GRECO Group of States Against Corruption 15Th General Activity Report (2014)
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GRECO Group of States against Corruption 15th General Activity Report (2014) Fighting corruption Promoting integrity Mission Thematic article: Results and impact Corruption in Sport – Interaction Manipulation of Sports Competitions GRECO Group of States against Corruption 15th General Activity Report (2014) Adopted by GRECO 67 (23-27 March 2015) Thematic article: Corruption in Sport – Manipulation of Sports Competitions Council of Europe French edition: 15e Rapport général d’activités (2014) du Groupe d’États contre la corruption The opinions expressed in this work are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily refect the ofcial policy of the Council of Europe. All requests concerning the reproduction or translation of all or part of this document should be addressed to the Directorate of Communication (F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex or [email protected]). All other correspondence concerning this document should be addressed to the GRECO Secretariat, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law. Cover and layout: Document and Publications Production Department (SPDP), Council of Europe © Council of Europe, June 2015 Printed at the Council of Europe Contents FOREWORD 5 Marin MRČELA, President of GRECO 5 MISSION AND WORKING FRAMEWORK 7 Objective 7 Anti-corruption standards of the Council of Europe 7 Membership 8 Composition and structures 8 Methodology – Evaluation 9 Methodology – Compliance 9 Enhancing compliance 10 Evaluation Rounds 10 Transparency 11 CORE WORK 12 Evaluation procedures and key fndings 12 Emerging trends from Fourth Round Evaluations 19 Compliance procedures and key results 22 NEWS FROM MEMBER STATES 25 THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE – A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO CORRUPTION 29 EXTERNAL RELATIONS 33 GOVERNING STRUCTURES AND MANAGEMENT 35 Plenary and Bureau 35 Statutory Committee – Budget and Programme of Activities 35 Secretariat 35 THEMATIC ARTICLE 36 Corruption in Sport – Manipulation of Sports Competitions 36 APPENDICES 43 APPENDIX I – Representatives in GRECO (at 23/12/14) 43 APPENDIX II – Meetings held/attended 55 APPENDIX III – Secretariat 59 ► Page 3 Foreword Marin MRČELA, President of GRECO he Secretary General’s 2014 Report on the State – and trust in – a democracy. I would like to use this T of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law opportunity to express my gratitude to the authori- makes a compelling case for continued engage- ties of Austria and Monaco and to the International ment in the fght against corruption at all levels. Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) for the support they provided for the holding of the Laxenburg conference Too many people in Europe still face corruption in at which we took stock of emerging trends from the their daily lives. Moreover, the fnancial and economic frst two years of work on the Fourth Round. crisis has drawn attention to the pervasive efects of mismanagement, conficts of interest and corruption In 2014 it was a real pleasure to exchange views in in both public life and the private sector. the plenary with my predecessor as GRECO President Drago KOS who now chairs the OECD Working Group The Council of Europe with its 47 member States from on Bribery in International Business Transactions. across Europe has the capacity to direct signifcant From the unique perspective of his experience in both political and intellectual resources at dismantling the bodies he was able to dispel any fear of overlap of the legislative and institutional gaps that let corruption two and put a positive stress on the broad range of in. Work in the Organisation on developing a set of Council of Europe legal standards GRECO can draw standards for regulating lobbying – the only initiative on and the clear advantage that comes from the geo- of its kind worldwide – is an example that warrants graphic proximity of our broad membership. support. When the time comes, the Committee of Ministers might consider giving GRECO a clear man- EU accession to GRECO remains a major issue, espe- date to monitor implementation of that new instru- cially now that a new European Commission has ment. Another example is the work on corruption in taken up its functions. It is widely known that formal sport which is presented in the thematic article of participation of the European Union in GRECO has this report. been under discussion since the adoption by the EU of the 2010 Stockholm Programme and the publica- GRECO’s 49 member States (all Council of Europe mem- tion of the European Commission’s “Anti-corruption bers, Belarus and the United States of America) are package” in June 2011. Although quite some time has currently focusing their eforts in the Fourth Evaluation since passed ‒ and without any real breakthrough ‒ Round on strengthening the capacity of members of it is clear that EU participation in GRECO will help parliament, judges and prosecutors to prevent and strengthen the impact of the many anti-corruption tackle corruption within their own ranks. The institu- activities