PURPOSE: to establish an anti-corruption network made up of national contact in the EU’s Member States.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2008/852/JHA on a contact-point network against corruption.

CONTENT: this Directive enhances EU cooperation against corruption. It notes that the enhancement of international cooperation is generally recognised as a key issue in the fight against corruption. The fight against all forms of corruption will be improved by cooperating effectively, identifying opportunities, sharing good practices and developing high professional standards. The establishment of an anti-corruption network at EU level is an important contribution to the improvement of such cooperation,

Accordingly, in order to improve cooperation between authorities and agencies to prevent and combat corruption in Europe a network of contact points of the Member States of the EU is set up (‘the Network’). The European Commission, Europol and Eurojust are fully associated with the activities of the Network.

Composition of the network : this consists of authorities and agencies of Member States charged with preventing or combating corruption. The members will be designated by Member States, who will each designate at least one, but not more than three organisations. The European Commission will designate its representatives. Within their respective competencies, Europol and Eurojust may participate in the activities of the Network.

Tasks of the network : the network shall in particular have the following tasks:

it shall constitute a forum for the exchange throughout the EU of information on effective measures and experience in the prevention and combating of corruption; it shall facilitate the establishment and active maintenance of contacts between its members. To these ends, inter alia, a list of contact points shall be kept upto- date and a web site operated.

The members of the network shall, for the accomplishment of their tasks, meet at least once a year.

Organisation of the network : the network shall organise itself, building upon existing informal collaboration between the European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC). Member States and the European Commission shall bear all expenses of the members or representatives designated by them. The same rule shall apply to Europol and Eurojust.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25/10/2008.

The European Parliament adopted, by 584 votes to 14, a legislative resolution, amending the initiative by the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to the adoption of a Council decision on a contact-point network against corruption.

The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Hubert PIRKER (EPP-ED, AT) on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

The main amendments are as follows:

OLAF should be an integral part of this network; given the absence of a review mechanism, Parliament inserted a clause stating that the Network shall provide the Commission and the European Parliament on a yearly basis with a report on its findings under Article (3)(1)(1), including concrete proposals on the prevention and combating of corruption; the network shall organise itself so as to be chaired by the relevant Council Presidency, and build on existing informal collaboration between the EPAC; the Commission shall bear all expenses of its representatives as well as the expenses of the members designated by the Member States. The same rule shall apply to Europol and Eurojust.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted a report drafted by Hubert PIRKER (EPP-ED, AT) amending, in the framework of the consultation procedure, initiative by the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to the adoption of a Council decision on a contact-point network against corruption.

The main amendments are as follws:

-one of the main objectives of OLAF is to fight against corruption in connection with the Community budget. For this reason OLAF should be an integral part of this network;

-given the absence of a review mechanism, the Committee inserted a clause stating that the Network shall provide the Commission and the European Parliament on a yearly basis with a report on its findings under Article (3)(1)(1), including concrete proposals on the prevention and combating of corruption;

-the network shall organise itself under the chairmanship of the relevant Council Presidency, and build upon existing informal collaboration between the EPAC;

-the Commission shall bear all expenses of its members or representatives designated by it as well as the expenses of members or representatives designated by the Member States. The same rule shall apply to OLAF, Europol and Eurojust.

PURPOSE: the establishment of national contact points to prevent and combat corruption in Europe.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: an initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany for the adoption of a Council Decision

CONTENT: one of the key articles of the TEU (article 29) states that the objective of the Union is to provide citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice by combating crime – including corruption and fraud. Since 2000, EU strategies have focused on preventing and controlling organised crime as well as the development of a comprehensive EU policy to combat corruption.

The purpose, therefore, of this proposal is the establishment of an anti-corruption network made up of national contact in the EU’s Member States. One of the main objectives of this network is to improve co-operation between national authorities and agencies. The network will consist of Member States’ authorities and agencies charged with preventing or combating corruption. The members will be designated by the Member States and each Member State must have at least one – but not more than three organisation. The European Commission, Europol and Eurojust will be fully associated with the activities of the Network.

The main tasks of the network are:

1) to act as a European forum for the exchange of information on effective anti-corruption measures;

2) to encourage contact between members.

The list of contact points must be kept up-to-date and a website maintained.

Police and judicial co-operation between the Member States will be governed by relevant rules. The setting up of the network will be without prejudice to such rules and without prejudice to the role of CEPOL. On a final point, the network will organise itself, building upon existing informal collaboration between EPAC. As far as costs are concerned the Member States and the European Commission will bear all expenses of the members or representatives – the same rule applying to both Europol and Eurojust.

PURPOSE: the establishment of national contact points to prevent and combat corruption in Europe.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: an initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany for the adoption of a Council Decision

CONTENT: one of the key articles of the TEU (article 29) states that the objective of the Union is to provide citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice by combating crime – including corruption and fraud. Since 2000, EU strategies have focused on preventing and controlling organised crime as well as the development of a comprehensive EU policy to combat corruption.

The purpose, therefore, of this proposal is the establishment of an anti-corruption network made up of national contact in the EU’s Member States. One of the main objectives of this network is to improve co-operation between national authorities and agencies. The network will consist of Member States’ authorities and agencies charged with preventing or combating corruption. The members will be designated by the Member States and each Member State must have at least one – but not more than three organisation. The European Commission, Europol and Eurojust will be fully associated with the activities of the Network.

The main tasks of the network are:

1) to act as a European forum for the exchange of information on effective anti-corruption measures;

2) to encourage contact between members.

The list of contact points must be kept up-to-date and a website maintained.

Police and judicial co-operation between the Member States will be governed by relevant rules. The setting up of the network will be without prejudice to such rules and without prejudice to the role of CEPOL. On a final point, the network will organise itself, building upon existing informal collaboration between EPAC. As far as costs are concerned the Member States and the European Commission will bear all expenses of the members or representatives – the same rule applying to both Europol and Eurojust.