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Independence of Regulators and Protection against Undue Influence

OECD work on the independence of regulators and how to protect them from undue influence. Information includes new data from a survey of 48 regulators across the world.




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OECD Network Sector Regulation Indicators

OECD Network Sector Regulation Indicators




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Regulatory Impact Assessment in the Netherlands

This report provides an analysis of RIA in the Netherlands




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Methodology paper

A detailed explanation of the methodology used to build the OECD PMR indicators




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Regulatory Quality and COVID-19: Managing the Risks and Supporting the Recovery

Regulatory decisions are vital at nearly every stage of resolving the health crisis and its social and economic effects. The current situation makes the need for trusted, evidence-based, internationally co-ordinated and well-enforced regulation particularly acute.




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Iceland: Better coordination among authorities needed to tackle foreign bribery, says OECD

Iceland must do more to ensure its law enforcement authorities are coordinated and adequately resourced to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crime, including foreign bribery, says the OECD in a new report.




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Corruption : OECD recognises Norway’s commitment to the fight against foreign bribery and recommends further improvements

Norway has made significant progress in its efforts against the bribery of foreign public officials in recent years, according to a new OECD report. But more could be done to strengthen enforcement, including by focusing on the confiscation from companies of the proceeds of bribery.




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Corruption: Luxembourg must implement without delay its legislation against the bribery of foreign public officials, says OECD

Luxembourg must step up its efforts to detect and prosecute cases of bribery of foreign public officials, particularly now that its legal framework has been strengthened, in compliance with the Anti-Bribery Convention




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Openness and Transparency - Pillars for Democracy, Trust and Progress

Openness is one of the key values that guide the OECD vision for a stronger, cleaner, fairer world. This is why the OECD welcomes the launch of the Open Government Partnership today and the efforts led by Presidents Obama and Rousseff to promote government transparency, fight corruption, empower citizens and maximise the potential of new technologies to strengthen accountability and foster participation in public affairs.




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The OECD acknowledges progress made, and says Mexico should further prioritise fighting foreign bribery

Mexico has improved, but needs to give greater priority to the criminal enforcement of bribery and ensure that its criminal law enforcement authorities have all the resources and expertise they need to seriously investigate all allegations, according to a new OECD report.




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Korea making notable progress on fighting foreign bribery; further improvements needed, says OECD

Korea has improved its information and intelligence gathering capacity in foreign bribery cases, but should be more proactive in investigating allegations, according to a new OECD report.




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Serious Concerns Remain over Japan’s Enforcement of Foreign Bribery Law, Despite Some Positive Developments

The Phase 3 Report on Japan by the OECD Working Group on Bribery evaluates and makes recommendations on Japan'simplementation and application of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.




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In support of its active enforcement efforts, Italy should urgently extend timeframe for prosecuting foreign bribery

The Phase 3 Report on Italy by the OECD Working Group on Bribery evaluates and makes recommendations on Italy's implementation and application of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.




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OECD recognises Switzerland’s commitment to the fight against foreign bribery and recommends further improvements

The Phase 3 Report on Switzerland by the OECD Working Group on Bribery evaluates and makes recommendations on Switzerland 's implementation and application of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.




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Identification and Quantification of the Proceeds of Bribery: A joint OECD-StAR analysis

Bribery of public officials is harmful to good governance, economic development and competitive conditions. Confiscation and recovery of the proceeds derived from foreign bribery are key elements in the international framework to fight corruption of public officials.




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UK increases enforcement of foreign bribery, but concerns remain about transparency and resources

The United Kingdom has significantly boosted its foreign bribery enforcement efforts but needs to be more transparent when resolving cases.




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Hungary has improved legal framework for fighting foreign bribery, but must do more to detect and prosecute

Hungary’s law banning bribery of foreign public officials is relatively good on paper but lacks effective application, according to a new OECD report. Hungary must strengthen detection and prosecution of individuals and companies involved in foreign bribery.




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Boosting integrity, fighting corruption

This brochure describes the multiple domains where the OECD is engaged in fighting corruption and boosting integrity. It relates how the CleanGovBiz initiative is drawing together for the first time these anti-corruption tools under a single umbrella.




