OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials

The OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials was created in May 1997 during the OECD Council meeting (Paris), Ministers recommended that Member states submit to national legislatures legislation to criminalize bribery of foreign public officials.

The convention entered into force on February 15, 1999 and has since been ratified by all 35 OECD member states. The convention is a historic achievement in the fight against bribery - obligating all signatories to criminalize bribery of foreign public officials.

The OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions is an international agreement aimed at combating corruption in international business transactions. While not specifically related to the environment, it can have implications for environmental issues when bribery is used to secure favorable outcomes in environmental decision-making.

Under the Convention, countries are required to criminalize bribery of foreign public officials in their national laws and to cooperate in investigations and prosecutions of such offenses. The Convention also calls for measures to prevent and detect bribery, including enhanced transparency and accountability in business practices.

Some examples of how the Convention could apply in an environmental context include:

• Bribery of foreign public officials to obtain permits or approvals for environmentally damaging activities, such as mining, logging, or industrial activities.

• Bribery of foreign public officials to avoid penalties or fines for environmental violations, such as pollution or illegal waste disposal.

• Bribery of foreign public officials to influence environmental policy or decision-making, such as the approval or rejection of environmental regulations or projects.

Similar international agreements aimed at combatting corruption in business transactions include:

• The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which is a broader convention aimed at preventing and combating corruption in all its forms.

• The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which is a voluntary initiative aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the extractive industries, including the oil, gas, and mining sectors.

• The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), which is an international agreement aimed at promoting public access to information and participation in environmental decision-making. While not specifically related to corruption, it can help to prevent corrupt practices by promoting transparency and accountability in environmental decision-making.