International newsletter of the HATVP – January – February 2026
IN BRIEF
In January, the European Parliament approved the interinstitutional agreement on the European anti-corruption directive, paving the way for the first harmonised criminal-law framework against corruption. In France, the first reporting campaign on actions carried out on behalf of a foreign principal began on 1 January 2026, three months after the register of foreign influence activities came into force.
In February, Transparency International published its Corruption Perceptions Index for 2025. France lost two spots in the global ranking, dropping to 27th out of 182 countries. With a score of 66 out of 100, it remains below the average for countries considered fully democratic (average score of 71/100) and with an open civic space (average score of 68/100).
EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
European Parliament
On 27 January 2026, Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of the trilogue agreement on the new anti-corruption directive, which comprises the first EU-wide framework defining corruption offences and sets minimum rules for criminal and non-criminal penalties for bribery, misappropriation, obstruction of justice, trading in influence, unlawful exercise of functions, illicit enrichment linked to corruption, concealment, and private-sector bribery offences. The deal was approved with 54 votes in favour, 11 against, and 9 abstentions. The agreement is the result of a series of interinstitutional negotiations, known as « trilogue », a consultation format used in the European Union (EU) legislative process that brings together the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The plenary vote for the final confirmation of the new rules by Parliament is expected to take place in March. (European, Parliament, 27 January 2026)
On 4 February 2026, the European Parliament published the results of its latest Eurobarometer survey. It shows that opinions towards the EU and its institutions remain positive despite slight declines since May 2025. A relative majority of respondents has a favourable image of the EU (49%, – 3 percentage points), whereas 17% have a negative image. 38% of respondents (-3 percentage points) have a positive image of the European Parliament, compared to 20% who have a negative image. A strong and growing majority of citizens believe that their country’s membership of the EU is a good thing (62%), an increase of two points since the question was last asked in February-March 2024. Europeans believe that the European Parliament should prioritise peace (52%) and democracy (35%), as well as freedom of speech and thought (23%) and the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide (22%). (Eurobarometer, 4 February 2026)
European Commission
On 5 January 2026, the European Commission registered a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), entitled « Ethics, Transparency and Integrity for European Political Parties ». The initiative invites the Commission to propose a legislative act amending and tightening up the EU Regulation on European political parties and European political foundations. The initiative calls in favour of introducing stricter requirements in relation to conflicts of interest, transparency, decision-making, unethical conduct and funding. At this stage, the European Commission has not analysed the substance of the proposals submitted in the initiative. The Commission will only decide on the initiative if it receives at least one million statements of support from EU citizens. (European Commission, 5 January 2026)
On 29 January 2026, the European Commission decided to terminate the contract of senior official and former Director-General for Transport at the European Commission Henrik Hololei, following the conclusions of an internal investigation into Qatar’s payment for trips to Doha. Henrik Hololei had stepped down from his position in March 2023, after the Quatari connection affair (« Qatargate ») broke in the European Parliament. The decision to take action against a senior official was announced during the January meeting of the College of Commissioners.(Euractiv, 29 January 2026)
At the 24 February meeting of the General Affairs Council, EU Ministers officially launched the start of the groundwork to create the European Centre for Democratic Resilience. The Centre is a flagship initiative of the European Democracy Shield, presented on 12 November 2025, aimed at empowering, protecting, and promoting strong and resilient democracies across the EU. The Centre’s goal is to facilitate a consolidated approach involving civil society to increase awareness and boost the capacity to respond to the threats faced by democracies today, and build democratic resilience. (European Commission, 24 February 2026)
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Council of Europe
On 6 January 2026, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO released two new publications assessing steps taken by Belgium as part of its fourth round of compliance procedure on preventing corruption among members of parliament, judges and prosecutors, as well as on its fifth round of compliance procedure regarding central government and law enforcement agencies. Concerning parliamentarians, GRECO acknowledges that measures have been taken to introduce regular training on integrity matters. Overall, GRECO regrets that its recommendations have been implemented only to a very limited extent, and the main issues identified in its 2014 evaluation report regarding parliamentarians remain unresolved. GRECO welcomes the many improvements made with regard to judges and prosecutors, particularly with respect to ethics, recruitment, training and the disciplinary framework. GRECO concludes that Belgium has only implemented eight of twenty-two recommendations issued in January 2020 on preventing corruption in central government and law enforcement agencies. GRECO notes that progress has been minimal with regard to people carrying out top executive functions in central government. The trend is more positive with regard to the federal police, where there is increased stability at senior management level and measures have been taken to regulate outside activities more effectively. Overall, GRECO concludes that Belgium is not sufficiently complying with its recommendations concerning central government and law enforcement agencies. GRECO has asked Belgium to report back on progress on implementing its outstanding recommendations in these areas by 30 November 2026. (GRECO, 12 December 2025) (GRECO, 12 December 2025)
