By Ioanna Mandrou

The immediate adaptation of Greece in taking measures against corruption and in the fight against it in international business transactions is noted in a report by the OECD after an evaluation carried out in our country.

In particular, the OECD report notes that Greece implemented 38 of the 49 recommendations and indeed in a short time, while it is underlined that the implementation of these anti-corruption measures is an excellent result.
Among the measures taken and highlighted in the report are:

  • The overall upgrading of the liability of legal entities for bribery offences, in a single and efficient judicial procedure.
  • Strengthening the jurisdiction and role of the Financial Prosecutor, by expanding his authority to investigate and prosecute corruption offences.
  • The further expansion of the scope of the Law for the protection of public interest witnesses (whistleblowers protection).
  • Strengthening the Charter of Ethics for judges and prosecutors in civil and criminal justice as well as the Code of Ethics for Members of Government, emphasizing the true independence of the judiciary from the executive.

The Report states that further progress is expected through effective implementation of the measures and it is recognized that appropriate actions are already being taken in this direction.

The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Development as well as the National Transparency Authority, under the coordination of the Presidency of the Government, participated in the effort that led to this positive result, as stated in a relevant announcement by the Ministry of Justice. From the OECD headquarters in Paris, the effort was coordinated by the ambassador of Greece to the OECD, Professor Giorgos Pagoulatos, in collaboration with the head of the national delegation to the Working Group, Professor Maria Gavouneli. Judges and civil servants from Korea and Lithuania participated in the country’s review team, while the final decision was taken by the plenary of the 46 States Parties to the Convention.