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Colombia and Mexico sign international tax, human rights and clean business standards

Colombia and Mexico are a step closer to beneffiting from cross border tax co-operation and information sharing. Colombia has signed, and Mexico has deposited its instrument of ratification for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.




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Tax: Joining forces to fight financial crime and illicit activities

Financial crimes, including corruption, tax fraud and money laundering, are a threat to all countries, both developing and developed. The sums are vast. Estimates have put total proceeds from all illicit activities at 3.6% of global GDP.




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Slovak Republic must urgently introduce effective legislation holding companies liable for foreign bribery, says OECD

20/06/2012 - The Slovak Republic must urgently meet its obligations under the Convention it signed 12 years ago and introduce an effective corporate liability regime so that Slovak companies are held accountable for the bribery of foreign public officials in cross-border business deals, says a new OECD report.




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Sweden's enforcement of foreign bribery laws far too weak

More than twelve years after making foreign bribery a crime, Sweden needs to make much greater efforts to actively enforce its anti-bribery legislation, according to a new OECD report.




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OECD to peer review Chile's supreme audit institution

OECD signed agreement for a peer review with the Comptroller General of Chile




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Consultation on collective action in the fight against foreign bribery

This Working Group on Bribery consultation with the private sector and civil society focused on collective action in the fight against foreign bribery.




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OECD seriously concerned at lack of foreign bribery convictions in France, but recognises recent efforts to ensure independence of prosecutors

France should intensify its efforts to combat the bribery of foreign public officials. Only five convictions – of which one, under appeal, involves a company – have been handed down in twelve years.




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OECD seriously concerned by lack of foreign bribery convictions, but encouraged by recent efforts by the Australian Federal Police

Australia’s enforcement of its foreign bribery laws has been extremely low, with just a single case leading to prosecutions out of 28 referrals in 13 years. Cases may have been closed prematurely. Australia must vigorously pursue foreign bribery allegations.




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Typology on Mutual Legal Assistance in Foreign Bribery Cases

This study focuses on the challenges that arise in providing and obtaining mutual legal assistance (MLA) in foreign bribery cases. Because these cases take place across borders, effective MLA between countries is crucial for the successful investigation, prosecution and sanctioning of this crime.




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Colombia joins OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

Colombia will become the 40th Party to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention on 19 January 2013.




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Colombia se adhiere a la Convención para Combatir el Cohecho

El 19 de enero de 2013 Colombia se convertirá en el 40º estado en formar parte en la Convención para Combatir el Cohecho.




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Making Sure That Bribes Don’t Pay

To mark the 15th anniversary of the signature of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, Mark Pieth and Huguette Labelle call on Parties to the OECD's Anti-Bribery Convention to step up enforcement of their anti-bribery laws.




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Gesetze gegen Auslandsbestechung in Österreich unzureichend umgesetzt – OECD setzt auf baldige Verbesserung

Die OECD-Arbeitsgruppe gegen Bestechung bedauert, dass in Österreich bisher noch kein Urteil wegen der Bestechung von ausländischen Amtsträgern ergangen ist, obwohl seit der Ratifizierung des entsprechenden OECD-Übereinkommens vor 13 Jahren eine Reihe von Vorwürfen vorlag.




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Austria’s enforcement of foreign bribery laws far too weak, but could pick up soon says OECD

The OECD Working Group on Bribery regrets that Austria has not had a conviction of bribing foreign public officials despite a number of allegations, 13 years after ratifying the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. However, enforcement appears to be picking up, with one case being tried, two more cases soon to be tried, and four ongoing investigations.




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Netherlands must significantly step up its foreign bribery enforcement, says OECD

The Netherlands is failing to vigorously pursue foreign bribery allegations and must do more to enforce its foreign bribery laws. Fourteen out of 22 foreign bribery allegations have not triggered the opening of an investigation, calling into question the Netherlands’ ability and proactivity in investigating and prosecuting this crime.




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OECD seriously concerned by absence of foreign bribery convictions in Spain

Spain’s enforcement of its foreign bribery laws has been extremely low, with not a single prosecution out of only seven investigations in 13 years since joining the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. Spain must vigorously pursue foreign bribery allegations and strengthen its legal framework for fighting bribery by addressing gaps in its Penal Code, says a new OECD report.




