France and the fight against corruption

France and the fight against corruption

The States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption are holding a conference in Amman from 10 to 14 December 2006. France, whose anti-corruption machinery puts her in the forefront of the fight against corruption, is actively working to ensure its success.

1. In France, three main bodies are responsible for spearheading this fight:

- the financial intelligence unit (Tracfin)¹, which comes under the Ministry of Finance; and

- the Central Service for the Prevention of Corruption (SCPC)², attached to the Ministry of Justice. One of the SCPC’s main roles is to advise on proposed measures to prevent both passive and active corruption and it is playing a growing international role.

- the central anti-bribery brigade (BCLC), which was set up in October 2004 within the Interior Ministry. It is a multidisciplinary body focusing specifically on corruption and has the power to investigate all cases linked to it.

These bodies draw on information provided by the national bank account database and criminal assets identification agency.

2. At international level, France was one of the first to commit herself to fighting corruption:

- On 31 July 2000 she ratified the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials. The OECD’s follow-up report gave a positive appraisal of the Convention’s implementation in France³;

- After playing a major role in its negotiation, France was also the first G8 and second EU member to ratify the United Nations Convention against corruption on 11 July 2005, known as the "Merida Convention". The Amman conference is being held to review this convention’s implementation by the 80 States Parties. France is co-chairman of the "friends" of the Merida Convention. /.

¹ established by the anti-money laundering Act of 12 July 1990. www.tracfin.minefi.gouv.fr (in French)

² created by the Act on the prevention of corruption and transparency in business and public proceedings of 29 January 1993. . www.justice.gouv.fr/publicat/scpc.htm (in French)

³ OECD site: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/36/19/36411137.pdf