Council of Europe heads criticism against Germany, reason revealed

German parliamentarians need clearer rules regarding access to lobbyists, in addition to this, MPs should state more detailed private conflicts of interest and their participation in ventures. The Anti-Corruption Forum at the Council of Europe (GRECO) requires this.

Germany does not take enough measures against bribes and should urgently improve in this regard.

Danger of Conflict of Interest

The newspaper “Tabespiegel” at the end of last week reported a GRECO report. This newspaper writes that MPs in case of conflict of interest should be obliged to declare ad-hoc their situation. G Forum RECO specifically criticises the fact that Bundestag refuses to declare MPs' income from participation in business shares, if they are under the quota of 25% of voting rights.

The German delegation to the Council of Europe should submit a report to this forum on this issue later in June 2020. The implementation of GRECO recommendations, headquartered in Strasbourg, should be declared in the fight against corruption in parliament.

According to GRECO, in addition to Germany over Belarus, Hungary, France, Ireland and Austria, processes have been opened for failing to implement rates.

At the end of June G RECO opened a so-called process of disrespecting standards against Germany because, according to the forum, the 2015 recommendations in Germany have been ignored. Germany has also been criticised by GRECO for lack of transparency in party financing, writes DW.

“Bilanc devastating”

Transparency International (TI) named GRECO balance as “Destructive”. Bundestag's blocking stance cannot be accepted for long.

The German Parliament must have clear rules for access to lobbyists and should engage in a more open statement of the conflict of interest”, said Norman Loekkel, deputy director of the working group near TI.

Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble said that Bundestag will handle GRECO recommendations after the summer break.

I am sure that parliamentary groups will carefully verify the recommendations of this report on the norms commission to harmonise the German legal situation with recommendations from Strasbourg. ”

The anti-corruption forum in the annual report stated, that the quota of implementation of GRECO recommendations is generally declining. Only about 34 percent of the recommendations have been applied to member states last year.

At the G Forum RECO, founded in 1999, participates experts from 48 European and US countries.

They regularly at certain times value the efforts of states in fighting passive and active corruption.

Also formulated at this forum are recommendations for governments, and verify to what extent they are implemented.