Transcript TI - Understanding corruption and its dynamics 270109

Understanding Corruption and its Dynamics
What is Corruption?
Jana Mittermaier
Head of Brussels Office
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.transparencyinternational.eu
How do you define corruption?
Transparency International:
‘Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power
for private gain.’
Differentiate between
1. "according to rule" corruption
2. “against the rule" corruption
What is transparency?
"Transparency" can be defined as:
a principle that allows those affected by administrative
decisions, business transactions or charitable work to
know not only the basic facts and figures but also the
mechanisms and processes.
It is the duty of civil servants, managers and trustees
to act visibly, predictably and understandably.
Corruption Facts in the EU
• European Commission Eurobarometer survey
on the attitudes of Europeans towards
corruption:
http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb
s/ebs_291_sum_en.pdf
• Transparency International: Corruption
Perception Index 2008
• Transparency International: Bribe Payer’s
Index 2008
Facts in developed countries
• Widespread corruption can cause the growth rate of
a country to be 0.5 to 1.0 percentage points lower
than that of a similar country with little corruption.
(World Bank)
• $50 billion in corrupt money. An approximate
amount of corrupt money deposited each year into
western bank accounts and tax havens (Raymond
Baker).
• US $250 billion in laundered funds. Estimate of
laundered money from developed and transitional
economies that makes its way into US banks each
year (Raymond Baker).
Facts in developing countries
• 25% of African states’ GDP lost to corruption each
year, totalling US $148 billion (captures the full range
of corruption, from petty bribes to inflated public
procurement contracts) (U4 Anti-corruption resource
centre, 2007).
• US $20 billion to US $40 billion in bribe money
moved overseas, equivalent to 20% to 40% of
Official Development Assistance (ODA). Proceeds of
corruption in bribes received by public officials in
developing and transition countries that is transferred
abroad ( World Bank, Star Report, 2007).
What is the Legal Framework?
• Regional Instruments (EU)
• Sectored Conventions (OECD)
• Global Convention (UNCAC)
Example: UNCAC Article 13 - Participation of civil society
Each State Party shall take appropriate measures, within its means
and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to
promote the active participation of individuals and groups
outside the public sector, such as civil society, nongovernmental organizations and community-based
organizations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption
and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and
gravity of and the threat posed by corruption.
How to fight corruption?
• No "quick fix", no "magic bullet" for curbing corruption
• Assisting developing and transition countries
• Working with leading international organizations and
industrialized countries
• A good national anti-corruption strategy must have both
top-down and bottom-up elements:
Anti-Corruption Methods for Civil Society
Top-down:
– Anti-corruption monitoring (indicators needed!)
– Advocacy to hold accountable
– Capacity-building of government and private sector
– Analyse and diagnose corruption and integrity
– Cultivate strategic partnerships and coalition-building
Bottom-up:
– Inform and educate citizens (awareness raising)
– Anti-Corruption ‘Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres’
Global / EU Priorities
• International and EU Conventions against Corruption
• Transparent EU spending
• Anti-Corruption in Public Contracting
• Anti-Bribery Standards in the Private Sector
• Transparent EU lobbying
• Anti-Corruption in EU's development cooperation
• Access to Information