Documents

The constitutions of the European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and the European contact-point network against corruption (EACN) were unanimously adopted by the General Assembly in 2009 in the framework of the Annual Professional Conference which took place in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. It was held under the auspices of the Slovenian Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and the country’s Ministry of Interior. The constitutions outline the networks’ purpose, composition, organizational structure, mandate and methods of operation.

The two constitutions are the same, with additional provisions provided for EACN. They are available for download.

European Council Decision 2008/852/JHA of 24 October 2008, establishing EACN based on the existing structures of EPAC is also available for download.

Every year, in the framework of the Annual Professional Conference, the General Assembly adopts a declaration on the work and strategic trajectory of the networks. Prior to 2009, the declarations were adopted by the European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) only as the European contact-point network against corruption (EACN) was only formally established in 2008.

Each declaration is available for download.

In Novermber 2011, the General Assembly unanimously adopted the Anti-Corruption Authority Standards and Police Oversight Principles; documents of a recommendatory nature designed to render the work of anti-corruption authorities and police oversight bodies more effective. Resulting from yearlong working group negotiations among all authorities which make up the European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and European contact-point network against corruption (EACN), the documents have been designed for professionals by professionals and have been published in the form of a handbook, “Setting Standards for Europe”. 

The Anti-Corruption Authority Standards and Police Oversight Principles, including an annex, The Ten Guiding Principles on the Notion of Independence, are intended for specialized units and bodies in public administration, as well as law enforcement institutions with a mandate to prevent and combat corruption. They are designed to promote transparent and independent anti-corruption bodies through sustainable modes of operation, as called for by Articles 6 and 36 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) for example.

The Police Oversight Principles are intended for bodies with police oversight competences and not necessarily for members of the judiciary. They are designed to promote accountable policing systems which take human rights and the rule of law into highest account; a model of effective police oversight that organizations and governments can aspire to.

Both documents and the handbook in which they are contained are available for download.