Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance published the speaking points of Deputy Minister Giorgos Kotsiras to parliament’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on the draft National Customs Code and other provisions. He presented the bill as a codification and strengthening of customs legislation focused on digitising customs processes, tightening penalties and aligning the framework with European Union law. The speech linked the previous year’s EUR 2 billion in revenues in part to expanded electronic transactions, electronic controls and the digitalisation of procedures, and called for a strict framework to address tax evasion and smuggling. It also referenced a ministry amendment on bank fees aimed at responding to abusive practices, described the planned integration of the Financial and Economic Crime Unit (SDOE) into the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) to reinforce enforcement against tax evasion, smuggling and black money, and highlighted provisions to abolish vehicle registration taxes for vehicles acquired by volunteer firefighter organisations and to have the State refrain from pursuing legal remedies against certain final first-instance administrative court decisions related to the Mandra and Mati cases.
Ministry of National Economy and Finance (Greece) 2025-07-23
Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance outlines National Customs Code bill with digitised procedures and stricter fines
Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance outlined Deputy Minister Giorgos Kotsiras's speech on the draft National Customs Code, emphasizing digitization, stricter penalties, and EU alignment. The speech linked EUR 2 billion in revenue to digital processes and called for measures against tax evasion and smuggling. It also addressed bank fee amendments, integrating the Financial and Economic Crime Unit into the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, and specific tax and legal provisions.