Committee of Ministers
Comité des Ministres
Strasbourg, 29 August 1997 Restricted
CM(97)131
For consideration at the 600th
Meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies
(9-11 September 1997, A level, item 10.4)
21st CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN MINISTERS OF JUSTICE
(Prague, 10-11 June 1997)
sECRETARY GENERAL'S REPORT
Secretariat memorandum prepared by
the Directorate of Legal Affairs
Introduction
1. The 21st Conference of European Ministers of Justice was held in Prague on 10 and 11 June 1997 at the invitation of the Czech government. The agenda, list of participants and Resolutions adopted are set out in Appendices I-III to this report.
2. The Bureaux of the CDCJ and the CDPC and the Senior Officials held their preparatory meetings the day before the Conference.
3. The Czech Minister of Justice was elected Chair of the Conference. The Ministers of Justice of Hungary and Malta were elected Vice-Chairs.
4. The theme of the Conference was "Links between Corruption and Organised Crime". The main rapporteur was the Czech Minister of Justice, while the Minister of Justice of Hungary acted as co-rapporteur.
5. In his opening speech, Mr Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, stressed the gravity of the danger that corruption and organised crime pose for democracy: this was particularly true for new democracies, where state organs in general, and the judiciary in particular, must acquire and retain the confidence of the people.
6. In his address, the Deputy Secretary General recalled the Conclusions of a previous Conference in Valletta three years before, devoted to the subject of corruption, following which a Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption (GMC) was set up and entrusted with implementing a Programme of Action against Corruption.
He stressed that, however, strong political commitment of Governments to the international fight against corruption was sometimes more verbal than real, and progress has been slower than expected.
Ministers should now express their political support to the work of the Council of Europe, in particular towards putting into place appropriate instruments and follow-up mechanisms.
7. After the discussion, in which most delegations spoke, the Ministers adopted Resolution n° 1 (see Appendix III).
This Resolution recommends that the Committee of Ministers should support the work undertaken by the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), the European Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ) and the GMC to speed up the implementation of the Programme of Action against Corruption and, in this context to elaborate international instruments against corruption.
In particular, the relevant international instruments to be prepared should provide for an effective follow-up mechanism open to member States and non-member States of the Council of Europe on an equal footing.
8. The Resolution also invites the Committee of Minister to consider the matter of preventing and combating organised crime and corruption in the framework of the preparation of the second Summit of Head of States and Governments of the Council of Europe.
9. The Ministers agreed that certain proposals by the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation should be appended to this report (see Appendix IV).
10. The Ministers expressed their gratitude to the Czech authorities for hosting the Conference and for their generous hospitality (Resolution n° 2, see Appendix III).
Reports
11. The Czech Minister of Justice presented her report (MJU-21 (97) 1), in which she drew attention to the international nature of the problem; however, it was precisely at the level of the international cooperation that results were lower than expected.
The first issue to be addressed was the international harmonisation of the definition of corruption, to make sure that the same behaviour was punished all over Europe.
12. International cooperation must extend to all possible areas, including civil law and administrative law, because criminal law, important as it may be, could not cover all the aspects of the problem.
In this respect, the role of the State was irreplaceable.
13. Existing international instruments should be reviewed, and possibly amended or supplemented, and new forms of legal cooperation (e.g. between neighbouring countries) should be introduced.
In this context, full support should be given to the draft Framework Convention against Corruption, as well as to the continuation of the Octopus project.
14. The Hungarian Minister of Justice presented his co-report (MJU-21 (97) 2), highlighting the two aspects of international cooperation that should be pursued concurrently in combating corruption and organised crime.
15. The first aspect was harmonisation of national laws; the second aspect was the effective collaboration among organs of police and justice of different States.
The work of the GMC was proceeding well in both directions, and the draft framework agreement being prepared by the GMC deserved full support.
16. It was important that whatever undertakings the States assume, their implementation should be monitored by a permanent structure, to be set up within the Council of Europe, but with the participation of the non-member States concerned on an equal footing.
17. The Chair of the GMC, in accordance with the decision taken by the Committee of Ministers, presented the progress report on the work of the Group (MJU-21 (97) 3), outlining the results achieved since the 19th Conference of European Ministers of Justice (Valletta, 1994) and the adoption of the Programme of Action against Corruption.
