Recognizing the seriousness of the global problem of corruption and that the fight against corruption in all its dimensions is an important aspect to realizing the whole of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we, the leaders of the G7, renew our commitment to lead by example in moving the global anti-corruption agenda forward.
Towards this end, the G7 will work individually and collectively to advance our shared priorities through relevant international fora including the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and its subsidiary bodies, the OECD as well as promoting implementation of the Declaration Against Corruption adopted at the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by the United Kingdom on May 12, and the ministerial declaration adopted at the OECD Anti-Bribery Ministerial Meeting on March 16.
1 Enhancing Prevention of Corruption in Public Procurement and Enhancing Fiscal Transparency
Recognizing that public procurement is highly vulnerable to corruption and requires a range of tools and approaches to prevent it as recognized also in the G20 Principles for Promoting Integrity in Public Procurement and the OECD Principles for Enhancing Integrity in Public Procurement, we will promote open, accountable, fair, and effective public procurement to prevent corruption, especially through:
Publishing contracting data for national public procurement across the contracting cycle in machine-readable format, consistent with domestic laws and regulations and, where possible, principles of open data standards such as the G8 Open Data Charter and the G20 Anti-Corruption Open Data Principles.
Enhancing transparency in the entire public procurement process, conscious of the corruption risk in infrastructure related public procurement in terms of its complex process as well as its scale.
Promoting audit institutional capacity and effective audit of the performance of public procurement contracts.
Demonstrating our commitment to fiscal transparency. We stress the key role that could be played by IMF Fiscal Transparency Evaluations and all other equivalent standards.
2 Strengthening Law Enforcement Cooperation on Corruption
Reaffirming that strengthening international cooperation among law enforcement agencies is a global imperative to effectively combat transnational corruption and to facilitate effective recovery of stolen assets, their disposal and social re-use, we will carry on making efforts through:
Continuing to promote efficient and effective means for providing mutual legal assistance (MLA) and extradition of persons for corruption offences, consistent with applicable domestic and international instruments, while respecting the principle of the rule of law and the protection of human rights.
With a view to facilitating MLA requests and other forms of international cooperation, promoting dialogue among practitioners which are particularly valuable in investigations of corruption, and coordination and cooperation on asset recovery through interagency networks, including regional networks where appropriate.
Following up on asset recovery efforts of Arab countries and, applying the lessons learned in this effort to address global needs. In this regard, we will focus on promoting practical cooperation and engage financial centers in Asia and other parts of the world. In this context, we welcome proposals for a Global Asset Recovery Forum to be held in 2017, co-hosted by the United States and United Kingdom, with support from the joint World Bank and UNODC Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR), which will focus on assistance to Nigeria, Ukraine, Tunisia and Sri Lanka.
Welcoming the proposal to establish an International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre by interested countries as referred to in the Communique of the UK-hosted Anticorruption Summit.
Encouraging information exchange, where appropriate and consistent with national law between law enforcement, regulators and the private sectors to prevent money-laundering and corruption, and exploring the sharing of information between public authorities across jurisdictions.
3 Enhancing Anti-Corruption Capacity Building Support
Bearing in mind that effective law enforcement cooperation requires solid technical capacities worldwide and that building the capacity of countries that are vulnerable to corruption is essential in curbing corruption worldwide, both on the preventive and curative side, we endeavor to support capacity building, especially through:
Strengthening anti-corruption capacity building in such areas as improving auditing and accounting processes, civil service integrity reform, anti-money laundering, MLA and asset recovery, as well as improving budget formulation, expenditure standards and transparency in public procurement.
Promoting technical assistance, including through cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in support of the ratification and effective implementation of the UNCAC by all UN member states.
Encouraging and, where possible, providing support to other nations to complete public expenditure transparency assessment, such as those of the World Bank and IMF, and OECD to identify areas of needed reform.
Calling upon international organizations to give priority to anti-corruption in their advice and support to countries.
Supporting capacity building of civil society and journalists to contribute to anticorruption reform and expose corruption and bribery.
Recognizing the importance of the international multi-stakeholder efforts such as the Open Government Partnership, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and its integrity work, and the UN Global Compact, we pledge to move the anti-corruption global agenda forward while effectively building synergies with the relevant anti-corruption initiatives and instruments, especially through:
Promoting efforts to build confidence and dialogue between governments and civil society as essential actors in anti-corruption efforts, including as observers in subsidiary bodies of the UNCAC Conference of States Parties and in the review process.
Inviting major economies to become parties to, and fully implement the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and to collaborate closely with the OECD Working Group on Bribery, and promoting the effective implementation of the UNCAC, including by supporting the work of the Implementation Review Group and encouraging other parties to fully participate in the review process and its voluntary options.
Encouraging WTO members to promptly accept the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement so that it enters into force quickly, and contributes to preventing corruption through its implementation.
Enhancing transparency of beneficial ownership information to protect the integrity of the global financial system, and to prevent misuse of companies and legal arrangements including trusts for illicit purposes such as corruption, tax evasion and money-laundering, including through full implementation of individual action plans on beneficial ownership following the G7 and G20 commitments and by ensuring access, consistent with domestic legislation, to such information by all relevant competent authorities from law enforcements to tax administrations.
Emphasizing the importance of EITI in making the extractive sector more transparent, and consequently deterring corruption.
Encouraging professional associations and other nongovernmental organizations, where appropriate, to encourage and assist enterprises, in particular small and medium size enterprises, in developing codes, standards of conduct and compliance programs for preventing and detecting bribery and corruption.
Welcoming the work of the international sports bodies to increase openness and improve governance, and urging them to achieve these higher standards so they can regain public trust.
