French city beats out Rome in third-round run off vote, after a nail-biting nine-way contest.
Nine European cities competed to win a contest on Wednesday to host the planned EU Customs Authority — and Lille came away the winner.
Staffed by around 250 well-paid EU officials, EUCA will coordinate oversight of imports of everything from sketchy plastic toys to non-compliant cosmetics and illegal drugs. Its new home base has been the target of intense lobbying, with cities from Portugal to Romania bidding.
Meeting in Brussels, representatives of national governments and EU lawmakers separately selected their two favorites — and both sent Lille and Rome into a head-to-head run-off.
In the decisive third round of voting, Lille scored 36 votes to Rome’s 18 to finally triumph.