18. He informed the Conference that the GMC was in the process of drafting a framework Convention, setting out the principles underlying the fight against corruption to be implemented at national level and complemented by subsequent more specific international standards. This text provided for a follow-up mechanism. The Chairman identified the legal nature of this instrument and its follow-up mechanism, in particular as regards the participation of non-member States of the Council of Europe, as the main difficulties encountered by the GMC in this connection. He invited the Ministers of Justice to provide political guidelines to overcome these difficulties.
19. At the same time, the GMC was preparing a draft convention on the criminal law aspects of the fight against corruption, and had carried out a feasibility study which supports the preparation of a convention on compensation for damage resulting from acts of corruption.
20. A model code of conduct for public officials was also being prepared.
21. Also included in the Ministers' file were two information documents, the first reproducing the Resolution adopted by the 19th Conference of European Ministers of Justice (MJU-21 (97) inf) and the second related to the Octopus Project (MJU-21 (97) inf2).
Summary of the discussions
22. The Ministers observed that organised crime, particularly when linked to corruption, represented a major threat to the prosperity and democratic security of Europe. They pointed out that organised crime took advantage of the globalisation of markets, modern technology and the free movement of persons, goods and capital. Criminal organisations made use of corruption to hinder law enforcement, facilitate illicit activities, launder their proceeds and penetrate legitimate economic sectors. Their significant financial potential allowed them to infiltrate the structures of power, obtain political and economic influence and jeopardize the proper functioning of State institutions.
23. Most Ministers underlined that a clear commitment to combat corruption and organised crime was necessary in order to defend the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe - Democracy, Rule of Law, Human Rights and Social Progress. In many countries the problem posed by corruption and organised crime was so acute that the fight against these phenomena had become a top political priority. Economic development and the stability of democratic institutions depended upon their ability to find appropriate means to fight corruption and crime. In this context, Ministers referred to different measures which had been taken in their States to adapt law and state structures to deter corruption and modern, organised and transnational forms of criminality. The importance of proper law-enforcement, preventive measures and a better use of new methods of investigation was stressed. For the criminal justice system to play its role in the fight against corruption and organised crime consideration would have to be given, in addition, to the protection of witnesses and, in appropriate cases, to means of limiting the immunity of certain categories of persons to prosecution.
24. All Ministers recognised that the combat against corruption and organised crime could only be effective if carried out both at a national and international level with enhanced co-operation between States and between international organisations. All countries were concerned, although at different levels, by these phenomena. Experience sharing and contacts between services involved in the fight against corruption and organised crime appeared essential. Raising public awareness about the dangers of corruption and organised crime and promoting ethical values were considered as effective measures to be included in a global strategy in this field.
25. A number of Ministers referred to the need to ratify and to make better use of existing international instruments in the field of international cooperation in criminal matters. However, such instruments needed to be updated in order to remain fully effective in face of modern forms of criminality. In addition further legal instruments would be necessary in order to consolidate European standards, take account of new developments and strengthen co-operation. Support was given to efforts to facilitate the closer alignment of national qualifications relating to legal and criminological aspects of organised crime and computer and cyber-crime.
26. A call was made for the intensification of the "Octopus Project" after the initial phase of evaluation which will be completed in December 1997 and for the rapid implementation of the evaluation programme of measures to fight money laundering in countries not covered by FATF procedures.
27. The Ministers unanimously welcomed the adoption of the Council of Europe Programme of Action against corruption. They stressed that criminal law measures, although essential, were not sufficient to combat corruption efficiently. In their view the comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach of the Programme of Action formed part of the specificity of the Council of Europe action against corruption and reinforced its usefulness.
28. The Ministers fully supported the important results which had already been achieved by the Multidisciplinary Group on corruption (GMC) in implementing the Programme of Action and called for the speeding up of its implementation. They considered that high priority should be given to the early adoption of a framework agreement defining common principles to inspire national strategies in the fight against corruption. This framework agreement could be complemented, where appropriate, by future instruments of a more specific character.
30. Ministers noted with satisfaction that work was also underway regarding the preparation of a civil law instrument - providing for access to the courts and specific remedies for victims of corruption - and a model code of conduct for public officials and expressed the hope that this work could be finalised soon.
31. Many Ministers underlined that the political commitment of States jointly and effectively to combat corruption needed to be incorporated into international instruments of a binding character. There was widespread agreement that, in order to be credible and respond to expectations, international instruments against corruption prepared in the Council of Europe would have to be coupled with an appropriate and effective follow-up mechanism.
