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Germany is ready to sign UNCAC – at last

In the end, it was an overwhelming majority. Only seven members of parliament voted last Friday (21 February 2014) against toughening up German regulations to stop bribery of parliamentarians. 582 voted for it. The issue is the last major obstacle to Germany’s ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). We now expect Germany […]

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OECD moves forward on tax transparency

Last September G20 leaders moved towards greater transparency to crack down on tax evasion. They promised a “new global standard” to increase the exchange of financial information between countries. Whereas today tax authorities have to chase information from others authorities if and when they suspect foul play, this new standard will require any jurisdiction signing […]

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Bosnians demand a change

It is not surprising that the people are again in the streets in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The leaders of the political parties have refused to take responsibility for citizens’ dissatisfaction and poverty, attempting to present the protests as an ethnic, rather than social discontent fuelled by corruption. The first reaction of the political elite to […]

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Inside Ukraine’s protests

Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, has been racked by protests, the largest since the 2004 Orange Revolution when the country rose up in response to fraudulent presidential elections. Thousands of people have been occupying Kiev’s main square since last November and more recently, government buildings. The varying reports on the reasons for the violence and the range […]

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Corruption and security: uncovering the elephant in the room at the Munich Security Conference

Last weekend the City of Munich saw one of its most admired and, for some, most controversial events of the year – the Munich Security Conference. In the beautiful halls of the conference venue (Bayerischer Hof), heavily guarded by police and security personnel, an astonishing density of the world’s leaders and security and policy experts […]

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La Casa Real Española y el respeto al estado de derecho

Noticias recientes indican que en Espana  la Infanta Cristina ha sido llamada a declarar como imputada por supuestos delitos fiscales y de blanqueo de capitales, esta es una oportunidad para recordar a los gobiernos de todo el mundo que para que la justicia pueda hacer su trabajo se debe garantizar su independencia y alejarla de […]

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The Spanish Royal Court and the rule of law

News that Spanish Princess Cristina has been requested to appear in court as a witness to her husband’s alleged embezzlement provides the perfect opportunity to remind governments around the world that in order for a judiciary do its job, it must be truly independent and free of political interference. In the case of Cristina, the […]

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Youngsters should not learn corruption from the elderly

On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2013, Transparency International Hungary organised the Átláccó Festival, a professional and cultural event with the aim of drawing the young generation’s attention to the importance of the fight against corruption. Young people learning bad patterns The “Youth and Integrity” conference on 9 December dealt with Transparency International’s research […]

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Defence: why it’s vital for countries to walk the anti-corruption talk

It is not just enough to talk about fighting corruption or even to sign an international convention outlawing it; it’s actions that count. But recent scandals in the defence sector show that, for some countries, the ride ahead is still very long and bumpy. Take, for example, the recent developments in the AgustaWestland scandal, in […]

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CPI 2013: A glimmer of hope in Greece?

As the European political and economic crisis enters its fifth year, there are few signs of optimism. The results of the 2013 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for the region are no exception. The story in general is one of stagnation: there are more than 27 million unemployed in the EU – a figure that continues […]

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