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GRECO pending recommendations partly implemented, Cypriot delegation to it says

GRECO has made public on Tuesday its 4th Round Second Addendum to the Second Compliance Report on Cyprus, which deals with corruption prevention in respect of members of parliament, judges, and prosecutors and was adopted on November 27, 2023, the Cypriot delegation to GRECO has said adding that it is assessed that the seven pending recommendations are “partly implemented”.

In a press release the Cypriot delegation to GRECO says that in its Evaluation Report, GRECO concludes that Cyprus has implemented satisfactorily or dealt with in a satisfactory manner nine of the sixteen recommendations contained in the Fourth Round Evaluation Report. “Of the seven pending recommendations, all have been partly implemented,” it notes.

In respect of members of parliament, GRECO “values the adoption of a Code of Ethics in 2021, which is coupled with monitoring, advisory and enforcement mechanisms.”

The press release adds that “GRECO encourages the authorities to see the Code as a living document which is adjusted to incl
ude new emerging integrity-related issues and risks as they arise.”

GRECO also “welcomes the introduction, and further refinement in 2023, of rules on lobbying. There is induction training on ethics which MPs and their assistants are invited to attend, but no regular training is organised throughout the parliamentary term.”

It says that “additional upgrades of the financial disclosure system are still necessary, particularly, regarding its effective supervision and enforcement.”

“A new bill is undergoing parliamentary discussion but has not yet seen the light,” it adds.

“With regard to judicial power, “all recommendations have been complied with.”

As for prosecutors, “only one recommendation is pending, which concerns the reform of the Law Office and the independence of prosecutorial functions.”

“GRECO welcomes the draft Law, which is currently still before Parliament. It however notes that the draft would benefit from additional refinement to ensure that individual law officers/prosecutors are able to
conduct their duties in a more autonomous way, guided by the safeguards necessary under the rule of law.”

GRECO calls on the authorities “to deal with the planned reform of the Law Office of the Republic without delay.”

Source: Cyprus News Agency