32. Many speakers spoke in favour of the participation of non-member States of the Council of Europe in the work of the GMC and considered that such States should also be able to participate in the follow-up mechanism of instruments prepared by the GMC on an equal footing with member States of the Council of Europe. In this respect, several Ministers expressly indicated that it would be appropriate to draw inspiration from the model followed by the Financial Action Task Force, based on mutual evaluation and peer-pressure.
33. The majority of the Ministers considered that a clear link should be established between the results of the Conference and the 2nd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe to be held in October 1997. They welcomed the proposal to include the problem of corruption and organised crime in the agenda of the 2nd Summit. They considered that the latter would provide an opportunity to express, at the highest level possible, the political will to combat corruption and organised crime, new threats to the democratic security of Europe. Moreover, the 2nd Summit would also enable new initiatives to be launched to enhance cooperation in this field. With this in mind, Ministers underlined that consideration should be given, during the preparation of the Summit, to the best means of setting in motion a dynamic process, flexible and nonbureaucratic, aiming at more effective ways of combating corruption and organised crime. Through such a process States would improve their cooperation and assistance, promote exchanges of experience and information, participate in a mutual evaluation of compliance with commitments entered upon, and raise public awareness. In short, they would join their efforts and means in order permanently and efficiently to combat corruption and organised crime.
34. Some Ministers put forward other proposals for future action in the field of corruption and organised crime. Among them the following may be mentioned: the possible preparation of an inventory of all international instruments, the desirability of a model international criminal code which would take account of modern forms of criminality, the examination of means to promote joint action to prosecute crimes endangering the security of several legal systems.
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The Deputy Secretary General wishes to pay tribute to the Czech authorities and thanked them both for the excellent organisation of the Conference and for the warm welcome extended to participants.
A P P E N D I X I
A G E N D A
1. Opening of the Conference by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
2. Address by the President of the Czech Republic
3. Address by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
4. Election of the Chair and two Vice-Chairs
5. Adoption of the Agenda
6. Links between corruption and organised crime
7. Other questions
8. Adoption of Resolutions
9. Close of the Conference
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS/LISTE DES PARTICIPANTS
ALBANIA/ALBANIE :
Mr Spartak NGJELA, Minister of Justice
M. Luan PIRDENI, Département des Relations avec l'étranger
ANDORRA/ANDORRE :
(Apologised/Excusé)
AUSTRIA/AUTRICHE :
Mr Christian MANQUET, Director, Head of the Department for Penal Legislation
BELGIUM/BELGIQUE :
M. Stefaan DE CLERCK, Ministre de la Justice
M. Claude DEBRULLE, Directeur Général de l'Administration de la Législation pénale et des Droits de l'homme
M. Geert MUYLLE, Conseiller du Cabinet
M. Rudi TROOSTERS, Conseiller
BULGARIA/BULGARIE :
Mr Vassil GOTZEV, Minister of Justice and European Legal Integration
Mr Ognian BAKALOV, Director of International Legal Co-operation
CROATIA/CROATIE :
Ms Snjezana BAGIC, Deputy Minister
Ms Ludija LUKINA-KARAJKOVIC, Assistant Minister
Mr z eljko HORVATIC , Professor
CYPRUS/CHYPRE :
Mr Alecos MARKIDES, Attorney-General of the Republic
Mrs Eva ROSSIDOU-PAPAKYRIACOU, Counsel of the Republic, the Law Office of the Republic
Mrs Marianna SANTAMA-PATSALIDES, Senior Legal Research Officer, Ministry of Justice and Public Order
CZECH REPUBLIC/REPUBLIQUE TCHEQUE :
Ms Vlasta PARKANOVA, Minister of Justice
Mr Pavel ZÁÙ ECKÝ, Deputy Minister of Justice
Mr Petr TRÖSTER, Deputy Minister of Justice
