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Leaders must set example to curb corruption, Council of Europe warns
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Leaders must set example to curb corruption, Council of Europe warns

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Council of Europe's anti-corruption group (GRECO) urges leaders to set an example in combating corruption.
  • GRECO's annual report highlights the need for concrete actions and verifiable results from political leaders.
  • The report notes uneven progress in anti-corruption reforms across Europe and the US, with many reforms stalled.

Leaders must actively demonstrate integrity to foster a culture of zero tolerance for corruption, according to the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). In its latest annual report, GRECO emphasizes that political commitment from those in high office must translate into tangible measures and demonstrable outcomes.

"Democracy requires both ethical leadership and effective safeguards," stated GRECO President David Meyer. He urged nations to uphold the independence and credibility of institutions tasked with preventing and prosecuting corruption, including the judiciary, public prosecutors, law enforcement, and specialized bodies. Meyer stressed that preventing corruption is vital for democratic resilience amid growing public distrust and geopolitical tensions.

Democracy requires both ethical leadership and effective safeguards.

— David MeyerPresident of GRECO, emphasizing the dual need for ethical governance and robust institutional mechanisms.

The report, which analyzes anti-corruption policies in Europe and the United States, observes consistent but varied and often slow progress. GRECO warns that in many states, reforms are protracted and frequently incomplete. The group specifically points to difficulties in finalizing reforms related to lobbying regulations, legislative transparency, and conflicts of interest, noting that existing rules are often partial or inadequately enforced.

GRECO also highlights persistent risks within judicial and prosecutorial systems, including the politicization of justice governance bodies, delays in merit-based appointment systems, and concerns about the effective independence of disciplinary structures. The group cautions that slow implementation of recommendations undermines the impact of reforms and weakens public integrity systems. In Spain, GRECO previously urged intensified efforts to implement pending reforms, particularly concerning high-ranking government officials and security forces.

Solid integrity systems are essential for protecting public decision-making and maintaining public trust.

— David MeyerHighlighting the importance of integrity frameworks for both governance and public confidence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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