Madam President, colleagues, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the potential candidate country Georgia, as well as Armenia align themselves with this statement.

Thank you for convening this meeting on SDG 16, which in fact is on the entire 2030 Agenda. Because without SDG 16, other SDGs won’t be reached either.

Promoting the rule of law and access to justice, fighting illicit financial flows and corruption, and improving institutions and decision-making are all SDG 16 targets. As we recover from COVID and grapple with conflicts, climate and inflation, we need to respect democratic principles and good inclusive governance to overcome the multiple crises. Corruption, in particular, disproportionally affects the most disadvantaged.

We contribute to today’s debate by addressing some of the questions of your concept note.

First, what tools and instruments have been effective against corruption?

While we all had our moments of distress, we believe that the rule of law, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, good governance and fight against corruption must be upheld at all times. No crisis can justify departure from them. This is also true for the fight against corruption itself, which must not become an excuse for watering down the rule of law.

In the EU, a number of legislative acts have been adopted against corruption at EU level, especially the 2017 Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests. Anti-corruption provisions are included in many areas of EU legislation.

Under the European Rule of Law Mechanism there is an annual dialogue between the EU and national stakeholders. Annual Rule of Law Reports enable EU Member States to learn from each other’s experience.

Our agreements with third Parties include provisions on the fight against corruption and the UN Convention against Corruption. Respect for rule of law and good governance are essential elements of those agreements.

Second, what steps have we taken to foster collaboration among the components of national accountability systems, incl. audit institutions, anti-corruption agencies and judiciary?

In 2021, we have set up the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. In its first year, EPPO has registered more than 4000 crime reports from participating Member States and private parties. Around 1000 investigations have been opened. Citizens can report to EPPO using a web form.

The EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigates corruption and serious misconduct within the EU institutions, and fraud against the EU budget. It helps develop EU anti-fraud policy.

With the Council of Europe, we work together on capacity-building and implementation of standards to strengthen the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

Third, in what ways can the UN system support countries in their efforts?

The EU and its Member States appreciate that the UN system supports countries in their fight against corruption. As parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, we support the fight against corruption through strict implementation of its provisions and through identification of needs for technical assistance and capacity building.

We respect the political declaration of the 2021 Special General Assembly Session on Corruption, as we see corruption as an enabler of cross-border crime and international terrorism, and a serious threat to democratic societies and sustainable development.

We commend the important work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Anti-Corruption Academy.

Lastly, what is the role have of civil society, private sector and media?

Civil society, private sector and media play a crucial role in combating corruption, by reporting crime and enhancing partnerships with the public sector to combat corruption.

The European Commission has published in February this year a Handbook of Good Practices in the Fight against Corruption, to assist Member States, practitioners, researchers and civil society. We commend the tireless work of civil society and citizens in this area.

Madam President,

In closing, I reiterate our commitment to the fulfilment of SDGs through improving governance and reducing corruption. We look forward to further analyzing these key issues at the upcoming SDG 16 Conference in Rome, hosted by Italy and co-organized with UNDESA and IDLO.

I thank you.