Promoting Integrity and Preventing Corruption: GRECO`s Report on the Czech Republic

06-03-2024

Burak Tahsin Bahce

International Justice Team Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

On March 4th, 2024, the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) released its evaluation report on the Czech Republic. The report was adopted at the GRECO`s 94th Plenary Meeting from the 5th to the 9th of June, 2023, as a part of its fifth evaluation round. The objective of this report was to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures adopted by the authorities of the Czech Republic to prevent corruption and promote integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. Therefore the overall theme of anti-corruption has been monitored mainly over the situation of top executives and in the law enforcement agencies.

Concerning the top executives, the report called for determined measures to prevent corruption in Czechia for these persons, including the Prime Minister, ministers, deputy ministers, ministers’ advisers, as well as members of the police. It noted that, although the Czech Republic has a strong legal framework to combat corruption, there is no sufficient focus on guidance, training, supervision, and enforcement of these rules. It highlighted the need for better identification of integrity risks, particularly for those affecting persons with top executive functions, and more concretely, the need for clear rules on the recruitment and appointment of ministers’ advisers. 

The GRECO pointed out that most of the persons with top executive functions are not subject to ethical rules and do not have sufficient awareness in this respect. It also stated that confidential counselling on integrity and lobbying remains unregulated. In this sense, it called for stronger rules on accepting gifts and invitations and post-employment restrictions. Similarly, the report suggested that ministers` advisers should be required to publicly disclose their assets, interests, and activities, and these declarations should be subject to adequately equipped independent review. 

Concerning the law enforcement agencies, to ensure and increase transparency in the police and prevent conflict of interest, GRECO called for better regulations on sponsorship and donations to the police and for complimenting them with practical guidance and confidential counselling. With regard to the new domestic act on the protection of whistleblowers, the report considered that post-employment restrictions and awareness-raising activities should be adequately regulated. Furthermore, it suggested that the complaints about the police officers and their conduct, and decisions on these complaints should be publicised. Additionally, the report encouraged the Czech authorities to take measures to increase the representation of women in police institutions, particularly in managerial positions, and to conduct integrity reviews at regular intervals. 

The report, therefore, particularly emphasised better regulations, awareness, training, confidential counselling, and regular review of integrity, as well as transparency within governance and law enforcement. Besides its detailed observations and analysis, the report is relevant as it provides robust guidance with concrete recommendations to the States on how to combat corruption and ensure integrity. 

GRECO will conduct a follow-up review in 2025 on whether its recommendations in this report are implemented.

Sources and further reading:

GRECO (The Group of States against Corruption), Fifth Evaluation Round: Preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies (Czech Republic) (GrecoEval5Rep(2022)7, Council of Europe 2024) <https://rm.coe.int/grecoeval5rep-2022-7-final-eng-evaluation-report-czech-republic-public/1680aeb6aa> accessed March 5th, 2024.

GRECO, ‘Czechia must improve the effectiveness of its system to promote integrity and prevent corruption in the government and the police’, (4 March 2024)  <Czechia must improve the effectiveness of its system to promote integrity and prevent corruption in the government and the police - Group of States against Corruption (coe.int)> accessed March 5th, 2024.