EU Presidency Statement - Convention against Corruption

Mr. President,

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, and the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

Corruption impoverishes national economies, undermines democratic institutions and the rule-of-law, and has a negative impact on the process of economic and social development. Therefore, the European Union attaches particular importance to preventing and combating corruption at all levels.

The EU continues to implement a comprehensive policy against corruption and, at the same time, believes that - in an increasingly connected world - the fight against corruption has become more urgent than ever and calls for a stronger action by the United Nations.

Mr. President,

In this context, the EU heartedly welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, an instrument that can effectively contribute to our common aim. The EU expresses its satisfaction for the outcomes of the negotiations in Vienna on this Convention in which the EU has played an active role. The text to be adopted today, provides States with a wide range of high standard and universally acceptable provisions, which will strengthen their capability in combating corruption practices at national and international level.

The EU supports the comprehensive nature of the Convention, which includes both prevention and law enforcement measures, as well as innovative legal instruments on the transfer of funds of illicit origin and their restitution.

The European Union sincerely hopes that a maximum number of States will sign the Convention on Corruption on the occasion of the High-level Political Signing Conference that will be held in Mérida (Mexico) from December 9 to December 11. This will be an important first step towards a speedy entry into force and implementation of the Convention, an objective to which the European Union commits itself.

The EU believes that adequate support should be given to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna, including its Global Program against Corruption, so as to enable it to promote the entry into force of the Convention against Corruption and to support the implementation of related activities and initiatives.

Thank you, Mr President.

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• EU Presidency Statement - UN Convention against corruption (21/1/2002)