GRECO has decided to close its fifth round of evaluation in Finland and regarding prevention of corruption in central government and law enforcement agencies. In a report published on 12 January, GRECO concludes that Finland has satisfactorily implemented eleven of the fourteen recommendations contained in the fifth evaluation round report. The remaining three recommendations have been partly implemented. The report notes that visible progress has been achieved with regard to persons entrusted with top executive functions notably through a system of confidential counselling for civil servants and persons entrusted with top executive functions, as well as regular integrity training sessions. GRECO also welcomes the preventive measures introduced to review and manage the disclosure of pre-employment and post-employment conflicts of interest of persons entrusted with top executive functions, by standardising the content of declaration of assets and interests. Furthermore, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for 2025-2027 is expected to address the outstanding recommendations on consolidation of integrity rules for ministers. With respect to law enforcement agencies, GRECO concludes that all recommendations have been fully implemented. An action plan has been adopted to complement the implementation of the Police’s anti-corruption policy, whistleblower protection has been strengthened in law, accompanied by training delivered across all levels of command, with the police forces. (GRECO, 12 January 2026)
In a follow-up report on 12 January, GRECO called on Croatia to step up its efforts to fully implement the recommendations issued to the country to promote integrity and prevent corruption among top executive functions of the central government and the police. GRECO concludes that Croatia has fully implemented eleven of the seventeen recommendations contained in the fifth round evaluation report, adopted in 2019, and partially implemented six recommendations. The report acknowledges some progress in the training activities conducted by the Council for the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for State Officials in the Executive Bodies. It also welcomes the entry into force of the Lobbying Act, which, together with the new Code of Conduct for State Officials in the Executive Bodies, introduces certain rules on how persons with top executive functions should engage with lobbyists and third parties seeking to influence government activities. However, GRECO underlines that the authorities should take more determined action to implement the outstanding recommendations. Regarding the police, the report welcomes that there has been significant progress in most outstanding issues, notably through the adoption of a plan to strengthen police integrity and prevent and combat police corruption, as well as the publication of a manual of ethical behaviour for police officers. Overall, GRECO concludes that Croatia is not in sufficient compliance with the recommendations of the fifth round evaluation report and asks the authorities to provide a report on progress in implementing the outstanding recommendations by 30 November 2026.(GRECO, 12 January 2026)
From 12 to 16 January 2026, a delegation comprising four GRECO evaluators (Ireland, Latvia, Slovak Republic and Switzerland) and one member of the Secretariat visited the United Kingdom to carry out the on-site evaluation under its sixth round, aimed at preventing corruption and promoting integrity at the sub-national level. An evaluation report assessing the situation in the country and the two selected sub-national authorities (London and the county of Kent) will be drawn up and examined by the GRECO plenary in 2026. (GRECO, 16 January 2026)
In a report published on 22 January 2026, GRECO concluded that Romania has fully implemented eight out of thirteen recommendations contained in the fourth round evaluation report, adopted in 2015, on the prevention of corruption in respect of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors. The five outstanding recommendations concern parliamentarians: two recommendations have been partly implemented, and three remain unimplemented. GRECO acknowledges substantial progress on the regulation of lobbying, notably through the adoption in September 2025 of a legislative proposal introducing registration and disclosure requirements for lobbyists and MPs, together with enforcement and monitoring mechanisms. However, no progress has been reported in preventing conflicts of interest or in establishing robust restrictions on gifts, hospitality, favours, and other benefits for parliamentarians. GRECO notes that the Senate has taken steps to enhance transparency in both plenary and committee work and made proposals to strengthen integrity in parliament by providing for specialised training and counselling. The Romanian authorities are expected to report back to GRECO on the actions taken to implement the five outstanding recommendations by 30 November 2026. (GRECO, 22 January 2026)
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
Transparency international
On 10 February 2026, Transparency International published the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The organisation indicates that corruption is worsening globally, with even established democracies experiencing rising corruption. For the first time in over a decade, the CPI results reflect an overall and sustained deterioration in the situation, with an average score of 42 out of 100. (Transparency International, 10 February 2026).
