V. Korkidis, president of the Greek Chamber of Commerce (EVE), has expressed concern that the new 3 euro customs duty introduced by the European Council will not sufficiently address the influx of small parcels from third countries. This duty, set to take effect from July 1, 2026, targets parcels valued below 150 euros entering the European Union mostly through e-commerce. Korkidis argues that the impact of this measure is likely to be minimal, suggesting that the volume of these small parcels will continue to rise despite the new regulations.

The customs duty is part of a broader initiative aimed at regulating e-commerce imports, which involve sellers outside the EU registering for VAT in the EU's Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS). This is expected to cover approximately 93% of e-commerce flows into European nations. Despite the intention behind the measure to control the market, the optimism regarding its effectiveness appears to be overshadowed by the current realities of trade, highlighting the challenges of regulating a rapidly evolving online market where consumer demand remains high.

As the European Union tries to balance trade competitiveness against domestic market protection, Korkidis warns that without more stringent regulations and measures tailored to this fast-paced market, the expected outcomes may not be realized. He suggests that further discussions and re-evaluations will be necessary as the implementation date approaches and the conventional flow of small parcels continues unabated, posing economic challenges for local businesses throughout Greece and beyond.