Source: European Parliament
The EU promotes human rights, democratic governance, the rule of law and the fight against corruption policies as a priority in its external action. Serious acts of corruption threaten peace and international security, enabling terrorism, organised crime and other crimes.
It is for the Council to decide by unanimity whether to adopt the High Representative/Vice-President’s proposal to establish a new Common Foreign and Security Policy sanctions regime targeting serious acts of corruption worldwide.
Meanwhile, the EU has introduced and made use of the possibility to impose restrictive measures (sanctions) to target serious financial misconduct concerning public funds in country-specific contexts[1].
The EU supports the universalisation and effective implementation of the fight against corruption, including via its trade tools, such as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+)[2] framework and Everything but Arms (EBA)[3] scheme (GSP+ and EBA beneficiary countries need to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention against corruption).
Human rights dialogues with more than 60 countries are opportunities to discuss issues related to corruption and its negative impact on human rights.
The promotion and protection of civil society’s actors fighting against corruption is at the core of EU’s anti-corruption efforts. The EU strives to protect whistle-blowers and provide support to national human rights institutions, human rights defenders and journalists at risk.
- [1] Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 of 28 April 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova; Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/254 of 12 January 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guatemala.
- [2] https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/generalised-scheme-preferences-plus-gsp.
- [3] https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/everything-arms-eba.