Key data
| Regulation | Decision No. 1/2026 of the EU-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee, of July 16, 2026 [2026/2303] |
|---|---|
| Publication | October 13, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 16, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Import and export companies with AEO certification operating between the EU and Turkey |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Year | 2026 |
| Official source | Official Journal of the EU — OJ:L_202602303 |
If your company exports or imports between the European Union and Turkey and holds the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certificate, from July 16, 2026 onwards the customs authorities of the other territory will automatically recognize your status. Decision 1/2026 of the EU-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee formalizes this mutual recognition and eliminates the need to process parallel certification in the destination country.
The agreement strengthens the EU-Turkey customs union and aligns the security and regulatory compliance standards of both parties. For companies, the immediate effect is operational: fewer border frictions, reduced clearance times and a more predictable bilateral supply chain.
What does this regulation establish?
Decision 1/2026 establishes the mutual recognition of AEO programs of the European Union and the Republic of Turkey. This means that both parties accept that the certification granted by the other has an equivalent level of rigor and reliability.
The concrete pillars of the agreement are as follows:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recognition of certificates | A company certified as AEO in the EU obtains equivalent customs facilities in Turkey, and vice versa |
| Reduction of controls | Fewer physical and documentary controls at the border for recognized operators |
| Clearance times | Reduction of customs clearance periods in bilateral EU-Turkey operations |
| No additional certification | It is not necessary to obtain a new AEO certificate in the destination country |
| Coordination of authorities | The customs authorities of both parties must coordinate procedures for information exchange and certificate validation |
| Alignment of standards | The agreement aligns the security and regulatory compliance standards of the EU and Turkey |
Coordination between customs authorities is a key element: information exchange and cross-validation of certificates are the mechanisms that make mutual recognition operational in daily practice.
Economic and operational impact
The impact of this decision is not measured in fees or sanctions, but in time and operational cost savings for companies that already have AEO certification.
- Fewer physical controls at the border: recognized AEO operators pass through priority or simplified channels, which reduces waiting times and temporary storage costs.
- Less documentation in each operation: the reduction in documentary controls streamlines the administrative management of each shipment.
- Greater predictability in the supply chain: transit times between the EU and Turkey become more stable and plannable.
- No cost for new certification: already certified companies do not need to invest in obtaining the Turkish equivalent of AEO or vice versa.
- Competitive advantage over non-certified operators: companies without AEO will continue to be subject to standard controls, which widens the operational gap in favor of certified companies.
For companies that do not yet have the AEO certificate, this agreement adds an additional economic argument to request it: now the European certificate has direct value in the Turkish market as well.
Who does it affect?
- Spanish and European export companies with AEO certification that sell to Turkey.
- Import companies that bring goods from Turkey with Turkish AEO certification.
- Logistics operators and freight forwarders that manage shipments between the EU and Turkey for AEO-certified clients.
- Foreign trade and supply chain departments of industrial, textile, agribusiness and consumer goods companies with bilateral EU-Turkey activity.
- CFOs and operations directors who evaluate the cost-benefit of obtaining AEO certification.
- Customs advisors and customs brokers who manage EU-Turkey operations for their clients.
Practical example
A Spanish textile company that regularly exports to Turkey and holds AEO-Customs Simplifications certification benefits directly from Decision 1/2026 from July 16, 2026.
Before the agreement, its shipments to Turkey could be subject to standard documentary and physical controls at Turkish customs, with the waiting times and storage costs that entails. After mutual recognition, Turkish customs authorities recognize its European AEO certificate as equivalent to the Turkish one: its shipments access simplified clearance channels without the need for additional procedures or having previously requested AEO certification in Turkey.
The practical result: faster clearance, lower risk of supply chain delays and savings in temporary storage costs at the border — all without any additional procedures on the part of the company, as long as it maintains its valid European AEO certificate.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if your company has valid AEO certification: check that the certificate is active and covers operations with Turkey. If you don't have it, consider requesting it from the Tax Agency (AEAT) in Spain.
- Communicate the change to your logistics operator or freight forwarder: inform whoever manages your border clearance that, from July 16, 2026, your European AEO certificate is recognized in Turkey. This allows you to activate simplified clearance channels.
- Review operational procedures with your Turkish customs: although recognition is automatic, confirm with your customs representative in Turkey that certificate validation procedures are already operational between both administrations.
- Update contracts and SLAs with Turkish suppliers: if delivery times or logistics costs were calculated with previous clearance times, review the agreements to reflect the new operational agility.
- Evaluate AEO certification if you don't have it yet: mutual recognition with Turkey expands the value of the European AEO certificate. If your company operates regularly with Turkey and is not certified, this agreement strengthens the return on investment in obtaining it.
Frequently asked questions
Which companies benefit from mutual recognition AEO EU-Turkey?
Companies that import and export and already have AEO certification and operate between the European Union and Turkey benefit directly. It is not necessary to obtain additional certification in the destination country: the European AEO certificate is recognized in Turkey, and the Turkish one in the EU.
Since when is mutual recognition AEO between the EU and Turkey in force?
Decision 1/2026 of the EU-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee entered into force on July 16, 2026, although it was published in the Official Journal of the EU on October 13, 2026.
What specific advantages does a company with AEO obtain when exporting to Turkey?
Companies certified as AEO that export to Turkey benefit from: fewer physical and documentary controls at the border, reduction of customs clearance times and greater fluidity in the bilateral supply chain. All of this without additional procedures or new certification.
What happens if my company operates with Turkey but does not have AEO certification?
Companies without AEO certification will continue to be subject to standard customs controls at the border, without access to simplified clearance channels. The agreement adds an additional economic argument to request the AEO certificate from the corresponding customs authority (in Spain, the AEAT).
What must customs authorities do for the agreement to work in practice?
According to Decision 1/2026, the customs authorities of the EU and Turkey must coordinate procedures for information exchange and validation of AEO certificates between both parties, which is the operational mechanism that makes mutual recognition effective.
Official source
Consult full regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602303
