“My deepest thanks go to all experts who are the foundation of our success. Without the dedication and outstanding efforts of the team leaders and experts, we would not be today celebrate this achievement”.
– said Mr Andras Bartha, Head of CELBET in a welcome speech at the official ceremony for the handover of CELBET commemorative medals.
The ceremony was organized on 16 of October in Budapest. The event was organized by National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary.
Experts, team leaders and Steering Committee representatives have been awarded with specially designed medals. Each medal reflects participation in the expert team in a different phase: CELBET 1,2 ad 3.
Mr. Matthias Petschke, Director DG TAXUD, expressed high gratitude for all experts and underlined the unique and pioneering character of the CELBET as an expert team.:
“It is really great to see familiar faces here. You know each other. I must say you are great family, there is a lot of enthusiasm. There is a feeling that you are at the forefront, that you are pioneering something which is bigger and we continue. We are certainly in the position to understand what difference cooperation can make, what mutual trust between MS involved can make and therefore I think we are in better situation to continue”.
Brig. Gen. Kristof Peter Bakai, Deputy Commissioner for Customs and International Affairs of National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary, expressed his opinion about the ceremony:
” It was truly heartwarming to see the joy on the faces of our colleagues from different EU customs services as they received their medals. A fantastic day of celebrating collaboration, innovation and dedication to securing our customs borders”.
Awarded experts and leaders shared very positive feedback and expressed gratitude for being honored by repeating the same message:
“We feel honored, appreciated and when we look at this unique medal we realized that it have been 8 years of outstanding and successful customs teamwork that really made a difference…”