liechtenstein customs area)[10]
- Campione d'Italia and the adjacent Italian waters of Lake Lugano (an Italian exclave within Switzerland, part of the Switzerland–Liechtenstein customs area)[10]
- Livigno[10]
- Ceuta[10]
- Melilla[10]
- Gibraltar[11]
- Heligoland[10]
See also
- European Customs Information Portal
- European integration
- European Single Market
- European Free Trade Association
- European Economic Area (EU and EFTA)
- European Union–Turkey Customs Union
- Free trade areas in Europe
- Trade bloc
Notes
- ^ FAQ: Customs, Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ Customs unions, Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ "Andorra : Customs Unions and preferential arrangements". European Commission. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Taxation and Customs – FAQ". European Commission. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ "Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code". Official Journal of the European Union. 19 October 1992. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Economic Community and the Republic of San Marino
- ^ Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of the Customs Union
- ^ Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded – Protocol No 3 on the sovereign base areas of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Cyprus
- ^ DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK, IRELAND, THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY AND THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, PROTOCOL NO 3 ON THE CHANNEL ISLANDS AND THE ISLE OF MAN
- ^ a b c d e f Article 6 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC, 28 November 2006
- ^ Article 28 of the Act concerning the conditions of Accession and the Adjustments to the Treaties, 22 January 1972