Mr Pavel PELANT, Deputy Minister of Justice
Mr Martin FENDRYCH, Deputy Minister of the Interior
Mr Vladimir KRÁL, Director Criminal Legislation
Ms Jana WURSTOVÁ, Director, International Department
DENMARK/DANEMARK :
Mr Henning FODE, Director of Public Prosecutions
ESTONIA/ESTONIE :
Mr Paul VARUL, Minister of Justice
Mr Juhan PARTS, Vice-Chancellor, Ministry of Justice
FINLAND/FINLANDE :
Mr Kari HÄKÄMLES, Minister of Justice
Mr Jan TÖRNQVIST, Director of Legislation
Ms Arja MANNER, Counsellor of Legislation
FRANCE :
Mme Elisabeth GUIGOU, Garde des Sceaux, Ministre de la Justice
M. Olivier DE BAYNAST, Chef du Service des Affaires européennes et internationales
Mme Marie-Odile BAUR, Magistrat,SAEI, Ministère de la Justice
M. Joel SOLLIER, Magistrat, Ministère de la Justice
GERMANY/ALLEMAGNE :
Mr Edzard SCHMIDT-JORTZIG, Federal Minister of Justice
Mr Josef DIERDORF, Director for European Law
Mr Manfred MOHRENSCHLAGER, Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Justice
Mr Wolfgang BIRKE, Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Justice
Mr Eberhard DESCH, Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Justice
Mr Hans-Jörg NEUMANN, Counsellor
GREECE/GRECE :
M. Evanghelos GIANNOPOULOS, Ministre de la Justice
Mme Xeni BALOTI, Conseillère scientifique auprès du Ministre de la Justice
Mr Ioannis KATSABANIS, Legal Adviser, Judge, Court of Appeal
Mr Polyhronis TSIRIDIS, Legal Adviser
Mme Elli XENOU, Chef de la division des Relations internationales du Ministère de la Justice
M. Georges KOUMANTOS, Professeur à l'Université de Athènes, Président du CDCJ
Mme Marielena GOUSELI, Interprète
Mme Amalia SYMEONOGLOU, Interprète
Mr Argyris SIDERIS, Secretary to the Minister
HUNGARY/HONGRIE :
Mr Pál VASTAGH, Minister of Justice
Mr Ferenc KONDOROSI, Under Secretary of State
Mr Tamás BÁN, Director, Human Rights Unit, Ministry of Justice
ICELAND/ISLANDE :
Mr Thorsteinn PALSSON, Minister of Justice
Mr Thorsteinn GEIRSSON, Secretary General
IRELAND/IRLANDE :
Ms Nora OWEN, Minister of Justice
Mr Tim DALTON, Secretary General
Mr Diarmuid COLE, Assistant Secretary General
Mr John O'DWYER, Private Secretary
Ms Mary BURKE, Press Officer
ITALY/ITALIE :
M. Giovanni Maria FLICK, Ministre de la Justice
M. Giorgio LATTANZI, Directeur Général des Affaires Pénales
M. Giuseppe LA GRECA, Magistrat à la Cour de Cassation
Ms Stefania MERLO, Assistant to the Minister
M. Angelo CIANCARELLA, Attaché de presse du Ministre
M. Vitaliano ESPOSITO, Président de chambre à la Cour de Cassation, Membre du Bureau du CDPC
M. Giuseppe MAGNO, Magistrat attaché au Ministère la Justice, membre du Bureau du CDCJ
LATVIA/LETTONIE :
M. Dzintars RASNACS, Ministre de la Justice
Ms Inese SVIKSA, Head of the Division of Criminal and Procedural Law, Department of Public Law
LIECHTENSTEIN :
M. Heinz FROMMELT, Ministre de la Justice et des finances
M. Benedikt MARXER, Président du Tribunal de Première instance
M. Günther HOLZKNECHT, Collaborateur juridique du Gouvernement princier
LITHUANIA/LITHUANIE :
Mr Vytautas PAKALNIŠKIS, Minister of Justice
Mr Darius ZILYS, Deputy Director, Department of International Law and Human Rights
LUXEMBOURG :
M. Marc FISCHBACH, Ministre de la Justice et du budget
M. Marc MATHEKOWITSCH, Premier Conseiller de Gouvernement
MALTA/MALTE :
Mr Charles MANGION, Minister of Justice and Local Councils
Mr Anthony BORG BARTHET, Attorney General
Mr Godfrey de MARCO, Permanent Secretary
Mr Charles SPITERI SHAW, Minister's Private Secretary
Mr Vincent Anthony DE GAETANO, Judge, Superior Courts, Chairman of the GMC, Member of the CDCJ Bureau
MOLDOVA :
M. Vasile STURZA, Ministre de la Justice
Mlle Angela NIMERENCO, Interprète
NETHERLANDS/PAYS-BAS :
Ms Wilhelmina SORGDRAGER, Minister of Justice
Mr Joris DEMMINK, Director General, Ministry of Justice
M. Erik LUKACS, Conseiller juridique du Ministère de la Justice
Mr J.M. ABELS, Legal Adviser
Mrs J.H.A. HULSBOSCH, Secretary to the Minister
NORWAY/NORVEGE :
Mrs Ingunn YSSEN, State Secretary
Mr Morten RUUD, Assistant Secretary General
Mr Espen BERGH, Legal Adviser
POLAND/POLOGNE :
Mr Leszek KUBICKI, Minister of Justice
Mr Henryk PRACKI, National Prosecutor
Mr Ryszard RYCHLIK, Head, Organised Crime Bureau, National Prosecutor's Office
Mr Telesfor NOWAK, Judge, Director of the Cabinet of the Minister
