International Customs Day, celebrated on January 26th, honours the essential role customs authorities play in promoting global trade, security, and economic growth. Despite these efforts, corruption within customs services remains a persistent challenge, undermining trust, reducing government revenues, and enabling illicit activities such as smuggling and trafficking.
In response, SELDI project has emerged as a critical initiative, advocating for transparency, technology-driven reforms, and cross-border collaboration to address systemic corruption in customs services across Southeast Europe. By aligning customs policies with SELDI’s strategies and international best practices, countries can enhance their capacity to combat corruption, promote fair trade, and secure vital public resources.
SELDI has identified customs services as a key area prone to corruption in Southeast Europe, advocating for reforms in areas such as:
Digitalization: Implementing automated systems to reduce discretionary power and opportunities for bribery.
Public Oversight: Involving civil society and businesses in monitoring customs operations.
Data Transparency: Enhancing transparency in customs procedures to prevent manipulation of trade data.
SELDI Anti-Corruption Mechanisms in Customs
SELDI’s strategies offer several best practices and policy approaches that can enhance customs integrity across the region:
Regional Policy Assessments:
SELDI conducts research and assessments on corruption risks in customs and other institutions. These studies help identify systemic weaknesses and recommend targeted reforms.
Institutional Collaboration:
Customs corruption is often linked to cross-border criminal networks. SELDI emphasizes regional cooperation among customs authorities, sharing data and intelligence to combat transnational corruption.
Capacity Building:
SELDI supports training and education programs to strengthen the skills of customs officials in recognizing and resisting corrupt practices.
International Customs Day emphasizes the critical need for transparent, corruption-free customs services to support economic growth and security. The SELDI initiative serves as a valuable model for enhancing regional cooperation, promoting policy innovation, and implementing reforms to effectively combat customs-related corruption in the region.
