PARIS — On a stormy Wednesday morning, Yann Favennec, a 47-year-old customs official, arrived at his office in the suburbs of Paris expecting a challenging but productive day. As the project leader for Lille’s bid to host the future European Customs Authority, he gathered his team at 8:30 AM.
With coffee and croissants laid out, the team settled in front of large screens to watch the competition unfold among nine candidate cities. Lille emerged as a strong contender from the start, thanks to a high-level lobbying effort, strategic influence, and careful attention to the ambitions of European lawmakers shaping the decision-making process.
The city’s geographical advantage, located under an hour by train from Brussels, its ready-to-use facilities, and the extensive experience of the national customs agency solidified its position. When Lille was announced as the winner shortly after lunch on March 25, it sparked an eruption of joy in Favennec’s office.
“Ça a été l’explosion de joie dans le bureau,”
he recalled, reflecting on the moment in a discussion about the success with POLITICO.
The newly established European agency, which will employ 250 people, is considered a cornerstone of a customs reform aimed at enhancing cooperation among the 27 national agencies of the EU and managing the rising influx of packages shipped by e-commerce platforms.
Lobbying efforts and strategic planning
The high-profile lobbying led by President Emmanuel Macron during international meetings and the candidacy ambassadors’ missions to even the smallest EU member states played a crucial role in this winning strategy. Despite facing stiff competition from Rome, the process unfolded largely as planned for Lille.
Pascal Lamy, a former trade diplomat who advised Lille’s bid, noted that France learned valuable lessons from its previous defeat against Amsterdam in the 2017 race to host the European Medicines Agency.
“On a gagné parce qu’on avait perdu la dernière fois. Ça a été un choc important,”
he explained, summarizing the need for improvement in their approach to the challenge. “On a fait un meilleur dossier que la dernière fois. Et on a mieux organisé le lobbying politico-diplomatique.”
France took the initiative in November, inviting EU officials to open days in Lille, where they toured the proposed agency’s future home and the historic cityscape. This early engagement provided Lille with a significant advantage, as many other candidates only began their campaigns in January.
A complex voting procedure
The lobbying effort began well before the formal announcement, with concerns about the increasing volume of parcels flooding the EU from e-commerce sellers, particularly from platforms like Shein and Temu. French officials raised alarms regarding dangerous products from these platforms months earlier, even implementing unilateral handling fees on small packages.
On the day of voting, the decision-making process involved both EU ambassadors and two Members of the European Parliament, requiring a complex elimination method to narrow down the candidates from nine to two. The governments quickly converged on Lille and Rome, putting pressure on the MEPs to decide. However, when the first round of voting concluded with 24 votes for Lille and only three for Rome, it became clear that Lille was the frontrunner.
As the final round approached, the situation became tense. Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni engaged in phone calls to garner support. Ultimately, Lille won decisively in the third round, securing the required votes for victory.
With the celebration of Lille’s win now underway, Favennec and his team are already gearing up for the next steps. They are liaising with Brussels on logistical matters, including office furnishings for officials arriving in the coming year. The European Customs Authority is expected to be fully operational by 2028.
While the excitement from the victory lingers, observers note the importance of this win for France and its implications for future EU governance. The success story of Lille may serve as a model for other cities and nations aiming to host critical EU agencies.