On International Anti-Corruption Day, celebrated on Thursday 9 December, the President of the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) issued a Statement on the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Faced with wave after wave, “governments must react quickly” and “frequently resort to extraordinary measures”, says Marin Mrčela, but they must do so in “full respect of the law” and base all their actions “on the principles of transparency, oversight and accountability”.
The risks associated with the pandemic are particularly relevant to the health sector and to government action to address its economic impact. To counter them, “public access to information continues to be crucial, as do effective Whistleblower protection schemes”.
Marin Mrčela recalls that the GRECO Guidelines published at the beginning of the pandemic remain relevant in areas such as public procurement and lobbying.
He insists on raising public awareness of the risks and costs of corruption and educating young people and children about the basic principles of integrity and accountability in public life.
Link to the Guidelines: https://bit.ly/3y9w4qU
Link to the Statement: https://bit.ly/338nBZv (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)