PANEUROMED: Adoption of modernised rules by Turkey and notes to operators for the drafting of EUR1

Since the beginning of January, the communications have followed on the last countries to amend their original protocols as part of the modernisation and harmonisation of the rules of the PANEUROMED Convention.

On 19 February, the European Commission confirmed by the Regulation 2026/359 application of the rules modernised by Turkey since 22 December 2025. Thus, the cumulation of origin between the EU and Turkey and the other countries having adopted the modernised rules is confirmed.

Attention, this does not alter bilateral trade between the EU and Turkey, which is still covered by the Customs Union Agreement through the ATR movement certificate allowing customs duties to be exempted.

As regards the situation of proofs of preferential origin, customs issued a new note on 23 February to take stock of the situation at the beginning of February. This note is accompanied by a sheet containing the particulars to be applied to the certificates of origin and a sheet summarizing the possible cumulations in the area (see documents here: Operator rating, panorama on 10-02-26, indications to be applied).

To be distinguished 3 situations:

• countries that have ratified the Convention and updated their protocols of origin at national level This is the case for the majority of stakeholders: more doubt about trade between them: cumulation of origin (allowing raw materials to be sourced in one of the parties to produce the goods) is based on the new rules of origin found in Regulation 2024/390 and the proof of preferential origin applicable only is the EUR 1 document or its dematerialisation by the DOF (declaration of origin on invoice).
• countries that have ratified the modernised convention but have not yet completed the procedure by updating their protocols at national level : having ratified the Convention allows these countries to apply modernised rules for trade with the EU; We're talking about rules here. « transitional arrangements » or « revised ». This situation is applicable to Morocco, Egypt and Palestine to date. In this case, the proof of preferential origin shall be EUR1 or DOF with the accuracy of the transitional or revised application for EU import flows as indicated in the customs sheet accompanying the last note to the operators of 23 February 2026. It should be noted that for EU export flows to these countries, the concept of transitional rules should be indicated on the proof of origin only for exports to Egypt; for Morocco and Palestine, more additional mention should be made.
• countries that have not ratified the modernised convention : Lebanon and Algeria remain here, which retain the application of the Convention's historical rules. This implies for trade with the EU that the preferential agreement can only be applied on the basis of the bilateral agreement between the EU and Lebanon or Algeria and that the original cumulation mechanism with the other partners in the PANEUROMED area is no longer possible.

Between successive communications and regulatory developments, the management of evidence of preferential origin in the PANEUROMED area requires special vigilance. A full update will be made during our next webinar, join us for a live update with our experts: Webinar registration.

Customs note