Tax-free shops situated in the French terminal of the Channel Tunnel

The European Parliament adopted by 688 votes to 3, with 6 abstentions, following a special legislative procedure (Parliament’s consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2008/118/EC and Directive (EU) 2020/262 (recast) as regards tax-free shops situated in the French terminal of the Channel Tunnel.

The European Parliament approved the Commission's proposal without amendments.

The proposal is a direct consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union and the fact that the Channel Fixed Link has become a cross-border link between a third country and the Union. It aims to provide to travellers using the Channel Fixed Link from France to the United Kingdom tax-free facilities which are comparable to those available to persons travelling from a Member State to a third country by sea.

Due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union, which has led to the opening of duty-free shops in particular in the ports of Calais and Dunkirk, as well as in the UK terminal of the Channel fixed Link at Folkestone, the amending Directive allows the opening of duty-free shops in the French terminal of the Channel Fixed Link at Coquelles.