EU Anti-Corruption Report

Scope and objectives

The non-binding report was activated in 2013 as a monitoring mechanism to identify "failures and vulnerabilities across the 27 EU Member States". Specifically, its stated objectives were:

(a) to periodically assess the situation in the Union regarding the fight against corruption;

(b) to identify trends and best practices;

(c) to make general recommendations for adjusting EU policy on preventing and fighting corruption;

(d) to make tailor-made recommendations;

(e) to help Member States, civil society or other stakeholders identify shortcomings, raise awareness and provide training on anti-corruption.

The monitoring mechanism envisioned engagement with existing European and international initiatives, including the European Council's Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO); the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC); and the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. Each Member State had a designated "research correspondent" working on the ground and reporting back to an expert group. The EU also aimed to draw upon the work carried out by existing agencies such as the European Anti-Fraud Office and EUROPOL.

Discontinuation

In February 2017, the Report was discontinued. In an internal letter to the chair of the EU parliament's civil liberty committee, MEP Claude Moraes, Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans argued that the first and only Report published in 2014 had provided the basis for deepened work and consultations as part of the EU's anti-corruption framework. Subsequent reports were therefore not necessary.

References

References

1. (6 June 2011). "Establishing an EU Anti-corruption reporting mechanism for periodic assessment ("EU Anti-corruption Report")".
2. (2 February 2017). "Commission 'quietly shelves' corruption report".
3. [http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/678&format=DOC&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en European Commission – Press Release, “Commission fights corruption: a stronger commitment for greater results", 6 June 2011]
4. [http://www.hrr-strafrecht.de/hrr/archiv/13-06/index.php?sz=7 Michael Kubiciel (Expert Germany) – Der EU Anti Corruption Report, Law Review Article (in German)]
5. "Timmermans letter".
6. "EU commission drops anti-corruption report".