International CooperationPrint

European Anti-Corruption Network (EPAC)

The Special Investigation Service (further – STT) is a member of EPAC (European Partners Against Corruption).

EPAC includes police oversight bodies and anti-corruption authorities of 27 European countries. The aim of EPAC is to strengthen cooperation by exchanging experiences of combating corruption and police oversight.

The functions of the EPAC Secretariat are carried out by the Federal Bureau of anti-corruption of Austria (BAK).

EPAC conferences are held annually (beginning from 2001) in November and December for which preparations are made through working groups. One of them – the Working Group on Standards for Anti-Corruption Agencies – is presided over by the Lithuanian STT and the Latvian Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) (link to the working document).

In 2007, International Anti-Corruption Summer School (IACSS) was set up on the initiative of EPAC.

European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

The mission of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is to protect the financial interests of the European Union, fight against fraud, corruption and other illegal activity, as well as illegal practices of European institutions.

In 2006 and 2009 within the framework of the HERCULE programme on promoting the protection of the financial interests of the European Communities STT signed a contract with OLAF to get a grant  and to purchase special equipment.

With a view to implementing efficiently its principal mission OLAF actively develops the anti-fraud information and communication policy that represents one of the main fraud and corruption prevention measures. For the purpose of implementing this policy The OLAF Anti-Fraud Communicators Network (OAFCN) was established in 2001.

The aim of the Network is to develop the awareness of the European society and implement efficiently the programme against fraud and corruption over the territory of the European Union.

STT has been involved in the activities of OAFCN since 2002.

The Council of Europe's Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO)

STT became a member of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) on the 3rd of May 1999, when the Government of the Republic of Lithuania adopted Resolution No. 524 “On Membership of the Republic of Lithuania in the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO)”.

GRECO was established by Resolution 7 of 1998 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. This institution of the Council of Europe comprises 46 member States (45 European States and the United States of America). The aim of GRECO is to improve the capacity of the States to fight corruption:

• by following up compliance by the States with their undertakings in this field;
• by identifying the drawbacks in the national anti-corruption mechanisms;
• hrough the development of required legal, institutional and practical reforms.
  
  

Basic legal texts governing GRECO activities are as follows:

1. 1997 Resolution (97) 24 on the twenty guiding principles for the fight against corruption.
2. 1999 Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ratified by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on 25 January 2002 (No. IX-736)).
3. 1999 Civil Law Convention on Corruption (ratified by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on 12 November 2002 (No. IX-1195)).
4. 2003 Additional Protocol to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (No. 191).
5. Recommendation No. R(2000) 10 on the codes of conduct for public officials.
6. Recommendation No. Rec (2003) 4 on common rules against corruption in the funding of political parties and electoral campaigns.
   
   

Greco evaluations:

The Group of States Against Corruption monitors compliance with the above-mentioned legal acts;
evaluations are carried out for all member States;
evaluations are made by a team of experts selected from the list of proposed experts.

Evaluation procedure:

• the country under scrutiny completes a detailed questionnaire;
• GRECO experts and a representative of the Secretariat make an on-site visit to the country under scrutiny and ask questions contained in the questionnaire;
• a team of experts drafts a detailed report on the situation in the country and recommendations;a draft of the report is communicated to the country under scrutiny for comments;
• the final report, together with recommendations, is adopted at the plenary session, which is attended by experts and representatives of the country under scrutiny;
• recommendations require action within 18 months. Subsequent evaluation is designed to monitor progress made by the country in implementing the recommendations;
• the recommendations are assessed as implemented satisfactorily/in a satisfactory manner, partly implemented or not implemented.
  
  

GRECO evaluation rounds:

• First Evaluation Round covered a period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002.
• Second Evaluation Round covered a period from 1 January 2003 to 1 July 2005.
• Third Evaluation Round was launched at the end of 2007. It is comprised of the following parts:

1. Transparency of party funding.
2. Incriminations provided for in certain articles of the Criminal Law Convention of Corruption (ETS 173), its Additional Protocol (ETS 191) and Guiding Principle 2.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

In implementing the Global Programme against Corruption (GPAC) the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) helps countries effectively implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and other anti-corruption measures.

STT attends regular sessions and working groups of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (CAC/COSP) concerning:

• monitoring the implementation of the Convention;
• technical assistance;
• asset recovery.

The United Nations Development Programme Bratislava Regional Centre (UNDP).

Anti-Corruption Practitioners Network (ACPN)

STT has been an official partner institution of the Anti-Corruption Practitioners Network (ACPN) since 2007.

The ACPN was founded by the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Central/East Europe and CIS and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The website of the Network offers the opportunity to:

• use information and documents posted on the website on anti-corruption matters;
• find reports on international events;
• find information about the anti-corruption sector and legislation of the partner countries;
• join a forum for anti-corruption specialists and experts, exchange relevant information and get consultations.
  
  

Research Network of Anti-Corruption Agencies (ANCORAGE-NET)

STT has been an official partner of the Research Network of Anti-Corruption Agencies (ANCORAGE-NET) since 2006.

ANCORAGE-NET was established by the Lisbon Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

The website of the Network offers the opportunity to:

• find information about anti-corruption authorities: activity, functions and structure;
• obtain information about the anti-corruption sector by country;
• find comparative analysis data on anti-corruption authorities;
• use a database containing anti-corruption legislation, news, survey results, reports and research data by country.