In 2015, at the height of the Greek financial crisis, the country’s tobacco industry faced the prospect of a significant tax increase. To address this challenge, we conceived and organized the 1st Anti-Corruption Forum, bringing together for the first time all key stakeholders – Including manufacturers, retailers, tobacco growers, law enforcement authorities, and European institutions. The Forum elevated illicit trade to the forefront of the public policy agenda and provided evidence that further tax increases would strengthen the black market while reducing government revenues.
By fostering dialogue and building consensus around a shared challenge, the initiative successfully influenced the national policy debate and contributed to the one-year postponement of the planned tobacco tax increase, demonstrating the value of evidence-based advocacy and multi-stakeholder engagement in shaping public policy.
