Customs threat assessment

European Customs authorities play a vital role within the EU, acting as a crucial 'police' force for goods. Strategically positioned at the intersection of international trade, they oversee the import and export of goods, ensuring compliance with EU regulations while protecting the financial interests of the 27 Member States. Their responsibilities go beyond simply facilitating trade, since they are also key to combatting trafficking and organised crime, safeguarding consumers, and maintaining public safety. This multifaceted role highlights the importance of customs authorities in upholding the integrity and security of the single market, as well as contributing to the overall economic stability of the EU. In 2024, a European study on customs powers, conducted under the auspices of the Council's LEWP-C group, identified 28 areas of activity for European customs administrations. This chart shows that the responsibilities of the European customs administrations are broad. Indeed, all the European customs authorities have competence, for instance, to fight drug trafficking, firearms, environmental crime. Most are also competent to deal with counterfeits, e-commerce, and financial crime.