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From Corporate Compliance to Collective Action

Promoting anti-corruption compliance measures, to prevent corrupt acts before they take place and to properly address them when they do, and encouraging collective action and sectoral initiatives to share best practices and expertise should be a priority, said OECD Secretary-General in Moscow.




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OECD takes aim at software technologies used by businesses to evade taxes

The OECD has released a study to help all countries understand and address the risks of sales suppression software. It describes some of the most common electronic sales suppression techniques and shows how these methods can be detected by tax auditors. The report also considers the approaches already adopted by countries in combating this risk and highlights a number of best practices.




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Denmark must investigate foreign bribery more proactively

Denmark’s enforcement of its foreign bribery laws has been weak. Only 13 foreign bribery allegations have surfaced, and sanctions have been imposed in just one case that falls under the Convention. Law enforcement authorities have not been sufficiently proactive, and cases have been prematurely closed without complete investigations. Denmark must take more investigative steps and make greater efforts to gather evidence from abroad.




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Regrettably low awareness in the private sector is an obstacle to the fight against foreign bribery in the Czech Republic

The Czech government must urgently engage with the private sector to raise awareness, says a new OECD report. The awareness of the Czech foreign bribery offence remains regrettably low among companies, despite the recent adoption of a comprehensive corporate liability regime that holds Czech companies liable for this crime.




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Specialised Anti-Corruption Institutions - Review of Models

This report provides a comparative overview of common standards and key features of specialised anti-corruption institutions and comprehensive descriptions of 19 anti-corruption institutions operating in different parts of the world, presented in a comparable framework.




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Trust comes from within

Russians are becoming increasingly active in the country’s social arena. While activists remain a small but growing and visible minority of citizens looking for changes in governance, many more are becoming involved in the day-to-day affairs of their communities. It remains to be seen whether this emerging culture of civic participation will sit comfortably with existing governance structures.




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OECD Integrity Week 2013

A series of high-level public events and committee meetings addressing the issue of integrity and anti-corruption take place at the OECD during the week of 22-26 April 2013.




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2013 Forum on Integrity – Improving Integrity in Practice

The 2013 Forum on Integrity brought together high-level government, business and civil society representatives to exchange and discuss best practices in implementing integrity.




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Third Annual High-Level Anti-Corruption Conference for G20 Governments and Business

Co-organised by the G20 Russian Presidency and the OECD, with UNODC support, this conference focused on promoting transparency and integrity in organising sport and other major events and cutting-edge measures for governments and business to combat corruption.




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India-OECD seminar on fighting bribery in business transactions

Co-organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the OECD in New Delhi, discussions at this seminar focused on corruption challenges facing Indian companies today and what can be done to overcome these challenges.




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Portugal needs proactive enforcement to tackle severe foreign bribery risks, says OECD

Portugal’s enforcement of its foreign bribery laws has been extremely low. Not a single prosecution has resulted from 15 allegations of Portuguese companies bribing foreign officials in high-risk countries.




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Poland needs strategy to meet growing risk of foreign bribery

The current Polish framework for fighting foreign bribery is still inadequate to fully meet foreign bribery risks resulting from Poland’s growing economy, says a new OECD report.




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OECD Forum on Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying

The Forum addressed key challenges in designing and implementing a system that ensures compliance in a cost-effective way.




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OECD Working Group on Bribery Elects New Chair

The OECD Working Group on Bribery has designated Slovenian national Drago Kos to serve as the Group’s new Chair.




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Despite certain progress, the OECD remains concerned with Russia’s compliance with key provisions of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

Russia has yet to address key provisions of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which entered into force in Russia in April 2012. It has not yet fully implemented recommendations for strengthening its framework for combating foreign bribery and should be more proactive in detecting, investigating and prosecuting foreign bribery cases.




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Belgium should address “flagrant” lack of resources for fighting foreign bribery, says OECD

Fighting foreign bribery is not a priority in Belgium. Together with the flagrant lack of resources for Belgian law enforcement authorities, this has resulted in very few foreign bribery investigations and prosecutions. In the 14 years since the entry into force of the foreign bribery offence in Belgium, only one case of bribery of foreign public officials has been concluded.