Corruption Prevention in the BAK

Corruption Prevention

The BAK shall analyse corruption phenomena, gather information on preventing and combating them and develop appropriate preventive measures.

The BAK considers corruption prevention to be the totality of measures aiming to stop corruption and makes use of a comprehensive, evidence-based and sustainability-oriented catalogue of appropriate measures.

During the implementation of prevention projects, findings of scientific fundamental and basic research are turned into concrete recommendations for prevention.

In the field of training courses, the BAK develops and holds target group oriented lectures and training courses, for example the advanced training course "Preventing and Combating Corruption" for civil servants of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Furthermore, the BAK is the competence centre and coordinating body of a nationwide network of anti-corruption officials.

On a regular basis, the BAK organizes national meetings and events such as the Austrian Anti-Corruption Day and the round tables of anti-corruption experts.

The awareness-raising measures are complemented by a comprehensive range of anti-corruption trainings for schools and by a train-the-trainer education for prospective teachers.

Further Training Course "Preventing and Combating Corruption"

In 2005, the Austrian Federal Bureau for Internal Affairs (BIA), the BAK’s predecessor, initiated and organized the first two-week further training course on "Preventing and Combating Corruption". Since then, due to the strong interest in the course and its great success, it has been organized twice a year. This training course will also be an integral part of the educational activities of the BAK.

Target group

The target group are interested staff members of all grades and categories of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. Preference will be given to applicants (having been) working in the criminal police services as well as to employees operating in areas especially exposed to corruption and misuse.

Objective

The objective is to impart well-founded and useful knowledge about (the fight against) corruption. On the one hand, participants shall be acquainted with the background and underlying mechanisms of the phenomenon of corruption and with the problems and dangers related to corruption, in particular in the field of public administration. On the other hand, they will be presented with options to prevent and combat corruption.

Teaching content

Theoretical background information on corruption
Presentation and discussion of current corruption indices and statistics international instruments to prevent and combat corruption
Professional ethics, communication and conflict management
Legal and theoretical background concerning the investigation of corruption offences (focus on the relevant provisions of the Austrian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Security Police Act, the data protection and disciplinary law and service regulations)
Characteristics of certain special investigations
Presentation of the BAK (objectives, tasks, organization, etc.)

National Anti-Corruption Strategy

The Austrian National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), adopted by the Austrian Council of Ministers on 31 January 2018, provides a framework for all measures taken to prevent and combat corruption. It was developed under the direction of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, in particular the Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK), and the Federal Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders from public administration, civil society, and business. Various topics related to corruption prevention had been discussed in the framework of ten expert panels organized by the BAK. The content of these discussions was then condensed and taken as a basis for the formulation of the NACS.

At the heart of the strategy are the commitment to integrity, the willingness to cooperate at national and international levels, the promotion of integrity, especially in public administration, and the implementation of awareness-raising measures in the public and private sector.

The strategy comprises the promotion of integrity and prevention of corruption in all sectors, ranging from public administration to the business sector and civil society. On the basis of this strategy, the Action Plan 2019-2020, which will consist of specific measures, is being prepared. In accordance with the NACS, the Action Plan is divided into the sections “Prevention” and “Law Enforcement”. The six sub-categories of the section “Prevention” provide a better overview of this vast field and define priorities that will be adjusted to current developments every two years.