Council of Europes evaluation focuses on prosecutors, judges and the parliament
The evaluators of GRECO (Group of States against Corruption) pay an evaluation visit to Finland in the first week of June. The focus of the evaluation is on corruption and prevention of corruption of prosecutors, judges and members of parliament.
During the evaluation of judges, the evaluators of GRECO will meet judges from different instances of court and from the special courts. They will also meet representatives of judge unions and civil servants from the Ministry of Justice.
Regarding prosecutors, the evaluators will hear representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Prosecutor's Office of Helsinki and the Ministry of Justice. In the parliament, the evaluators will meet members of all political parties, civil servants and representatives of committees.
The evaluators have received in advance replies to questions on for example the liabilities, independence, recruitment and salaries of prosecutors and judges. The questions on parliament concern for example the transparency of the legislative process, the remuneration and economic benefits of MPs and the ethical principles of the parliament.
Based on the evaluation visit, GRECO will compile an evaluation report where it may give Finland different kinds of recommendations. The report is estimated to be public at the end of 2012. After that, Finland will have 18 months to compile a report regarding the actions that have been taken in order to fulfil the recommendations.
Fourth evaluation round in Finland
GRECO was founded in 1999 and it currently has 47 member countries. GRECO monitors the compliance of corruption related norms and standards by paying evaluation visits to member states.
Previous evaluation visits to Finland were carried out in 2000, 2003 and 2007.
Further details: Ministerial Adviser Helinä Lehtinen, tel. 09 1606 7624