WCO-OECD regional policy dialogue
Countering illicit trade: addressing governance
gaps in Europe
This regional dialogue is organised by the OECD Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate, in the context of its Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade of the High Level Risk Forum, and the World Customs Organization.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Organisation for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD) are pleased to invite you to participate in the WCO-OECD regional policy dialogue on Countering illicit trade: addressing the governance gaps in Europe. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8 November 2016 at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels.
Every day, illicit products including counterfeits, narcotics, tobacco, alcohol, wildlife products, arms and cultural objects are illegally bought and sold in the single largest market in the world: the European Union. The OECD and the World Customs Organization (WCO) are now stepping up their cooperation to build synergies to counter illicit trade. This regional dialogue seeks to identify governance gaps and help countries enhance cross-border cooperation across law enforcement agencies, where Customs administrations are at the forefront.
This meeting will address key challenges, including information sharing between Customs and other law enforcement agencies; increasing the effectiveness of penalties and sanctions to deter illicit trade; coping with emerging trends such as the resurgence of wildlife trafficking; finding innovative approaches to address the abuse of Free Trade Zones and countering trade-based money laundering. This meeting will explore how to prevent and deter illicit trade in Europe and assist in the dismantling of criminal networks behind it.
