Ukrainian customs fees on EU imports
21.10.2025
Question for written answer E-004145/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR)
Ukraine’s recent introduction of additional customs fees for imports from EU Member States is a discriminatory measure that is tantamount to levying hidden customs duties – an infringement of the principles underpinning the Single Market, the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).
Industry insiders claim that Ukraine’s decision to introduce additional document checks and security deposits is causing delays of up to 30 days and has resulted in a 5-12 % hike in the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) price of EU goods. It is thought that these additional charges have been introduced to protect Ukraine’s domestic industry, not to meet the custom authorities’ needs.
In the light of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission have any evidence of the existence and nature of the aforementioned customs charges in its possession, and does it believe that they are compatible with the DCFTA and the WTO’s rules banning trade discrimination?
- 2.What steps – including resorting to the complaint mechanisms provided for by bilateral and multilateral institutions – will the Commission take to protect European companies from what they claim are de facto customs duties?
- 3.Does the Commission not agree that is should initiate formal discussions with Ukraine to eliminate these extra customs costs, thus ensuring mutual respect for the free trade rules that the EU and Ukraine have agreed to?
Submitted: 21.10.2025