undertaken in Europe. The Secretary General, tions and services these professional groups represent Thorbjørn Jagland, has discussed these matters with are of paramount importance for the functioning of President Barroso and Commissioner Malmström. ► Page 5 In February 2014, the Commission presented the frst European Union. It is to be hoped that real progress EU Anti-Corruption Report. It extensively refects and in this area will be achieved in a not too distant future. references GRECO’s fndings, which is a clear tribute to our work. GRECO’s plenary also had a fruitful exchange The changes forged as a result of our work are proof of views with representatives of the Commission in that GRECO is not a public relations exercise; the aim March 2014 and expressed its willingness to pursue is to secure efective improvements in anti-corruption ad hoc cooperation with the Commission pending legislation and practice. We have all heard of the four formal accession. In June the Justice and Home Afairs eyes principle; in GRECO forty-nine pairs of eyes are Council urged the Commission to include in its next involved in validating the fndings of our evaluation anti-corruption report a review of the integrity poli- teams, formulating recommendations and tracking cies put in place in the EU institutions. The Council progress through a process that provides plenty also expressly called for the full accession of the EU of room for debate, critical analysis and peer pres- to GRECO as soon as possible and for the ensuing sure and little room for evading scrutiny. I invite the evaluation of the EU institutions by GRECO. By joining public, professional associations and NGOs wishing GRECO as a full member, the EU will add credibility to support our work to consult our country reports to its Anti-Corruption Report and eforts to address (www.coe.int/greco) and to lobby for full implementa- corruption, including within the institutions of the tion of our recommendations. Fourteenth General Activity Report (2013) of the Group of States against Corruption ► Page 6 Mission and working framework Objective others, the establishment of criminal ofences for active and passive bribery (as well as aiding and abet- ting in such ofences) of domestic public ofcials, RECO has been in operation since 1999. It is the domestic public assemblies, foreign public ofcials, G anti-corruption body of the Council of Europe, foreign public assemblies, members of international constituted as a monitoring body under an parliamentary assemblies and judges and ofcials of enlarged agreement, meaning that its member states international courts; for active and passive bribery in have actively chosen to participate in its evaluation the private sector and for trading in infuence. Parties procedures and make a frm and long-term commit- to the convention are required to make provision for ment to being proactive in preventing and counter- corporate liability, the protection of collaborators acting corruption. of justice and witnesses and to establish in respect The clear stated objective of the political deci- of the above ofences efective, proportionate and sions taken by the governments represented in the dissuasive sanctions. Its provisions on international Organisation to establish GRECO was to strengthen cooperation are designed to facilitate direct and swift the capacity of its members to fght corruption. The communication between national authorities. An monitoring model in place is designed to provide Additional Protocol to ETS 173 (ETS 191) requires each member state with a detailed analysis and set the establishment of criminal ofences for active and of recommendations that are tailored to addressing passive bribery of domestic and foreign arbitrators shortcomings in national anti-corruption policies, laws, and jurors. regulations and institutional set-up that have been The Civil Law Convention on Corruption (ETS 174) validated by its peers. Subsequent impact assessments deals with compensation for damage, liability, con- (“compliance procedures”) serve to verify achieve- tributory negligence, limitation periods, the validity ments and actively encourage progress towards the of contracts, protection of employees, accounts and implementation of the recommendations. Multiple auditing, the acquisition of evidence, interim measures layers of result validation and a high level of process and international cooperation in relation to corruption ownership are salient features of this model where defned as “requesting, ofering, giving or accept- the dynamics of mutual evaluation and peer pressure ing, directly or indirectly, a bribe or any other undue are brought into play. advantage or prospect thereof, which distorts the proper performance of any duty or behaviour required Anti-corruption standards of the recipient of the bribe, the undue advantage or of the Council of Europe the prospect thereof”. The three unique treaties developed by the Council It should be noted that within GRECO, the same evalu- of Europe deal with corruption from the point of view ation criteria and level of detailed scrutiny apply to of criminal, civil and administrative law. Corruption is states whether they have ratifed these treaties or not.