The Council of Europe's anti-corruption body (GRECO) has just published a report evaluating the measures taken by the French authorities to implement the recommendations from 2019 on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central government (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. GRECO concludes that France is not in sufficient compliance with the recommendations.
With regard to top executive functions, more than half of the recommendations have been partly implemented and some positive developments have taken place. The Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) and the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) have strengthened their co-operation regarding persons holding top executive functions (PTEFs).
A self-assessment questionnaire on conflicts of interest was handed out to members of Government when they first took office in July 2023. HATVP's prior vetting of the appointments of members of ministers' private offices and staff of the President of the Republic from the private sector has been effective but should be extended to all advisers. While there are registers of withdrawals for members of ministers' private offices and offices of the Presidency, these are not made public.
GRECO concludes that France has satisfactorily implemented or dealt with in a satisfactory manner two of the 18 recommendations set out in the 2019 Evaluation Report. Of the 16 remaining recommendations, 10 recommendations have been partly implemented and six recommendations have not been implemented. France is therefore asked to provide a report on the progress in implementing the outstanding recommendations by 31 March 2025.
Preventing corruption in France: state of progress in central government and in law enforcement agencies
