Background & Purpose

According to EU rules, decisions should be taken as close to citizens as possible. The Swedish parliament examined whether the EU commission's new customs proposal respects this principle.

Proposals & Debate

The EU commission proposed a new customs code including a shared set of non-criminal penalties and a new EU customs agency. The Swedish parliament reviewed the plans and concluded that member states are better suited to handle penalties nationally.

The Decision

The Swedish parliament decided to send a formal statement to the EU institutions stating that the penalty rules break the subsidiarity principle.

Does this affect you?

  • National lawmakers: Retains the right to decide on national rules and penalties without EU interference.
  • Customs authorities: Continues to operate under national frameworks rather than a standardized EU penalty system.

In Practice

  • Sweden sends a formal warning, known as a reasoned opinion, to the EU institutions.
  • The Swedish parliament highlights that the EU has not proven why joint penalty rules are necessary.
  • Sweden insists that national governments should continue to design their own penalty systems for customs violations.