F O U R T H Adoption: 21 October 2016 Public Publication: 13 February 2017 GrecoEval4Rep(2016)1 E V FOURTH EVALUATION ROUND A Corruption prevention in respect of members of L parliament, judges and prosecutors U A T I EVALUATION REPORT O N AUSTRIA R Adopted by GRECO at its 73rd Plenary Meeting O (Strasbourg, 17-21 October 2016) U N GRECO Secretariat Directorate General I Council of Europe Human Rights and Rule of Law www.coe.int/greco D F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex Information Society and Action +33 3 88 41 20 00 against Crime Directorate TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 4 I. INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................... 5 II. CONTEXT .................................................................................................................................................. 7 III. CORRUPTION PREVENTION IN RESPECT OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT .................................................. 9 OVERVIEW OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM ................................................................................................................. 9 TRANSPARENCY OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ............................................................................................................... 9 REMUNERATION AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS ................................................................................................................. 11 ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF CONDUCT .............................................................................................................. 12 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST .......................................................................................................................................... 13 PROHIBITION OR RESTRICTION OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................... 13 Gifts and other benefits ............................................................................................................................... 13 Incompatibilities, accessory activities and financial interests ..................................................................... 16 Contracts with State authorities .................................................................................................................. 17 Post-employment restrictions ...................................................................................................................... 17 Third party contacts and lobbying ............................................................................................................... 17 Misuse of confidential information ............................................................................................................. 19 Misuse of public resources ........................................................................................................................... 19 DECLARATION OF ASSETS, INCOME, LIABILITIES AND INTERESTS ....................................................................................... 19 SUPERVISION ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AND IMMUNITY ................................................................................................................. 25 TRAINING AND AWARENESS ..................................................................................................................................... 26 IV. CORRUPTION PREVENTION IN RESPECT OF JUDGES ............................................................................... 28 OVERVIEW OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM .......................................................................................................................... 28 Categories of courts and jurisdiction levels ................................................................................................. 28 OTHER INSTITUTIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Independence of the judiciary and the administration of courts ................................................................. 30 Consultative and decision-making bodies ................................................................................................... 32 RECRUITMENT, CAREER AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ................................................................................................... 33 Recruitment requirements ........................................................................................................................... 33 Appointment procedure and career advancement ...................................................................................... 35 Evaluation of a judge’s performance ........................................................................................................... 36 Transfer of a judge; Termination of service and dismissal from office ........................................................ 37 Salaries and benefits .................................................................................................................................... 37 Lay judges .................................................................................................................................................... 37 CASE MANAGEMENT AND COURT PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................. 38 Assignment of cases .................................................................................................................................... 38 The principle of hearing cases without undue delay ................................................................................... 38 The principle of public hearing .................................................................................................................... 39 ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF CONDUCT .............................................................................................................. 39 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST .......................................................................................................................................... 40 PROHIBITION OR RESTRICTION OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................... 41 Incompatibilities and accessory activities .................................................................................................... 41 Recusal and routine withdrawal .................................................................................................................. 44 Gifts ............................................................................................................................................................. 44 Post-employment restrictions ...................................................................................................................... 45 Third party contacts, confidential information ............................................................................................ 46 DECLARATION OF ASSETS, INCOME, LIABILITIES AND INTERESTS ....................................................................................... 46 SUPERVISION ........................................................................................................................................................ 46 ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AND IMMUNITY ................................................................................................................. 48 2 V. CORRUPTION PREVENTION IN RESPECT OF PROSECUTORS .................................................................... 50 OVERVIEW OF THE PROSECUTION SERVICE .................................................................................................................. 50 RECRUITMENT, CAREER AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ................................................................................................... 51 Recruitment requirements ........................................................................................................................... 51 Appointment procedure and promotion to a higher rank ........................................................................... 51 Evaluation of a prosecutor’s performance .................................................................................................. 52 Transfer of a prosecutor .............................................................................................................................. 52 Termination of service and dismissal from office ........................................................................................ 52 Salaries and benefits .................................................................................................................................... 52 CASE MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURE ....................................................................................................................... 53 ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF CONDUCT .............................................................................................................. 57 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST .........................................................................................................................................