Warsaw is fighting for the EU “ministry”. Poland goes to war with France and the Netherlands

On Monday in Brussels, Poland presented Warsaw's official candidacy for the seat of the European Union Customs Office (EUCA). A total of nine Member States are applying for the EU agency.

– We are starting the battle for the headquarters of the European customs agency in Warsaw. We have no doubt that Warsaw is the best place to locate this agency, said Andrzej Domański, Minister of Finance and Economy, just before the presentation of the Polish candidacy at the Brussels headquarters of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union.

The politician especially emphasized Poland's strategic location in the European Union and Warsaw's excellent logistics. – We talk a lot about security. We are, without a doubt, the security leader in Europe. Trade and goods flows also mean security, said the minister.

Apart from Poland, eight other member states are also applying for the seat of EUCA, including: France, Netherlands, Portugal and Croatia. Some, such as Portugal, have already presented official candidacies in Brussels in recent days.

Adam Struzik, Marshal of the Masovian Voivodeship, who was present at the event, admitted that although the competition is strong, both Warsaw and the entire Mazovia region have a lot to offer, including access to education and the health care system, which is important from the point of view of officials who will work in the EU agency. It will employ 250 people.

– Moreover, there is an argument about the multitude of borders in Poland. Because we have a sea border, land borders and air borders. There is no other country among the candidates that has so many borders, added Struzik.

The Polish authorities also argue that Warsaw is already the headquarters of one EU agency, namely the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex. – In our opinion, the fact that Frontex is located in Warsaw is an important argument for the EU customs office to also be located in Warsaw. This will allow us to create such a border security hub in Warsaw and will allow for much better cooperation, for closer cooperation between the two offices that will be responsible for the security of the European Union's borders – said Małgorzata Krok, plenipotentiary of the Minister of Finance for applying for the establishment of the EUCA headquarters in Warsaw.

She added that there are many arguments for Warsaw. – The city itself is a great place to live, develop, study and work. Not to mention access to highly qualified specialists.

Similar arguments were presented in November by Prime Minister Donald Tusk in a letter to the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Ilze Juhansone, who argued that the EUCA seat should be awarded to one of the countries with a strategic location and experience in managing the EU's external borders, which Poland meets. The Prime Minister also emphasized that the Polish customs administration is modern and effective, and is staffed by experienced officers.

EUCA aims to support Member States' customs authorities in simplifying customs procedures for businesses and ensuring the efficient collection of duties and taxes into the EU and national budgets. It is also intended to contribute to strengthening the protection of the EU market against dangerous or illegal products.

The decision regarding the future headquarters of EUCA should be made at the turn of February and March 2026.

From Brussels Jowita Kiwnik Pargana (PAP)

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