All Issues | The European Operator

The €2 Handling Fee Has a Hidden Extra: You Pay VAT On It Too

Oct 15, 2026

Fresh Commission guidance confirms it: the new €2 Union handling fee isn't the end of the cost. VAT is charged on top of it, the same way it's charged on the €3 duty. For multi-line parcels, that quietly pushes the real number higher than the headline suggests.

It's Official: The EU's €2 Handling Fee Is Set, and It Starts in November

Oct 6, 2026

Back in Issue #15 we said the second parcel charge was coming but its amount wasn't fixed. It's now fixed. The Commission has formally set the Union handling fee at €2 per item, applying from 1 November, on top of the €3 duty. Here's the confirmed picture.

The EU Invoice Is Becoming a Data Format. France Just Went Live, and Others Follow

Sep 29, 2026

Structured e-invoicing is becoming mandatory for B2B sales across Europe, one country at a time. France's mandate started this month. Here's what's actually required, who it hits, and why the "EU-wide 2030" headline is misleading you.

The EU Just Made Sellers and Platforms the Importer. This Is the Biggest Customs Change Since 1968

Sep 22, 2026

The EU's Customs Code reform just cleared its final parliamentary vote. The headline for anyone selling into Europe from outside it: you, or your platform, are now the legal importer, with all the responsibility that carries. Here's what actually changes.

The Second EU Parcel Charge Is Coming, and It's Not the €3 Duty

Sep 15, 2026

A separate handling fee is coming on top of the customs duty that started in July, and the reform package behind it has now been agreed, with a 1 November target. But the exact amount is still for the Commission to set. Here's what's confirmed, what isn't, and how to prepare.

The EU's €200 Million Temu Fine: The Signal for Everyone Else

Sep 8, 2026

The EU's second-ever Digital Services Act fine landed on Temu, for failing to control illegal products on its platform. The number is dramatic, but the real story is what it tells every marketplace and seller about where enforcement is heading.

Every EU Product Page Needs a New Notice by 27 September

Sep 1, 2026

A new EU rule requires every B2C seller to display a standardized legal-guarantee notice, fixed wording, fixed design, on product pages or at checkout. It applies to non-EU sellers too, there's no size exemption, and the deadline is weeks away.

How Getting Paid in Europe Just Changed, and the One Thing to Check

Aug 25, 2026

Instant euro payments are now the standard across the eurozone, and every bank transfer now runs a name-versus-IBAN check before it goes through. Here's what changed, and why the name on your business account suddenly matters more than it used to.

The EU's New Packaging Rule Could Get Your Listings Pulled, and It Just Took Effect

Aug 18, 2026

The EU's Packaging Regulation became applicable on 12 August. For non-EU sellers, it can require a local representative in every country you ship to, and marketplaces must check your registration before you can sell. Here's what's certain, and what's still in flux.

The Checkout Button That Decides Whether You Sell in Europe

Aug 11, 2026

The single biggest, most avoidable reason non-EU stores lose European sales isn't price or shipping. It's showing up at checkout without the payment method the local shopper actually uses. Here's the country-by-country map, and a major shift now underway.

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