The Economic Crime and Cooperation Division, in the framework of the Action on Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime in Central Asia organised a workshop on 21 June 2023 in Strasbourg with a delegation of 25 public officials representing 13 institutions from Kazakhstan to discuss the effective implementation of the recommendations issued by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) to Kazakhstan in the framework of the joint first and second evaluations rounds. 

Kazakhstan being the last jurisdiction to have joined the GRECO in 2020, in 2022 it received its first evaluation report, which covered the first and second rounds, and included 27 specific recommendations. The workshop provided technical assistance in implementing these recommendations. 

Five Council of Europe experts, most of whom former members of delegations to GRECO, shared with participants related experience and practice in the implementation of GRECO recommendations that were similar to those that had been addressed to Kazakhstan. 

Some of the topics discussed during the sessions included the specialisation of national bodies in the prevention and fight against corruption, seizure and confiscation of corruption proceeds, non-conviction-based confiscation, the implementation of rules of conduct and systems for declarations of assets and interests in preventing corruption in public administration, the management of conflict of interest, anti-corruption awareness raising of public officials, integrity measures in public procurement processes, applicable prohibitions and limitations to carry out executive positions following corruption conviction, liability of legal persons and account offences. These issues of the first and second GRECO evaluation rounds are very relevant matters in the context of the current anti-corruption efforts in Kazakhstan.

All sessions led to very lively discussions between the Kazakh authorities and the experts. In the exchanges, the authorities had the opportunity to share the progress planned or made, while the experts offered very targeted input on possible avenues and considerations in implementing the GRECO recommendations for each topic. 

The Economic Crime and Cooperation Division, in the framework of the Action on Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime shall continue working with the authorities of Kazakhstan in advancing and strengthening the integrity framework in the country, and specifically in implementing the GRECO recommendations. 

This activity was organised by the Action on “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023, a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.