France, with a score of 66 out of 100, has lost to spots in the global ranking, dropping to 27th out of 182 countries, and has reached its lowest position since the CPI was created. With this new score, France remains below the average for countries considered fully democratic (average score of 71/100) and with an open civic space (average score of 68/100). Alongside the publication of the CPI, Transparency International has released an alternative plan for France comprising some twenty measures to fight against corruption. The proposed measures focus notably on the independence of the judiciary, access to public procurement data, transparency of public aid, regulation of lobbying and protection of whistleblowers. The organisation has also drawn up ten commitments for candidates in municipal and inter-municipal elections, serving as a reminder that the fight against corruption is also being waged at local level. (Transparency International, 18 February 2026, Transparency International, 2 February 2026)
EUROPE
France
On 1 January 2026, the implementation of the register of foreign influence activities by the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life continued with the launch of the first reporting campaign on foreign influence activities, three months after the register came into force. Since 1 October 2025, this new public register has made it possible to identify lobbying activities carried out on behalf of foreign principals, in line with the objective of Law N°2024-850 of 25 July 2024 aimed at preventing foreign interference in France. The law applies to any natural or legal person who, on behalf of a foreign principal and in order to promote the latter’s interests, undertakes actions intended to influence public decisions or the conduct of public policy at the local or national level, or to influence France’s European or foreign policy. Individuals engaged in foreign influence activities who are listed in the register will have until 31 March to declare their foreign influence activities carried out in the last quarter of 2025. In addition to these quarterly reports, they must report annually, within three months of the end of the financial year, the number of persons engaged in lobbying activities and the turnover generated by these activities for each foreign principal. (High Authority for Transparency in Public Life, 5 January 2026)
Serbia
On 30 January, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic enacted a judicial reform limiting the term of office of chief prosecutors and granting court presidents, who are responsible for court administration, increased powers over judges. The European Commission has expressed regret over this reform, which could undermine the independence of judges and affect the handling of high-level corruption cases, some of which involve ministers from the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), the party of Aleksandar Vucic. (Bulgarian news agency, 30 January 2026)
Kosovo
On 11 February 2026, the Kosovo Parliament approved the composition of the new government presented by outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti, following his party’s victory in the parliamentary elections on 28 December 2025. The result of the December election was confirmed on 31 January 2026 by the electoral commission, which had initially ordered a recount of the ballots following the discovery of irregularities. A criminal investigation was launched and more than 100 election officials were arrested in mid-January for falsifying election results, coercion and intimidation, as well as active and passive corruption. Some of them were detained for one to two months while investigations were carried out. On 11 February, Kosovar MPs also elected the new Speaker of Parliament, Albulena Haxhiu, a former Minister of Justice. (Reuters, 11 February 2026))