Greece must take tougher measures to fight corruption, the Council of Europe said Friday (November 27th), noting that Athens has not implemented its previous recommendations.
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“
The Group of States against Corruption (Greco) urges Greece to strengthen its criminal legislation in order to fight corruption more effectively, as it has not implemented any of Greco's four recommendations on the subject
”, indicates the organ of the Council of Europe in a report.
He “
criticizes, for example, the fact that the aggravating circumstances linked to corruption are not fully covered by the law, when the courts rule on the seriousness and the sanction of these offenses, and that prosecutors can refrain from prosecuting corruption offenses
”.
In addition, Greece is called upon to “
also criminalize passive bribery of public officials, including judges, members of assemblies, jurors and arbitrators in accordance with the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
".
Greece wanted in June 2019 to downgrade from crime to misdemeanor the criminal offense of bribery of public officials and therefore reduce the associated sanctions accordingly, recalls the Council of Europe.
After discussions in particular with El Greco and the OECD, Athens went back, requalifying this crime offense in November 2019, continues the organization.
“
While this legal change (
from November 2019
) is a good thing, other consequences have remained.
For example, the aggravating circumstances should be really decisive for the penalties of corruption cases, and, for corruption offenses committed before the November 2019 amendment, the most lenient legislation and penalties (offenses) apply
”, reproaches El Greco.
Corruption offenses that may escape prosecution must also be seen to be “
strictly limited
” in
scope
and remain “
exceptional and minor cases
”, he recommends.
El Greco is a body of the Council of Europe which aims to improve the capacity of its members to fight corruption.
It currently brings together the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, as well as Belarus, Kazakhstan and the United States.
Greece is due to submit a new report on measures taken to fight corruption by the end of October 2021.
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