Mr Mariusz SKOWRONSKI, Organised Crime Bureau, National Prosecutor's Office
Mr Igor DZIALUK, Deputy Director, European Law Department, Ministry of Justice, Member of the CDCJ Bureau
PORTUGAL :
M. José Eduardo VERA CRUZ JARDIM, Ministre de la Justice
M. João Alexandre TAVARES FIGUEIREDO, Chef de Cabinet du Ministre
M. Rosário TEIXEIRA, Directeur Général adjoint de la Police judiciaire
M. Luis Maria VAZ DAS NEVES, Secrétaire Général
ROMANIA/ROUMANIE :
M. Dinu IANCULESCU, Secrétaire d'Etat
Mme Cristina LUZESCU, Directeur adjoint, Direction des relations internationales et de l'intégration européenne
RUSSIA/RUSSIE :
M. Valentin KOVALEV, Ministre de la Justice
Mr Juri BULANOV, Head of International Law Department,
Mr Aleksander LOPASOV, Chief expert
SAN MARINO/SAINT-MARIN :
M. Pier Marino MENICUCCI, Ministre de l'Instruction Publique et de la Culture, de l'Université et de la Justice
M. Pietro GIACOMINI, Ambassadeur de la République de Saint-Marin à Prague
M. Guido GUIDI, Juge
Mme Paola CASALI, Conseillère
SLOVAKIA/SLOVAQUIE :
Mr Jozef LIŠCÁK, Minister of Justice
Mr Pavol TOMAN, Head of the Senate of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic
Ms Jana CHMELKOVÁ, Head of the European Integration Section, Ministry of Justice
Mr Miloš HATAPKA, Head of International Treaties Division, Ministry of Justice, member of the CDCJ Bureau
SLOVENIA/SLOVENIE :
Mr Tomaz MARUŠIC, Minister of Justice
Mr Bojan ŠROT, State Secretary
SPAIN/ESPAGNE :
M. Guillermo KIRKPATRICK, Ambassadeur Extraordinaire et Plénipotentiaire, Représentant permanent de l'Espagne auprès du Conseil de l'Europe
M. Valentin DUEÑAS JIMENEZ, Sous-Directeur Général adjoint de coopération juridique internationale
SWEDEN/SUEDE :
Ms Kristina RENNERSTEDT, State Secretary
Mr Lars WERKSTROM, Legal Adviser
SWITZERLAND/SUISSE :
M. Arnold KOLLER, Président de la Confédération, Conseiller fédéral, Chef du Département fédéral de Justice et Police
M. Heinrich KOLLER, Directeur de l'Office fédéral de la Justice
M. Peter MÜLLER, Sous-Directeur à l'Office fédéral de la Justice
M. Phillipe BOILLAT, Sous-Directeur à l'Office fédéral de la Justice, membre du Bureau du CDCJ
"THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA"/"L'EX-REPUBLIQUE YOUGOSLAVE DE MACEDOINE" :
Mr Mersim POLOZANI, Deputy Minister of Justice
Mr Cvetan CVETKOVSKI, Government Adviser
Mrs Snezana MOJSOVA, Counsellor, Ministry of Justice
TURKEY/TURQUIE :
M. Mehmet ALTINSOY, Ministre d'Etat
M. Ramazan DAG, Directeur du Cabinet
M. Ferzan ÇITICI, Procureur de la République d'Istanbul
M. Erdal GÖKEN, Procureur de la République près la Cour de Sûreté de l'Etat d'Istanbul
Mme Mehlika AYTAÇ, Juge au Ministère turc de la Justice
UKRAINE :
Mr Serhiy HOLOVATY, Minister of Justice
Mr Daniel BILAK, Counsel to the Minister
Mr Constantin MAZUR, Private Secretary to the Minister
UNITED KINGDOM/ROYAUME-UNI :
Ms Joyce QUIN, Minister of State
Mr Jonathon FRENCH, Private Secretary,
Mr Lee HUGHES, Home Office
Mr Alf VANNET, Regional Procurator Fiscal, Glasgow
Ms Helen STOW, Home Office Press Office
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION/COMMISSION EUROPEENNE
Mrs Giselle VERNIMMEN, Chef d'Unité, Secrétariat Général, Task Force "Titre VI du Traité (coopération dans les domaines de la justice et des affaires intérieures)"
Mr Alessandro IANNIELLO, Administrateur, Direction Générale Relations Extérieures : Europe et nouveaux Etats indépendants, PESC
SECRETARIAT GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION/SECRÉTARIAT GÉNÉRAL DU CONSEIL DE L'UNION EUROPEENNE :
M. Charles ELSEN, Directeur Général, Direction Générale Justice et Affaires Intérieures
Mr Hans G. NILSSON, Head of the Division on Judicial Co-operation, DGH
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COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS/COMITE DES MINISTRES
Ambassador Jirí MALENOVSKÝ, Chairman of the Ministers' Deputies Rapporteur Group on Legal Co-operation, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the Council of Europe
PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY/ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE :
Mr Birger HÅGARD, Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Member of the Riksdag, Sweden
