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Opening speech by Maud de Boer-Buquicchio
Ladies and gentlemen, Over the past 11 years and 50 plenary meetings, GRECO has set an exemplary standard for international anti-corruption monitoring. It is widely respected for its rigorous methodology and the systematic and ongoing assessment of the impact of its work. The GRECO process itself generates transparency, and transparency is an indispensible tool. It serves to hold political leaders, public officials and business operators accountable for their actions and to avoid impunity. As a result of the trust in the soundness and impartiality of GRECO’s work, its views are frequently sought, both in-house and by other international players with an anti-corruption agenda. GRECO findings and recommendations have become a precious source for the design of targeted co-operation programmes, not only within the Organisation. This aspect will be duly taken into account in the context of the overall reform of the Organisation. There is no reason to think that the momentum gained by the solid work undertaken up until now will fade in the foreseeable future. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that high levels of corruption still permeate society and public institutions in a number of our own member states. It also remains true that massive bribes are sometimes paid within the business world to win or retain markets. In the same vein, when public officials, politicians or members of the judiciary are self-serving, engage in sleaze and display a blatant disrespect for the common good, the very foundations of democracy, the rule of law and human rights are at stake. These concerns are at the very heart of the values of this Organisation. In short, many citizens in Europe and elsewhere in the world fall victim to corruption in their everyday lives – and it is a scourge that hits the vulnerable particularly hard. It is clear that the consequences of corruption go far beyond each individual case. For a state to function properly, its citizens must have reason to be confident of its integrity. An efficient economy requires fair competition. But corruption undermines confidence in the state and makes a farce of fair competition. It would be naïve to believe that we will be able to eradicate corruption completely. There will always be people who will flout the rules of the game. But this is why the fight against corruption requires stamina and permanent vigilance as well as alertness to new threats to integrity and good governance. Here, let me give the example of a new threat which literally does corrupt “the rules of the game”. The issue of match-fixing and illegal betting is rising in the consciousness of our member States as a serious problem, and the Council of Europe is at the forefront of debates on this at the European and global level. Standards need to be set, and GRECO could play a key role in the implementation of such standards. And I am sure, Mr President, that based on your past experience, you will be sensitive to this issue. Given the magnitude of the issue of corruption – and the very fact that it increasingly follows the path of globalisation – it is crucial that international organisations pool their efforts, and make a credible attempt to avoid overlap and duplication. When it comes to co-operation within Europe, I attach key importance to the EU accession to GRECO, and I therefore particularly welcome the fact that this is a part of the Stockholm Programme. The Union’s active participation in GRECO would create significant added value by combining GRECO’s extensive monitoring expertise with the Union’s political leverage, to the benefit of the fight against corruption. It would bolster the response given to the high public expectations as regards the need for effective counter measures. A new dynamic might also be brought to priorities for future monitoring and implementation support.
I understand that part of your meeting will be devoted to discussing modalities of the Union’s participation on the basis of a concrete proposal which has emanated from informal consultations at secretariat level. The in-built flexibility of GRECO’s statute regarding the participation of the Union in GRECO will certainly be a major asset for finding practical solutions to suit both sides. Tangible and timely progress in your cooperation with the European Union will no doubt be perceived as an additional encouragement to further develop and strengthen such cooperation in respect of other sectors of the Organisation as well. Ladies and Gentlemen, Throughout your more than 11 years of operation you have compelled the highest respect within and outside the Organisation for the work undertaken. This respect is due also to your readiness to take up contentious matters, such as the transparency of political financing, which has contributed to the high profile of your ongoing 3rd Evaluation Round. I would also like to congratulate you on your decision to focus your next evaluation round on corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges and prosecutors. This choice is without doubt a constructive response to real concerns of member States and civil society. It is also clear evidence, if such evidence is needed, of the transversal nature of GRECO’s work which creates synergies with the policy of the Organisation as a whole. I am confident that GRECO will remain a trademark of excellence and I wish this plenary meeting every success. |
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