Author: Demian

On March 20, 2025, about 70 experts representing the 27 EU Member States’ customs administrations team met in Bonn for the kick-off meeting of this operational cooperation framework. One year later, it’s time to review the progress achieved so far and to set up future priorities, including the way to ensure continuity of EUCAB beyond the planned establishment of EU Customs Authority. The second EUCAB Steering Committee, which met online on March 5, 2026, helped shape the outlines of future operational customs cooperation. A mid-term assessment of progress achieved: “retrospective is prospect’s half” During an intense year for EUCAB experts,…

Two meetings hosted by Latvian National Customs Board of the State Revenue Service (SRS), and organized with the support of EUCAB, strenghen customs expertise in risk management:✓ from 17 to 18 February, a meeting of representatives of the EUCAB Coordination Unit on Training, Risk Management and Equipment;✓ on 19 February, an advanced training on risk management for Latvian customs employees, in cooperation with officials from the Risk Management Division of the SRS. 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴, 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 🛡️ During the first meeting, Elīna Cīrule presented the mission and responsibilities of the Risk Information Processing Unit of the Risk Management Division (SRS),…

On February 4-5, 2026, nine EUCAB experts discussed the challenges and best practices of customs operations at the Port of Dublin, the largest freight and passenger port in Ireland: unwavering commitment despite a severe storm. Exchanges focused on post-Brexit issues: fluidity, securing flows, combating cigarette and drug smuggling, as well as training and the attractiveness of customs professions. Sincere thanks to Irish colleagues for their wonderful welcome and contribution towards a customs community united in a common goal! Site visits are a first-hand tool towards developing relevant operational EU customs cooperation and transformation. The port visit in Dublin is part…

🌍 On International Customs Day (ICD) 2026, #EUCAB reaffirms its commitment to strengthening EU customs cooperation, thus enhancing the essential role of customs administrations in safeguarding Europe’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade, and ensuring the integrity of the EU Single Market.ICD 2026 is dedicated to “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment”. ➡️ Safeguarding society while favouring international trade – this is one of the main missions that EUCAB is striving to achieve.🛂 Each year, the ICD is an invitation to celebrate the dedication and professionalism of customs officers across Europe, and beyond, who play a vital role in:✅ Protecting citizens…

🇪🇺 On the 13th and 14th of January 2026, the Customs Administration of the Netherlands in Rotterdam set the stage for the first in-person Risk Management Network meeting under #EUCAB.🌍 The meeting brought together representatives from the vast majority of EU Member States, highlighting the strong commitment to collaboration in the field of customs risk management.🗺️ Participants were presented with the risk management mapping carried out by EUCAB experts, based on the valuable contributions by the Member States. This mapping provides an important overview and analysis of current practices and approaches across the EU and serves as a strong foundation for…

Gaining insight, building relationships, identifying good practices and learning from each other’s experiences… Site visits are a first-hand tool towards developing relevant operational EU customs cooperation and transformation. The Maritime Unit launched a European ports visits tour, invited last November and December to ports with different challenges. First stop – the port of Malmö-Helsingborg in Sweden, along the waters of the Sound, one of the busiest sea-lanes in the world (Öresond in Swedish, Øresund in Danish): It was rather cold and rainy when EUCAB experts from the Maritime Unit visited the local headquarters of Swedish Customs in Malmö in November.…

🇱🇻 On the 10th and 11th of December, national experts from EUCAB K9 Network gathered in Rēzekne, Latvia, for a two-day knowledge sharing and team building meeting.🌐 Customs officers from 18 Member States explored the power of a connected network by discussing operational challenges and exchanging experiences and ideas. The importance of networks was underlined by EUCAB Deputy Head and Coordination Unit leader András Bartha: “Network is tested solution to bring people together and to exchange different perspectives.” This message was also highlighted by Coordination Unit deputy leader Lauris Krivans: “Behind each strong network stand its committed members.”🐶 In line…

What are the latest customs control equipment innovations and purchases, adopted by national customs administrations? How can EUCAB contribute to devise common solutions to shared challenges, including possibilities for joint procurement?🇱🇻 On December 3 and 4, the EUCAB Procurement Network met in Rīga, Latvia, bringing together Member States’ customs technical equipment procurement experts.Participants agreed that their administrations need high-level equipment and cutting-edge technologies to effectively perform customs duties. They emphasized the importance of EUCAB framework to explore possibilities for joint procurement and shared use of equipment in various areas of customs control.As a first step, EUCAB experts presented the 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁…

On October 28-29, 2025, national experts from the EUCAB Communication Network gathered in Paris for their first in-person meeting, dedicated to strengthening collaboration and enhancing how customs authorities communicate about their work and impact. More than a representative per Member States’s country – a networkThe discussions focused on: Drawing on insights shared by French Customs, participants explored how communication builds trust and supports customs missions, from facilitating trade and enforcing economic measures to advancing EU cooperation, as illustrated through the “Customs Threat Assessment” framework.Communication in the service of action: an immersion at the Gare du Nord border station In line…

Billund, known for its creativity and innovation, set the stage for an important milestone for the European customs community — the first formal EUCAB Steering Committee, hosted by the Danish Customs Agency on October 21st, 2025. The meeting brought together Directors General from all 27 EU Member States and the European Commission, who reviewed the progress achieved so far and discussed the strategic direction for the future of EUCAB’s work. Discussions underlined the importance of ensuring the continuity of EUCAB beyond 2026, recognising the initiative’s growing role in strengthening cooperation and preparedness across the Customs Union. The Steering Committee was…