Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance outlines National Customs Code bill to digitise customs processes and tighten anti-smuggling enforcement

The Ministry of National Economy and Finance published speaking points from Deputy Minister Giorgos Kotsiras at the first meeting of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on the draft National Customs Code and other provisions. The remarks frame the bill as a package to digitalise, simplify and speed up customs procedures, improve service for citizens and businesses, and strengthen customs controls to tackle tax evasion and smuggling. The measures highlighted include introducing a digitised handwritten signature, electronic notification of fine-imposition acts, and an integrated monitoring system for professional vehicles and freight containers, alongside enabling customs authorities to access information systems of other enforcement bodies. The draft also tightens penalties for transporting goods without supporting documents and for smuggling. Beyond customs, the speech referenced tax and social measures including excluding employer-provided hospitalisation coverage for an employee or their relatives from taxable employment income, exempting vehicles acquired by volunteer firefighter organisations from registration tax, tax provisions benefiting large families and those affected by Storm Daniel, and additional incentives aimed at encouraging Greeks abroad to repatriate; it also provides for transferring the Financial and Economic Crime Unit to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue to support a unified control system. The bill is undergoing parliamentary scrutiny, starting with committee consideration.