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In 2018 the European Union celebrates the 50th anniversary of the EU Customs Union.

Since 1968, the Customs Union has been protecting the safety and security of citizens of its member countries and collecting customs duties that represent an important source of revenue in the EU, whilst transforming customs into a modern and responsive partner to trade.

Events are organised all over the European Union to mark the anniversary.

CUSTOMS UNION IN A NUTSHELL

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A single trading area where all goods circulate freely, whether they’re made in the EU or imported from beyond its borders. This means that there are no customs duties at the borders between EU countries. Duty on goods from outside the EU is generally paid when they first enter the EU. From then on, there’s nothing more to pay and no more checks. National customs services in all EU countries work together as one to manage the day-to-day operations of the Customs Union.

28 EU Member States, Monaco and British territories (Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey) use a common set of rules, called the Union Customs Code. They manage one single system for handling the import, export and transit of goods. All members collaborate to set the same tariffs for goods from other countries.