Mrs Helle DEGN, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development, Member of the Folketing, Denmark
CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES IN EUROPE (CLRAE)/CONGRES DES POUVOIRS LOCAUX ET REGIONAUX DE L'EUROPE (CPLRE) :
Mr Alexander TCHERNOFF, Former President of the CLRAE
Mr Jan MANS, President of the Working Group in Crime and Urban Insecurity
MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP ON CORRUPTION (GMC)/GROUPE
MULTIDISCIPLINAIRE SUR LA CORRUPTION (GMC) :
Mr Vincent Anthony DE GAETANO, Judge, Superior Courts, Chairman of the GMC (Malta)
M. Lorenzo SALAZAR, Magistrat, Expert à la Représentation Permanente d'Italie auprès de l'Union européenne, Vice-Président du GMC
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EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LEGAL CO-OPERATION (CDCJ)/
COMITE EUROPEEN DE COOPERATION JURIDIQUE (CDCJ) (Bureau)
M. Georges KOUMANTOS, Professeur à l'Université de Athènes (Chairman/Président) (Grèce)
Mr Vincent Anthony DE GAETANO, Judge, Superior Courts (Vice-Chairman/Vice-Président) (Malta)
M. Philippe BOILLAT, Sous-Directeur, Chef de la Division des Affaires Internationales, Office Fédéral de la Justice (Suisse)
Mr Igor DZIALUK, Head European Law Division, Ministry of Justice (Poland)
Mr Miloš HATAPKA, Head of International Treaties Division, Ministry of Justice (Slovakia)
M. Giuseppe MAGNO, Magistrat de Cassation attaché au Bureau de la Législation, Ministère des Grâces et de la Justice (Italie)
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON CRIME PROBLEMS (CDPC) /
COMITE EUROPEEN POUR LES PROBLEMES CRIMINELS (CDPC) (Bureau)
Ms M. BONN, (Président/Chairperson) Senior Legal Adviser, Ministry of Justice (Netherlands)
M. Vitaliano ESPOSITO, Président de Chambre à la Cour de Cassation (Italie)
M. Philippe LABREGERE, Premier Susbstitut, Ministère de la Justice (France)
OBSERVERS/OBSERVATEURS
ARMENIA/ARMENIE :
(Apologised/Excusé)
AZERBAIJAN/AZERBAÏDJAN :
(Apologised/Excusé)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA/BOSNIE ET HERZEGOVINE :
- Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Fédération de Bosnie et Herzégovine
(Apologised/Excusé)
- Republika Srpska
M. Branko PETRIC, Ministre de la Justice de la Republika Srpska
M. Dragan PODINIC, Vice-Ministre de la Justice de la Republika Srpska
CANADA :
Mr Richard THOMPSON, Associate Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General
M. Réjean FRENETTE, Ambassadeur du Canada à Berne, Observateur Permanent auprès du Conseil de l'Europe
H.E. Hon. Alain DUDOIT, Ambassador of Canada to the Czech Republic
Ms Oonagh FITZGERALD, General Counsel, International Law and Activities, Department of Justice
GEORGIA/GEORGIE :
(Apologised/Excusé)
HOLY SEE/SAINT-SIEGE :
S.E. Monseigneur Giovanni COPPA, Nonce Apostolique en République tchèque
Mr Giorgio FILIBECK, Conseil Pontifical "Justice et Paix"
JAPAN/JAPON :
(Apologised/Excusé)
MEXICO/MEXIQUE :
Mr Jorge MADRAZO, Attorney General
Mr Eduardo IBARROLA, Deputy Minister
Mr Juan SANDOVAL, Second Secretary
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ETATS-UNIS D'AMERIQUE :
Mr Drew ARENA, Counselor for Criminal Justice Matters, United States Mission to the European Union
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THE HAGUE CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW/
CONFERENCE DE LA HAYE DE DROIT INTERNATIONAL PRIVE :
M. G.H.A. van LOON, Secrétaire Général
UNIDROIT :
(Apologised/Excusé)
OSCE :
(Apologised/Excusé)
FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE ON MONEY LAUNDERING (FATF)/GROUPE
D'ACTION FINANCIERE SUR LE BLANCHIMENT DE CAPITAUX (GAFI) :
M. Patrick MOULETTE, Secrétaire du GAFI
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON CIVIL STATUS/COMMISSION
INTERNATIONALE DE L'ETAT CIVIL :
M. Frits W. HONDIUS, Secrétaire Général adjoint
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SECRETARIAT OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE/
SECRETARIAT DU CONSEIL DE L'EUROPE :
M. Peter LEUPRECHT, Secrétaire Général adjoint
DIRECTORATE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS/DIRECTION DES AFFAIRES JURIDIQUES
M. Guy DE VEL, Directeur des Affaires Juridiques
M. Hans-Jürgen BARTSCH, Chef de la Division des problèmes criminels
