Tackling Corruption Across the EU - Principles into practice

The fight against corruption in the EU appears to have stalled. 2011 saw extraordinary breakthroughs in the Middle East and India, while the outlook in the EU was less bright. Rampant corruption and tax evasion in Greece has contributed to the collapse of trust in national governments and their ability to handle the debt crisis; the phone-tapping scandal in the UK revealed the extent of collusion and corruption in media, politics and police; the European Parliament was shaken by the allegations that some of its members took payments from journalists posing as lobbyists; and a recent survey of European companies showed that two-thirds acknowledge bribery and corruption are widespread in their country and 40% say the problem has worsened over the last two years of economic downturn.

This conference organised by Dods and Transparency International, looked at the causes and consequences of this trend, as well as some of the tools and strategies that can be used to tackle it. It will brought together civil society representatives, high-level EU officials and other stakeholders to discuss the EU’s potential as an ally in the fight against corruption. It will look at ways to establish a new era of transparency, accountability and better governance in Europe. The conference was organised with the support of Monica Macovei MEP.

Sessions included:

• Is corruption and lack of transparent governance at the root of the EU’s crisis?
• Assessing the state of corruption in the EU
• Integrity and transparency in EU financial sector reform
• The EU as a global anti-corruption actor
• Eliminating waste and corruption in EU funds: the role of public procurement

Speakers included:

• Jerzy Buzek MEP, President of the European Parliament (to be confirmed)
• Dennis de Jong MEP (confirmed)
• Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director, Transparency International (confirmed)
• Monica Macovei MEP (confirmed)
• Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation from Jermyn P Brooks on Corrupt Dictators and the Arab Spring: Implicationsfor Banks and Anti-Money Laundering Rules.

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation from Angelique Keijsers, Partner Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services,Ernst & Young, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation from Christian Servenay, Deputy Head of Unit – Public Procurement Policy, European Commission.

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation from Nicholas Ilett, Director for General Affairs European Anti-Fraud Office.

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation from Peter Tausz, Head of private sector programme, Transparency International Hungary.

Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation from Uwe Krenz, Member of FIEC-EIC working group,EIC Treasurer & Bilfinger Berger.