EU and Türkiye mutually recognise authorised economic operator programmes

The EU–Türkiye Customs Cooperation Committee has mutually recognised the authorised economic operator (AEO) programmes of the European Union and the Republic of Türkiye, allowing certified companies on both sides to obtain trade facilitation benefits in each other’s territory. The measure, Decision No 1/2026 of 16 July 2026, was signed in Brussels by the committee’s president, M. Petschke, and published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L series, of 13 October 2026 under number 2026/2303.

The decision rests on the Association Agreement signed at Ankara on 12 September 1963, in particular Articles 2(1) and 7, and on Article 28(1), point (c), and Article 28(3) of Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Türkiye Association Council of 22 December 1995 implementing the final phase of the Customs Union. The Customs Cooperation Committee itself was established by Decision 2/69 of 15 December 1969, which entrusted it with ensuring administrative cooperation for the correct and uniform application of the customs provisions of the Association Agreement.

Both programmes are based on the SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, adopted by the World Customs Organization in June 2005. In the Union, AEO status for security and safety is granted under Article 38(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 (the Union Customs Code); in Türkiye, under Article 5/A of Customs Code No 4458 and the Regulation on Facilitation of Customs Clearance Procedures. Site visits and a joint evaluation of both programmes concluded that their qualification standards for security and safety are compatible and lead to equivalent results.

Benefits for certified operators

Article 4 requires each customs authority to grant Programme Members of the other party benefits comparable to those it grants its own. The decision lists them explicitly:

• Fewer security and safety-related controls, with the partner’s AEO status taken favourably into account in risk assessment in order to reduce inspections.
• Priority for the inspection of consignments covered by entry, exit or transit summary declarations lodged by a Programme Member.
• Recognition of business partner status during the application process, treating the certified operator as a secure and safe partner.
• A business continuity mechanism to respond to disruptions caused by higher security alert levels, border closures, natural disasters or other major incidents, under which priority cargo is expedited.
• Possible further facilitation after the review process, such as fast-track lanes at land borders.

Benefits may be suspended only for duly justified reasons equivalent to those applying to a party’s own members, such as involvement in a safety and security-related incident, and any suspension must be communicated to the other customs authority through the competent services of the European Commission.

Information exchange and data protection

With the prior consent of the operator, each party transmits the name, address, membership status — authorised, suspended, revoked or cancelled — validation or authorisation date, unique identification number such as EORI or AEO numbers, and other mutually agreed details. The exchange is systematic and electronic, and does not include the reasons for suspension, revocation or cancellation.

Personal data may be used only as necessary to implement the decision, and minimum safeguards cover lawful processing, accuracy, storage limits, security, rectification and erasure. Oversight falls to the European Data Protection Supervisor and the Member States’ data protection authorities in the Union, and to the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) in Türkiye. Operators have the right to information, access, rectification and an effective judicial remedy regardless of nationality or country of residence.

Entry into force, review and exit

The decision enters into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the parties notify each other of the completion of their internal procedures. Either party may suspend cooperation at any time with 30 days’ written notice, or terminate the decision through diplomatic channels, with termination taking effect 30 days after notification; data protection obligations survive in both cases.

The Customs Cooperation Committee reviews implementation regularly, including exchanges on benefits granted, management of AEO status, security protocols and any changes to the programmes, supported by periodic joint on-site monitoring visits.

For exporters and logistics operators on both sides, the mutual recognition converts an AEO certificate into a working advantage beyond national borders: fewer inspections, priority handling and a recognised secure-partner status across the customs union. The practical effect depends on the completion of ratification procedures, so the benefits will not apply until the entry-into-force condition is met.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, No 2026/2303, 13 October 2026, legislation, p. 1/6 (official reference: 2026/2303).