Ms Margaret KILLERBY, Chef de la Division de droit privé et international
M. Roberto LAMPONI, Chef de la Section centrale
M. Manuel LEZERTUA, Administrateur principal, Division des problèmes criminels
Ms Helen Louise MONKS, Assistante administrative
Ms Marian JORDAN, Secrétaire
Mme Gabrielle DUMONT, Secrétaire
PRIVATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL/
CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL :
M. Bosse HEDBERG, Special Adviser
SECRETARIAT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS/
SECRETARIAT DU COMITE DES MINISTRES :
M. Alfonso ZARDI, Administrateur principal
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY/
GREFFE DE L'ASSEMBLEE PARLEMENTAIRE :
Mme Valérie CLAMER, Co-Secrétaire de la Commission des questions juridiques et des droits de l'homme
PROTOCOL/PROTOCOLE :
Mme Monique FINCK, Assistante au chef de Protocole
Mme Isabelle FLECKSTEINER, Secrétaire
PRESS AND INFORMATION/PRESSE ET INFORMATION
Mme Christiane DENNEMEYER, Attachée de Presse
Mlle Virginia PIVIDORI, Secrétaire
LANGUAGE SERVICES/SERVICES DES LANGUES :
M. Robert SZYMANSKI, Chef de l'équipe des interprètes
INTERPRETERS/INTERPRETES
Mme Zeynep BEKDIK
Mr BOBOROV
Ivana CENKOVA
Mme Angela CORNWELL DORIA
Mme Belgin DÖLAY
Renata DRAHOZALOVÁ
M. Didier JUNGLING
Mlle Renate HORAK
Mme Michelina PROCACCI
Mr RUSAKOV
Ondrej STANEK
Olga STANKOVA
Ms Irène STANTON
Mlle Birgit STROLZ
Mme Eva WOLF-CALMET
M. Derrick WORSDALE
Mme Serra YILMAZ
A P P E N D IX III
RESOLUTION NO. 1
ON THE LINKS BETWEEN CORRUPTION AND ORGANISED CRIME
1. The Ministers participating in the 21st Conference of European Ministers of Justice (Prague, 1997);
2. Having examined the report submitted by the Czech Minister of Justice on the links between corruption and organised crime and the co-report of the Hungarian Minister of Justice;
3. Concerned about the new trends in modern criminality and, in particular, by the organised, sophisticated and transnational character of certain criminal activities;
4. Persuaded therefore that the fight against organised crime necessarily implies an adequate response to corruption;
5. Emphasising that corruption represents a major threat to the Rule of Law, democracy, human rights, fairness and social justice, hinders economic development, and endangers the stability of democratic institutions and the moral foundations of society;
6. Convinced that a successful strategy to combat corruption and organised crime requires a firm commitment by States to join their efforts, share experience and take common action;
7. Recognising that raising public awareness and promoting ethical values, in particular through education, are effective means of preventing corruption and organised crime;
8. Welcoming the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in November 1996, of the Programme of Action against Corruption, following the recommendations of the 19th Conference of European Ministers of Justice (Valletta, 1994);
9. Recalling in this respect the importance of the participation of non-member States in the Council of Europe's activities against corruption and organised crime and welcoming their valuable contribution to the implementation of the Programme of Action against Corruption;
10. Bearing in mind that the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe will be addressing the issue of organised crime and corruption, insofar as they constitute a threat to democratic stability and security in Europe, at their Second Summit to be held in Strasbourg, on 10 and 11 October 1997;
RECOMMEND THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS TO:
1. Call for a speedy ratification, by the States which have not yet done so, of the European conventions on international co-operation in criminal matters and, in particular, of the Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime (ETS 141);
2. Review and update the Council of Europe's instruments in the field of international co-operation in criminal matters, in order to take due account of the new demands to combat organised crime and corruption;
3. Strengthen the action of the Council of Europe against corruption and organised crime, taking into account the work already accomplished and under way in other international fora, in particular European Union, United Nations and OECD, and promoting the coordination of this action with these Organisations.
