The representatives on the Committee of Ministers of Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Convinced that corruption represents a major threat to the rule of law, democracy,
human rights, fairness and social justice, hinders economic development, and endangers
the stability of democratic institutions and the moral foundations of society;
Conscious of the need to promote co-operation between States in the fight against
corruption, including its links with organised crime and money laundering;
Emphasising that a successful strategy to combat corruption requires a firm commitment
by States to join their efforts, share experience and take common actions;
Recognising that raising public awareness and promoting ethical values are effective
means of preventing corruption;
Having regard to the recommendations of the 19th Conference of the European Ministers
of Justice (Malta, 1994);
Taking into account the Programme of Action against Corruption, adopted by the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 1996 and the work undertaken by the Multidisciplinary
Group on Corruption (GMC) in pursuance thereof;
Taking into account the results of the Joint project between the European Commission
(Phare Programme) and the Council of Europe on the fight against corruption and organised
crime in States in transition (“Octopus Project");
Having regard to Resolution No. 1 on the links between corruption and organised crime,
adopted at the 21st Conference of the European Ministers of Justice (Prague, 1997);
Having regard to the Final Declaration adopted at the Second Summit of Heads of State
and Government of the member States of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg, 10–11 October
1997) by which the Heads of State and Government decided to seek common responses
to the challenges posed by the growth of corruption and organised crime;
In accordance with the Action Plan adopted at the Second Summit of Heads of State
and Government of the member States of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg, 10–11 October
1997) in which the Heads of State and Government, with a view to promoting co-operation
in the fight against corruption, including its links with organised crime and money
laundering, instructed the Committee of Ministers, inter alia, to adopt guiding principles
to be applied in the development of domestic legislation and practice and to establish
without delay an appropriate and efficient mechanism for monitoring observance of
the guiding principles and the implementation of the other international instruments
which will be adopted in pursuance of the Programme of Action against Corruption;
Having regard to the 20 Guiding Principles for the Fight against Corruption, adopted
by the Committee of Ministers at its 101st meeting on 6 November 1997 (hereinafter
referred to as the “Guiding Principles");
Convinced that the establishment of the GRECO, where member States and non-member
States of the Council of Europe participate on an equal footing, would make a significant
contribution to the promotion of a dynamic process towards effectively preventing
and combating corruption;
Persuaded that by means of mutual evaluation and peer pressure, the GRECO shall be
able to monitor in a flexible and efficient manner the observance of the Guiding Principles
and the implementation of the international instruments adopted by the Council of
Europe to fight against corruption;
Convinced that full membership of the GRECO should therefore be reserved to those
which participate without restrictions in mutual evaluation procedures and accept
to be evaluated through them;
Having regard to Resolution (98) 7 adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 5 May
1998, on the occasion of its 102nd session at ministerial level, authorising the adoption
of the present agreement;
Hereby,
Resolve to establish the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) by means of this
Enlarged Partial Agreement, governed by the Statute appended thereto;
Agree that the GRECO is established for an initial period of three years;
Agree to review the functioning of the GRECO by the end of the initial period of three
years;
Express the wish that all member States of the Council of Europe become members of
the GRECO in the near future.