Customs and Border Control

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The European Union (EU) has a customs union and border control systems that protect consumers, the environment, and fight crime: 

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• Customs union
  The EU customs union means that EU member states apply the same customs duties on goods imported from outside the EU, and there are no customs duties or controls between member states. 
   

• Border control
  The EU has external border controls to protect consumers from dangerous or unhealthy products, and to prevent the illegal trade of endangered species and plant and animal diseases.
   

• EU customs authorities
  EU customs authorities work with policy and immigration services to fight crime, including the trafficking of people, drugs, weapons, and counterfeited goods. They also verify that travelers with large amounts of cash are not evading tax or laundering money. 

• Frontex
  Frontex is an EU agency that supports Greece with border surveillance, identifying and registering migrants, and debriefing and screening. 
   

• Schengen Area
  Most EU countries are part of the Schengen Area, which means that citizens can travel between them without border checks. However, police checks are carried out in the Schengen Area, but these are based on general police information and experience. 

 

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