Transparency International published September 6th their eighth annual progress report on OECD Convention enforcement. The OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, adopted in 1997, requires each signatory country to make foreign bribery a crime. It is a key instrument for curbing the export of corruption globally because the 39 signatory countries are responsible for two-thirds of world exports and three-quarters of foreign investment. The OECD Working Group on Bribery conducts a follow-up monitoring programme which reviews the parties’ implementation of the Convention’s provisions. Nine to ten country reviews are issued each year. Our annual progress reports represent an independent assessment of the status of OECD Convention enforcement, based on reports from our national chapters in 37 OECD Convention countries (excluding Iceland and Russia). Countries are classified in four enforcement categories this year: Active, Moderate, Little and No enforcement.

STATUS THE NETHERLANDS

MODERATE ENFORCEMENT. Nine cases and four investigations. Share of world exports is 3.2 per cent. Foreign bribery cases or investigations: Of the nine cases, seven were Oil-for-Food cases settled out of court. The Dutch authorities reported four investigations pending in 2012.

Recommendations: Improve and strengthen foreign bribery enforcement. Increase sanctioning for foreign bribery. Expand and institutionalise the cooperation between the National Police Internal Investigation Department (NPIID) and fi nancial investigation authorities. Introduce whistleblower protection in the public and private sectors.

Read the report here