Initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision on a contact-point network against corruption
Date: 2007-07-26
Institutions: Germany
Subjects: EU Member State, EU law - national law, EU police cooperation, Germany, cooperation policy, corruption, exchange of information, fight against crime, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU

26.7.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 173/3

III

(Preparatory Acts)

MEMBER STATES' INITIATIVES

Initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision on
a contact-point network against corruption

(2007/C 173/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particu-
lar Article 29, Article 30(1), Article 31 and Article 34(2)(c)
thereof,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (1),

(5)

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Article 29 of the Treaty states that the objective of the
Union to provide citizens with a high level of safety
within an area of freedom, security and justice is to be
achieved by preventing and combating crime, organised
or otherwise, including corruption and fraud.

The European Union strategy for the beginning of the
new millennium on the prevention and control of orga-
nised crime emphasises the need to develop a compre-
hensive EU policy against corruption.

In its Resolution of 14 April 2005 concerning a compre-
hensive EU policy against corruption, which refers to the
communication from the Commission to the Council,
the European Parliament and the European Economic
and Social Committee of 28 May 2003 on a Comprehen-
sive EU Policy against Corruption, the Council reaffirms
the importance of the role and work of the Member
States
in developing a comprehensive, multi-faceted
policy against corruption in both the public and private
sectors, in partnership with all relevant players from civil
society and business alike.

(6)

(7)

(4)

The European Council welcomed the development in the
Hague Programme (2) (point 2.7) of a strategic concept
with regard to cross-border organised crime and corrup-

tion at EU level and asked the Council and the Commis-
sion to develop this concept further and make it opera-
tional.

The heads and key representatives of EU Member States'
national police monitoring and inspection bodies and
those of their anti-corruption agencies with a wider remit
met in November 2004 in Vienna at the AGIS conference
on the Enhancement of Operational Cooperation in
Fighting Corruption in the European Union. They empha-
sised the importance of further enhancing their coopera-
inter alia through annual meetings, and welcomed
tion,
the idea of a European anti-corruption network based
upon existing structures.
the Vienna
conference these European Partners Against Corruption
(EPAC) met in Budapest in November 2006 for their
sixth annual meeting, where with an overwhelming
majority,
to
supporting the initiative on setting up a more formal
anti-corruption network.

In the wake of

commitment

confirmed

their

they

In order to build upon existing structures, the authorities
and agencies to form part of the European anti-corrup-
tion network could include EPAC member organisations.

international

enhancement of

cooperation is
The
generally (3)
recognised as a key issue in the fight
against corruption. The fight against all forms of corrup-
tion should be improved by cooperating effectively, iden-
tifying opportunities, sharing good practices and deve-
loping high professional standards. The establishment of
a anti-corruption network at EU level
is an important
contribution to the improvement of such cooperation,

(1) OJ …
(2) The Hague Programme in strengthening freedom, security and justice

in the European Union (OJ C 53, 3.3.2005, p. 1).

(3) United Nations Convention against Corruption, adopted by General

Assembly; Resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003.

C 173/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

26.7.2007

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Objective

In order to improve cooperation between authorities and agen-
cies to prevent and combat corruption in Europe a network of
contact points of the Member States of the European Union
shall be set up (hereinafter referred to as the ‘network’). The
European Commission, Europol and Eurojust shall be fully asso-
ciated with the activities of the Network.

Article 2

Composition of the network

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

Article 3

Tasks of the network

1.

The network shall in particular have the following tasks:

(1) 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;

(2) it shall facilitate the establishment and active maintenance

of contacts between its members.

To these ends,
up-to-date and a website operated.

inter alia, a list of contact points shall be kept

2.
The members of the network shall, for the accomplish-
ment of their tasks, meet as often as necessary, but at least once
a year.

Article 4

Scope

Police and judicial cooperation between the Member States shall
be governed by the relevant rules. The setting up of the network
shall be without prejudice to such rules, and without prejudice
to the role of CEPOL.

Article 5

Organisation of the network

The network shall organise itself, building upon existing

1.
informal collaboration between the EPAC.

2.
The 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.

Article 6

Entry into force

This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its
adoption.

Done at Brussels, …

For the Council

The President

…