postage/taxes etc

I am just curious if anyone else has any further more depth information about this.

I sent a parcel off to jb, i did the standard of putting a custom slip onto the parcel stating it was a gift for him, paid £20 and sent it off. he received it and was charged 20 euros for brokerage and VAT.

anyone know what brokerage is/and how he can fight this to get around this/ when I was trading constantly back in 200-2005 I never had to pay VAT a single time when posting and receiving post listed as gifts. just wanted some other people's inputs on this and if the rules have changed or anything like that?