The Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue has agreed a strategic partnership with British authorities to tackle cross-border economic crime. The agreement creates a new front against international smuggling and fraud.
The memorandum of understanding partners the Greek tax and customs administration with three major agencies in the United Kingdom. These are the tax authority HM Revenue and Customs, the Home Office, and the National Crime Agency, which targets serious and organised crime.
Officials designed the long-term agreement to protect customs operations from international threats while making legitimate trade easier.
Joint enforcement actions
The agreement sets out plans for coordinated actions between the two countries to address shared threats and customs violations. British and Greek officials will exchange working methods and use analytical data and risk indicators to track suspicious cargo. The authorities aim to achieve this without slowing down the legitimate international supply chain.
The partnership will shift the focus of customs checks towards post-clearance audits. The authorities will also strengthen the role of authorised economic operators. These are businesses that have been approved by national customs administrations as safe and secure partners in the global supply chain. The agreement also promotes voluntary compliance from international trading companies.
Technology and training
Greek and British teams will share their technical knowledge regarding non-intrusive inspection technologies. This includes systems for controlling trucks and shipping containers, alongside best practices for managing customs equipment at borders and ports.
The partnership also includes joint training programmes and the exchange of subject matter experts. The agencies plan to digitise more of their internal processes and help their customs officers develop highly specialised skills.
The governor of the Greek tax authority, Giorgos Pitsilis, said international cooperation was vital for national customs agencies. He noted that the risks authorities face extend far beyond national borders, adding that rapid technological advances demand constant adaptation from law enforcement.
Pitsilis said Greece views the British agencies as highly experienced partners who share the same objectives. He added that the newly signed memorandum was not the end of a process, but the start of a substantial working relationship. This partnership, he said, would result in specific joint operations, shared expertise, and mutual benefits for both commercial trade and national security.