4. Support the work undertaken by the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) and the Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption (GMC) aiming at the elaboration of international instruments against corruption;
5. Support the work undertaken by the CDPC relating to:
- the legal and criminological aspects of organised crime with a view to facilitating the approximation of corresponding national qualification in criminal law, the divergence of which greatly hampers international co-operation, and
- computer and cyber-crime, with a view to facilitating the approximation of corresponding national qualification in criminal law and to providing for efficient means of investigation of offences committed through the use of modern information technology;
6. Provide, jointly with the European Community, for the continuation and further development of the "Octopus" Programme, by adopting a multidisciplinary approach to the co-operation and expertise needed by States in transition, in order to strengthen their legislation, law enforcement practices and institutions of democratic society;
7. Implement as soon as possible the programme of evaluation of anti-money laundering measures in member States of the Council of Europe which are not covered by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) procedures;
8. Speed up the implementation of the Programme of Action against Corruption;
9. With this in mind, intensify the efforts with a view to an early adoption of:
- a framework agreement defining common principles in the fight against corruption to be implemented through national legislation and complemented, where appropriate, by additional international instruments and structures,
- a criminal law convention providing for the coordinated criminalisation of corruption offences and for enhanced cooperation in the prosecution of such offences;
10. Pursue the work concerning the preparation of an international civil law instrument - dealing, inter alia, with compensation for damage resulting from corruption - as well as the preparation of a model code of conduct for public officials.
11. Ensure that the relevant international instruments to be prepared provide for an effective follow-up mechanism open to member States and non-member States of the Council of Europe on an equal footing;
12. Consider, in the framework of the preparation of the Second Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the Council of Europe, to be held in Strasbourg on 10 and 11 October 1997, the best means of promoting a dynamic process towards effectively preventing and combating organised crime and corruption.
RESOLUTION N° 2
The Ministers participating in the 21st Conference of European Ministers of Justice (Prague, 1997),
Aware of the advantage of arranging personal contacts between the Ministers responsible for their governments' policy in the legal field in order to foster the progress of cooperation in this area in Europe;
EXPRESS the warmest thanks to the Czech Government for the excellent organisation of the 21st Conference in Prague and for its kind hospitality.
A P P E N D I X IV
PROPOSALS BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
1. To devise an inventory of existing international legal frameworks on combating organised crime and corruption with a view to developing an updated strategy and methodology for countering those dangerous phenomena.
2. To consider a transition from mutual legal information to international legal harmonisation.
3. To establish an International Investigation and Action Task Force, whenever appropriate, to prosecute crimes involving the security of many countries.
4. The GMC should consider the following activities as a matter of priority :
a) extent and modalities of waiving bank and commercial secrets
b) political corruption
c) extent and limitations of immunity for government officials and members of Parliament
5. To study the corruption related to the privatisation of property and the award of public contracts.
6. To consider protection arrangements for witnesses and victims in foreign countries.