Kazakhstan joins GRECO

GRECO is an initiative within the framework of the Council of Europe, created in 1999, including 49 states: Austria, the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Finland and others. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Estonia are members of the organization from the post-Soviet space.

The two main tasks assigned to GRECO are improving the methods of combating corruption in the participating countries and creating a base for the exchange of best practices in the prevention and detection of cases of corruption.

Kazakhstan’s side was represented by Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency Alik Shpekbayev.

The Council of Europe was represented by Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni. She noted significant progress in the implementation of the anti-corruption policy in Kazakhstan and the positive changes that have taken place since the initial filing of the application by Kazakhstan.

“I am proud of Kazakhstan’s achievements and its willingness to cooperate effectively with the GRECO member countries. We will look forward to the next steps, including your country's accession to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption”, she said.

Alik Shpekbayev explained that Kazakhstan has been cooperating with the Council of Europe and its structures since 1997, not being a member.

“We have the opportunity to participate in a number of expanded agreements that allow us to work together with Council’s member states on issues of particular interest. Cooperation with GRECO demonstrates the commitment of our country, as a full member of the UN Convention against Corruption, to the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe and our country's intention to improve anti-corruption measures. Joining GRECO paves the way for us to adopt the best European practices in the fight against corruption”, he noted.

During the working meeting, Gianluca Esposito, GRECO Executive Secretary, said that accession negotiations have been completed successfully.

“We expect an early ratification of the agreement by Kazakhstan, which enters into this prestigious initiative as the 50th participant”, he said.

Upon completion of the monitoring procedures by GRECO, the Agency, together with other state bodies, will direct efforts to implement recommendations for improving anti-corruption legislation based on the experience of European countries taking into account international conventions, as well as 20 anti-corruption guidelines.

Joining GRECO opens up the possibility of ratification of the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. In the future, this will strengthen cooperation with European countries on the provision of legal assistance, extradition of criminals and the return of property illegally acquired by them and will create the basis for the participation of Kazakhstan’s law enforcement officers in operational investigative activities conducted on international investigative orders in the territory of European states.