The European Union has selected Lille, in northern France, as the seat of the new European Customs Authority, defeating Rome's application in the final round. The EU Customs Authority (EUCA), a new agency, will be tasked with the coordination and support of the customs authorities of the 27 member states. In contrast to the United States, where customs functions are centralized in a single federal body, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, border controls in the European Union continue to be regulated at the national level. This requires the establishment of a supranational entity that is capable of coordinating the exchange of information, standards, and procedures among the various systems. The EUCA will be established with an expected staff of roughly 250 people and will serve as one of the cornerstones of the larger reform of the European customs system that is presently being finalized. In recent years, the EU has confronted rising international trade volumes, a rapid rise of e-commerce, regulatory fragmentation among member states, and new geopolitical issues influencing global supply chains. The venue was selected through an informal political agreement between the European institutions, a common stage in the EU decision-making process. This agreement requires the Parliament and Council to concur on the final text of regulations. In a statement on the vote, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stressed that the establishment of the EUCA is "an important step" toward strengthening collaboration between national authorities, improving European citizens' security, and more effectively addressing emerging threats.