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BAK in the Coordinating Body on Combating Corruption
On 4 June 2024, the 38th meeting of the Coordinating Body on Combating Corruption (Koordinationsgremium für Korruptionsbekämpfung – KgK) took place at the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ).
The agenda this time included the implementation and progress reports on the prevention of corruption among members of parliament, judges and public prosecutors as well as the prevention of corruption and the promotion of integrity in central governments and law enforcement agencies. These progress reports are evaluated by the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), which continuously reviews and assesses the implementation of the projects and the goals set by the member states, and makes recommendations.
In another topic, Daniela Hatzl, Head of the Prevention, Education and International Cooperation Department of the Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK), presented the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NAKS) and the National Action Plan (NAP) and provided an outlook on the voluntary participation of various authorities and organisations until mid-2025.
The final point of discussion at the meeting was the European Commission's legislative proposal in the area of criminal law on corruption. The aim of the proposed new directive is to establish EU regulations on the definition of corruption offences and the harmonisation of corresponding sanctions in order to improve corruption prevention and repression.
Coordinating Body on Combating Corruption
The Coordinating Body on Combating Corruption includes representatives from a wide range of institutions and organisations as permanent members. These include: all federal ministries and Austrian regions, the Austrian Association of Towns and Municipalities, the audit offices of the federal government and the regional governments, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Public Service Trade Union, the Trade Union of Municipal Employees, the Central Public Prosecutor's Office for Combating Economic Crime and Corruption, the Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption and Transparency International – Austria Chapter.
The Coordinating Body on Combating Corruption acts as an information and communication platform and fulfils a coordinating function in matters of preventing and combating corruption. It meets several times a year and participates in a broad exchange of information on national and international developments as well as in initiatives to combat and prevent corruption.