Mr Chair, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The following countries align themselves with this statement: North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, Georgia, Iceland⁺, and Armenia.

Mr Chair,

Corruption is recognised as one of the main obstacles that impedes economic growth and development. Its negative economic impact is many times greater than global official development assistance, and represents a significant percentage of global GDP.

Corruption erodes democracy, trust in institutions, the rule of law and the realisation and enjoyment of human rights. It captures states, undermines state legitimacy, tax collection and the delivery of public services and distorts functioning markets, thereby effectively impeding all areas of sustainable human, economic and social development.

Corruption is a key obstacle to eradicating poverty as it hits the poor, marginalised and vulnerable, the hardest. It exacerbates inequalities and disproportionately affects women and girls in all their diversity, as well as persons with disabilities. Furthermore, corruption can be used by organised crime and has a negative impact on security and stability at all levels.

The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 recognizes the negative effects of corruption and money laundering in derailing sustainable development, and promotes accountable institutions, equal access to justice, and transparent funding. The direct link between sustainable development, accountable institutions, and the fight against corruption is also recognized in SDG 16, which specifically calls for the reduction of corruption and bribery in all their forms. For all these reasons, the European Union is committed to the fight against corruption, intervening at global, regional, and country level. The EU fights corruption in its external actions with a holistic approach through targeted instruments that include support:

• To establishing a robust legal and institutional framework in line with international standards on preventing and fighting corruption;
• To public administration reform and sound public financial management, including the development of integrity and accountability frameworks;
• through capacity-building for law enforcement and judicial authorities;
• to civil society, the media, whistle-blowers, human rights defenders, as well as Supreme Audit Institutions and Parliaments in exercising their oversight and control functions;
• To the prevention and fight against corruption in specific areas, such as environmental and resource management sectors.

Some specific examples:

The thematic programme on Strengthening Accountability Networks among Civil Society (SANCUS), seeks to contribute to greater democratic accountability of public institutions globally, specifically by empowering civil society in twenty-six countries to demand systemic change to address accountability and anti-corruption deficits.

The Partnership for Democracy and Accountability is a global thematic action implemented by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) that aims to strengthen democracy and improve citizens' lives by advancing open, inclusive, and accountable government. At global and regional level, it will allow for improved cross-regional peer learning, coalition building and thematic knowledge around specific policy areas such anti-corruption, accountability, civic space, inclusion, and participation.

The Team Europe Initiative supports Africa in combating Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Transnational Organized Crime (TOC), based on a holistic and coordinated approach. It brings together approximately 200 million euros from EU Institutions and its Member States[1] under a common strategic framework focused on preventing and mitigating the expansion of illicit financial flows and related transnational organized crime; enhancing related law enforcement, prosecutorial and judicial capacities and capabilities; and enhancing international and regional coordination and cooperation.

The "Council Conclusions on Corruption as an obstacle to development" that were adopted on 4 May this year recall among other things the increased urgency of adopting a whole-of-government approach to combatting corruption, to ensure that support reaches those most in need and is used in the most efficient manner. They also highlight the importance of incorporating a strong anti-corruption perspective in all development efforts, and that mainstreaming anti-corruption can contribute to improving the everyday lives of citizens. 

We are currently developing new operational guidance on anti-corruption, to provide in-depth guidance to EU Delegations around the World working outside traditional governance areas, including sectors targeted by the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative. The new guidance will assist EU operations to apply a common anti-corruption lens, irrespective of modality or sector, including but not limited to budget support. This will help with the mainstreaming of anti-corruption in our initiatives.

Support from the EU to Anti-Corruption initiatives and organisations has been steadily increasing, and averages about €80m a year, however it should be recalled that this is a fraction of the support that is provided more broadly through support to closely related areas, such as Public Finance Management, illicit financial flows, the justice sector, and independent media. For the period 2021-2027, the European Commission plans to support work on anti-corruption in 50+ partner countries in which anti-corruption is a main focal area in the multi-annual indicative programmes. Last but not least, the EU and its Member States contribute heavily to UNODC’s budget, a large part of which goes towards technical assistance programmes, including for anti-corruption.

Mr Chair,

Let me assure you that the European Union will remain a reliable partner of UNODC in these challenging times and will continue to support its technical assistance efforts both financially and programmatically.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

* Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+ Iceland is a member of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.

[1] FIN, FRA, GER, NDL, SWE.