Transparency International UK

🗣️ "These reforms are not just nice to have but are key to Keir Starmer's mission to restore politics to public service.” Rachel Davies Teka spoke to POLITICO about yesterday's King's Speech and why standards and integrity are key to Labour's agenda. https://lnkd.in/eupHriCt #ukpolitics #kingsspeech #integrity

Alongside the adopted #CSDDD, another EU directive is being negotiated which should strengthen the regulatory framework for responsible business conduct. On 14 June 2024, the European Council agreed to proceed with a directive for combatting #corruption to set “minimum rules” for defining, preventing and sanctioning public and private sector corruption. ❓ What offences are covered? ▶ Public-private sector bribery both 'active' (i.e., “the promise, offer or giving, directly or through an intermediary, of an advantage of any kind to a public official”) and 'passive' (i.e., the request or receipt of a bribe). ▶ Private-private sector bribery (i.e., B2B). Here the offence requires an “undue advantage” rather than “advantage”, which is not defined. ▶ “Misappropriation”, “trading in influence”, “abuse of functions”, “obstruction of justice" and “enrichment from corruption” (an offence established by the proposed directive). ▶ Inciting, aiding and abetting, and attempting most of these offences. ❓ Who is in scope? Individuals. Companies, regardless of their size, with operations in or with a nexus to the EU. ❓ What sanctions are required? ▶ Member States will need to adopt “effective, proportionate and dissuasive” sanctions for individuals and companies. ⚖️ Penalties for individuals include a prison term of 4-6 years, depending on the offence, as well as non-criminal penalties such as fines and disqualification from public office. ⚖️ Penalties for companies include a fine of at least 5% of total worldwide turnover and exclusion from public procurement. ❓ What can companies do to prepare? ▶ A company's “internal controls, ethics awareness, and compliance programmes” aimed at preventing corruption will be considered a mitigating factor (not a defence) where an offence is committed (article 18). ✅ Review policies and procedures to ensure they cover all corruption offences and implement effective controls. Companies can draw on existing guidance (e.g., under the UK Bribery Act, the FCPA and Sapin II) [Transparency International UK guidance here: https://lnkd.in/d99nbz6y] ❓ What else? The proposed directive states that having “well-functioning additional rules on disclosing conflicts of interest, on ‘revolving-doors’ or on the financing of political parties” can help prevent undue influence. ❓ What's next? The Council and the European Parliament will now negotiate to agree a final legislative text. 📖 Proposed directive for combatting corruption: https://lnkd.in/dMgfMBjW #bribery #anticorruption #compliance Transparency International UK Rory Donaldson Maeve Lane Keri Doogan-Turner Tilly Prior

🗣️ "Vaughan Gething should appoint an independent advisor to provide much-needed clarity over whether rules have been broken." BBC coverage of our call for an independent investigation into the First Minister over the iMessage leak row and the sacking of Hannah Blythyn. https://lnkd.in/eaZ5wVNt #ukpolitics #wales #vaughangething

✨ NEW ✨ As the fallout from the iMessage leak continues to undermine trust in Welsh government, concerns remain as to whether the First Minster’s behaviour conforms to the Ministerial Code of Conduct. That's why we need an independent investigation ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/e36GHzUC

Important commitments from the Prime Minister. We're pleased to see him back our calls to give investigatory powers to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests and put the Nolan Principles at the heart of the Ministerial Code. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dq7FE7Xu Earlier this week we set out what a new, strengthened code should contain in order to improve standards and restore trust in politics. Read more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ebxwZ_95 https://lnkd.in/dq7FE7Xu #ukpolitics #keirstarmer #integrity

🔍📝 REVEALED 🔍📝 A new joint investigation from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Transparency International UK reveals how a controversial Azerbaijani tycoon with links to Donald Trump has poured secretive millions into a 20+ restaurant KFC franchise here in the UK. Read the full investigation ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ekPTCTwP #dirtymoney #azerbaijan #transparency

✨NEW✨ A tough new Ministerial Code for the UK Government is needed to raise standards. As the Prime Minister puts integrity at the centre of his first speeches in government, we urge actions, not just words to strengthen the Ministerial Code. Read more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ebxwZ_95 #ukpolitics #standards #transparency

With the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development kicking off today and set to review #SDG16 this week, there’s still time to sign up for our online side event on Wednesday (10 July, 14:00 GMT+1 | 09:00 EST) to hear how we can advance solutions that bring together governance, peace, security, and development communities in line with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Join our expert panel (Sara Bandali, DrPH - Transparency International UK, Jonathan Bourguignon - UNODC, Bertha Eloho Ogbimi - Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Vincenza Scherrer - DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance) for The World at a Crossroads: Integrating Governance, Peace and Security Pillars of SDG16 as we explore how an integrated approach can help navigate some of the current global challenges.  📆 Wednesday 10 July 🕑 14:00 GMT+1 | 09:00 EST 📌 Online (via Zoom) Sign up: https://lnkd.in/e5HUU8w2 #Agenda2030 #Peace #Security

Register now for our virtual side event from the UN High Level Political Forum 2024! At a time when geopolitical tensions, conflict and violence are rising and democratic governance and human rights are increasingly under pressure, progress on SDG16 is more vital than ever. The World at a Crossroads: Integrating Governance, Peace and Security Pillars of SDG16 will explore with our expert panel (Sara Bandali, DrPH - Transparency International UK, Jonathan Bourguignon - UNODC, Bertha Eloho Ogbimi - Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Vincenza Scherrer - DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance) how to integrate good governance, peace and security to advance the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. 📆 Wednesday 10 July 🕑 14:00 GMT+1 | 09:00 EST 📌 Online (via Zoom) Sign up ⤵ https://lnkd.in/e5HUU8w2 #SDG16 #Governance #Peace #Security

📝 BLOG 📝 For what purpose? Why Scotland's new trusts law is bad for transparency. On our blog Juliet Swann explains how a new law creates a legal loophole that could help to conceal dirty money in Scotland in a similar way to offshore tax havens. Read more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eVHMByjp #scotland #dirtymoney #transparency