Author: Demian

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…

Mapping and analysing the practices and performance at border-crossing points is a key approach towards strenghtening operational resilience of EU customs administrations. As part of this work, a EUCAB BCP diagnostic study was conducted from the 14th to the 16th of September 2025, in Estonia, at the Koidula and Luhamaa border-crossing points, which are located on the border between Estonia and Russia and form part of the European Union’s external border. Two BCPs operating under significant geopolitical pressure The daily work at Koidula and Luhamaa demands a high level of coordination, risk-based controls, and the ability to function reliably even…

In an era marked by geopolitical instability, border disruptions, cyber threats, and increasing pressure on supply chains, resilience has become a critical capability for customs administrations across the European Union. The EUCAB Expert Team, through its Support Unit and in close cooperation with all other EUCAB Units, is implementing a structured and pragmatic approach to resilience – designed specifically for the realities of EU customs cooperation. This approach is built on three interconnected dimensions: 🏛️ Organizational resilience focuses on the structures, protocols, and strategic coordination capacities that enable customs administrations to respond effectively to crises. This includes well-defined crisis response…

At Europe’s external land borders, customs officers work under complex and dynamic conditions – balancing the need for efficient border flow with the imperative to detect and prevent illicit trade.The EUCAB Land Border Unit supports these efforts by turning strategic objectives into operational actions – with a strong focus on tools, methods, and solutions that directly assist officers on the ground. 🧭 Our goal is simple but ambitious:To make EUCAB as operational as possible – relevant, responsive, and valuable to those who protect the EU’s borders every day.🔍 What we do:The Land Border Unit works with Member States to:✔ Develop…

The Support Unit plays a unique role within EUCAB: we connect 🤝, support 💡, promote 📣, and foster cooperation 🌐.🔗 We ensure that EUCAB’s strategic priorities – such as resilience, international cooperation, and visibility – are embedded across its activities and communicated beyond borders. 🛡️ Why resilience?In today’s world, customs administrations face constant pressure — political uncertainty, crisis response, cyber threats, and shifting trade flows. Resilience isn’t just about reacting — it’s about being prepared, adaptable, and able to deliver core functions even in challenging conditions. That’s why resilience is at the heart of our work in the Support Unit.📝What…

Ports contribute to 75% of EU external trade volumes and 31% of EU internal trade volumes. 70% of drugs seizures made by customs take place in ports.🛥️🌊 EUCAB’s Maritime Unit focuses on operational cooperation of customs administrations operating in a maritime environment: seaports and inland ports. It aims to ensure that customs work more efficiently, effectively and quickly to achieve a level playing field in terms of security and safety between EU ports. It also covers trade facilitation in this environment.❗ Our priorities:✔️ Share the lessons learned in terms of equipment, innovation, training, risk management, control and cooperation with other…

The Coordination Unit leads a cross-cutting coordination work package, designed to ensure that all operational units move forward in synergy – not in silos. Thanks to its members’ coordinating expertise, and to an overarching and interdisciplinary approach, it focuses on creating the right conditions for effective collaboration and performance across all areas of the project. 🎯 Coordination focuses on three key areas:✔ Training✔ Risk Management✔ EquipmentThe unit works closely with EUCAB’s operational teams and expert networks to align activities, address shared needs, and optimize efforts across all units. It measures success by eliminating overlaps, reducing duplication, and maximizing efficiency – thus ensuring that every action taken adds value…

Within #EUCAB, Mobile Groups Collaboration Unit plays a unique and critical role in protecting the EU’s financial and economic interests – one roadside control at a time. 📍 Why it matters:Customs mobile groups are not tied to border crossing points. These highly trained teams operate inland, ready to detect fraud, disrupt illicit flows, and transmit intelligence gathered during their proactive controls. In essence, they are the EU’s roaming guardians of fair and legal trade.🎯 Our mission:We work to coordinate operational methods between Member States and share best practices – while respecting national differences. From developing joint control activities to analyzing…

🌐 In 2024, the 447 international airports of the European Union welcomed 2.5 billion passengers. 🗺️⁀જ✈︎ Eight million tons of cargo and 4.6 billion of e-commerce items were imported through EU airports and postal hubs.🛃 Who checks that travellers are not bringing in illicit goods? Who verifies that imported goods are safe, compliant with European standards and have supported the duties and taxes?➡️ The 27 national Customs authorities of the European Union!🤝 How do they cooperate and share best practices in terms of risk analysis, control methods, equipment and training?➡️ Through the Air & Post Unit of the EU Customs…