On 6 October 2025, the Council of Europe in cooperation with the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) organised a conference dedicated to the management of conflicts of interest in the public sector as a means to prevent and combat corruption. The event brought together 123 civil servants in training from the ENA Leadership Academy, the Academy of Good Governance, and the cellules de gouvernance.

The conference examined the risks posed by unmanaged conflicts of interest in public administration, combining legal perspectives with practical approaches to prevention. Sessions clarified the distinction between real, potential, and apparent conflicts of interest, and exposed how these situations, if left unaddressed, can erode public trust and institutional integrity.

Through case studies on procurement, recruitment, and the exercise of discretionary power, the presentations illustrated common risk scenarios and opened discussions on strategies to strengthen transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. Special emphasis was placed on institutional mechanisms such as asset and interest declaration systems, codes of conduct, and internal oversight structures. The role of digital tools in collecting and analysing declarations was also highlighted as a way to enhance integrity and oversight.

The conference concluded that robust conflict-of-interest management systems are essential to effective anti-corruption efforts. Beyond the existence of legal frameworks, participants stressed the importance of clear procedures, operational mechanisms, and credible sanctions to ensure real impact. By fostering a shared understanding of these principles, the conference helped to embed conflict-of-interest management as a strategic priority for public sector reform and ethical governance.

This activity was organised within the framework of the joint EU–Council of Europe project on Improving Economic Governance for Anti-corruption in Tunisia (AGELA, French acronym), co funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The project aims to strengthen transparency, accountability, and good governance in Tunisia.