EuroBridge has become the first AEO-Certified Logistics Company to unload T1 shipments and cargo arriving from non-EU countries, including the UK, Turkey, and the Far East, directly at EuroBridge Tal-Ħlas Warehouse in Qormi.

AEO certification involves a partnership between customs authorities and traders to ensure supply chain security and facilitate legitimate trade.

Securing AEO certification, EuroBridge said, “marks a significant milestone for both the company and the local logistics sector.”

The ability to process non-EU goods at its Qormi facility instead of the customs-controlled area in Ħal Far, “a privilege” secured from Customs Malta made possible through its AEO certification, “represents a breakthrough nearly a decade in the making for CEO and Managing Director David Abela,” said EuroBridge.

“This privilege gives EuroBridge a clear competitive edge in the local market,” said Abela. “It positions us as a trusted partner and allows us to operate with greater speed and flexibility. Most importantly, it enables us to unload goods from non-EU countries, including the UK, Turkey, and the Far East, directly into our own warehouse, something no other company in Malta can currently do.”

Until now, all goods entering Malta from non-EU countries needed to be unloaded at the Customs-controlled area in Ħal Far, with importers needing to coordinate their work with Customs officials.

In comments made to WhosWho.mt, EuroBridge praised Customs for its efforts to increase efficiency at Ħal Far. Nonetheless, the ability to bypass the facility and transport goods directly to its own warehouse can reduce delays, streamline workflows, and support sustainability initiatives, it says.

Founded in 1995 as a freight forwarder on Italy–Malta routes, EuroBridge has grown into a fully integrated logistics provider with global operations. In 2025, the company relocated to purpose-built headquarters in Qormi, combining administration and long-term warehousing, while fast-moving cargo is handled at a nearby state-of-the-art terminal.

About AEO Certification

Holders of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status must maintain appropriate record keeping, prove financial solvency, and cpmply with EU customs legislation and taxation rules.

Benefits include easier qualification for simplified customs procedures, fewer physical and document-based controls, priority treatment if selected for controls, and the possibility to request that customs controls are carried out in a specific location.

The European Commission notes that AEO holders also enjoy indirect benefits such as “recognition as a secure and safe business partner, improved relations with customs and other government authorities, reduced theft/losses, fewer delayed shipments, improved planning, customer service and customer loyalty, and lower inspection costs for suppliers.”