In 2017, the Council of Europe anti-corruption body GRECO will start monitoring the prevention of corruption and the promotion of integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies, which will be the themes of its 5th Evaluation Round.
In a plenary meeting held from 17 to 21 October, GRECO adopted the precise matters it will assess in this new evaluation round, the questionnaire it will use to request the relevant information from its 49 member states, and the legal standards it will take into account when carrying out its assessments.
As regards central governments, in light of each country situation, the evaluation will focus on top executive functions at national level, such as those of heads of State, heads of central government, members of central government (e.g. ministers), as well as other political appointees who exercise top executive functions such as deputy ministers, State secretaries, heads and members of a minister’s private office and senior political officials.
Concerning law enforcement agencies, the evaluation will focus in particular on bodies performing core law enforcement functions, such as national police services, including agencies responsible for border control.
In this evaluation round, GRECO will assess topics such as the policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the prevention of corruption; conflicts of interest; prohibition of certain activities, declarations of assets, income, liabilities and interests, and accountability mechanisms.
Specifically with regard to top governmental officials, the round will also monitor transparency of government activities, lobbying and revolving doors. On the other hand, in the evaluation of law enforcement agencies it will pay special attention to matters such as the identification of risk prone services and risk-prone situations, recruitment and vetting, supervision and disciplinary proceedings.