News item | 17-10-2023 | 10:48
An evaluation by the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe shows that the Netherlands has made progress in the field of the integrity policy of ministers and the National Police and Royal Military Police. Dutch policy in the field of integrity and anti-corruption is regularly evaluated by various international anti-corruption organizations. Today, Minister Hugo de Jonge of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Housing and Spatial Planning, also on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Security (Dilan Yeşilgöz) and the Minister of Defense (Kajsa Ollongren), will inform the House of Representatives about this.
Ministers
According to GRECO, the Netherlands has taken steps to implement the sixteen recommendations they have made in total. Eight recommendations have been made in the field of integrity policy for ministers. Of these, one recommendation has been fully implemented, five partially and two not. For example, a code of conduct for ministers has been established and the bill for rules on former ministers has been sent to the Council of State for advice. This bill contains rules on the obligation to provide advice for former ministers who want to work in the business community within two years of their term of office, the lobbying ban and the revolving door ban.
National Police and Royal Military Police
In addition, GRECO concludes that the National Police and Royal Military Police have made great progress in improving their integrity policy. For example, the National Police has satisfactorily implemented seven of the eight recommendations addressed to it. For example, the Screening of Police Officers and Police Externals Decree came into effect on January 1, 2023, which provides for screening throughout the entire career at the National Police. The internal reporting regime for financial interests and its supervision have also been strengthened. The Royal Military Police has fully implemented five of the seven recommendations addressed to it. For example, investments have been made in mandatory training sessions, especially for managers, and measures have been taken to improve the handling of confidential information.
Anti-corruption
GRECO monitors all countries that have acceded to the international Convention against Corruption and now has 50 members. The Netherlands must report to GRECO again on June 30, 2024 on the progress of the outstanding recommendations. After GRECO has assessed the progress, the House of Representatives will be informed again. In addition to a response to GRECO’s recommendations, the letter contains a response, also on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Security, to an evaluation of the Netherlands based on the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The UN generally assesses the Dutch anti-corruption system positively, but sees a number of challenges for full implementation of the UNCAC treaty and makes a number of recommendations. Many of the recommendations relate to themes on which measures are currently already being taken and are being taken into account when drawing up policy in the field of integrity and anti-corruption.