EU auditors flag fragmented fight against illicit tobacco trade

The European Court of Auditors has published its special report 23/2026, titled “Combating the illicit trade in tobacco in the EU – Fragmented efforts and persistent gaps.” The announcement was made public in the Official Journal of the European Union (C series) on 9 September 2026, under reference C/2026/4823.

The report is the latest audit by the EU’s external auditor into how the Union and its member states are tackling the illegal tobacco market. Its title points to two central findings: that national and EU-level efforts remain fragmented, and that significant gaps persist in the fight against a trade that drains public budgets and feeds organised crime.

What the report covers

The special report examines the EU’s strategy and the tools deployed to curb the illicit trade in tobacco, from customs controls and law-enforcement cooperation to the tracking and tracing systems meant to secure the legal supply chain.

• The audit assesses the effectiveness of EU action against illegal cigarettes and other tobacco products.
• It highlights the fragmented nature of efforts across member states and EU institutions.
• It identifies persistent gaps that undermine the overall response.

How to access the report

The full report can be consulted directly or downloaded from the European Court of Auditors’ website at https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications/sr-2026-23. The notice in the Official Journal also carries the ELI identifier http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/4823/oj, which provides a stable electronic reference to the document.

Why it matters

For readers, the report matters because the illicit tobacco trade is not a remote customs problem: it costs the EU and national treasuries billions in lost tax revenue each year and is a known revenue stream for organised crime networks. By publicly flagging fragmented efforts and persistent gaps, the European Court of Auditors gives the European Commission, member states and the European Parliament a concrete basis to press for more coherent enforcement, better coordination and stronger controls along the tobacco supply chain.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C/2026/4823, 9 September 2026, C series, p. 1 (official reference: C/2026/4823).