Author name: GLITSS

Cross-border trade in services has been a smaller, often neglected, brother of the international trade in goods. Yet, while the trade in goods has been severely affected by the recent episodes of COVID-induced global value chain disruptions and is under constant threat from potential tariff wars, the global trade in services is showing of a speedy recovery to pre-pandemic growth trend.

Few global challenges expose the limits of national power as clearly as illicit trade. Criminal networks move faster than legislation, exploit technological change, and thrive in the gaps between jurisdictions, turning borders into opportunities rather than barriers.

As a grantee of the CA21133 (GLITSS) Action, I had the opportunity to present my research at the EISA Pan-European Conference on International Relations (PEC) 2025, one of the largest and most influential academic events in the field of International studies.

When people hear the expression “illicit trade”, they often imagine shadowy networks operating outside the state something exceptional criminal and clearly separable from everyday life. What I keep encountering in the Middle East is something far more uncomfortable.

In October 2025, I had the opportunity to carry out a Short Term Scientific Mission within the framework of COST Action CA21133. From 15 to 29 October, I was hosted in Slovenia, where I worked closely with colleagues from the GLITSS network on a comparative research project examining the role of non-state actors in illicit trade in Lebanon and Europe.

The Western Balkans are moving toward EU membership, but progress remains uneven. Montenegro has advanced furthest, while Albania has opened all chapters and pursued justice reform.

Wildlife trade refers to the sale and/or exchange of wild animals, plants or fungi, or their derivatives, across local, national, and international markets. Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade continues to drive biodiversity loss worldwide, threatening species survival, undermining ecosystems, and fuelling illicit activities across borders.

Illicit financial flows (IFFs) are not just a byproduct of crime – they are a structural enabler of corruption, illicit trade, and institutional fragility.

Illicit activities in the electronic environment can no longer be considered non-traditional. Instead, the digital space has evolved into an environment where illicit actors can operate more comfortably and with a greater sense of security over longer periods of time.

Illicit trade affects all dimensions of contemporary societies, from economic stability and consumer safety to environmental sustainability and security governance. While often discussed in relation to drugs, weapons or human trafficking, illicit trade is increasingly embedded in everyday consumption patterns, particularly through cross-border e-commerce.