In its latest report on corruption prevention with respect to members of parliament, judges and prosecutors in Germany, the Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) concludes an “overall very low level of compliance” with recommendations dating from 2015. This “globally unsatisfactory” assessment has prompted GRECO to apply a “non-compliance procedure” for Germany, which means that its German delegation must provide a report on progress in implementing pending recommendations no later than 30 June 2020. (German version)
In an earlier report on the same issue (adopted in March 2017), GRECO mentioned the positive steps taken to implement the 2015 recommendations in respect of prosecutors and judges, but already noted little progress in respect of members of the German federal parliament (Bundestag). The report published today confirms this lack of progress, with none of the four recommendations on prevention of corruption in respect of members of parliament having been fully implemented to date.
In particular, GRECO regrets the lack of further progress on the side of the Bundestag in increasing the transparency of the parliamentary process (notwithstanding steps taken on the side of the federal government itself to improve the transparency of the legislative process), referring to earlier concerns over shortcomings in the registration of lobbyists and other third parties seeking to influence the work of members of the Bundestag and late publication of draft legislation. GRECO also expresses disappointment about the absence of any developments in requiring members of parliament to disclose a potential conflict between their private interests and any matters being discussed in parliamentary proceedings.
