B20 Anti-Corruption Working Group

B20 Australia (2014)

The B20 Australia Presidency in 2014 established an Anti-Corruption Working Group. Anti-corruption was also a cross-cutting theme across the other taskforces or working groups: Trade; Infrastructure & Investment; Financing Growth; Human Capital. The G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group also published a new Action Plan for 2015–2016.

B20 recommendations

Excerpts from the B20 statement or policy document on anti-corruption in this B20 cycle.

Policy document: B20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Report to the B20 Office and Taskforce Chairs

Excerpts:

Overall recommendations

G20 Governments agree to harmonise laws related to anti-corruption that incentivise companies to build best practice compliance programs and self-report compliance breaches; and:

form a working group consisting of business and enforcement agencies to map jurisdictional differences, propose regulatory change that recognises anti-corruption programs and self-reporting, and monitor progress.

G20 Governments endorse the G8 core principles around transparency of ownership and control of companies and legal arrangements.
G20 governments to commit to enforcing the existing OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and the UN Convention against Corruption, and:

take steps to install and/or build capacity for high level reporting mechanisms in at-risk public offices where any party can report violations of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws;
strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies and national HLRMs and appoint a lead agency where multiple jurisdictions are involved; and
make information on enforcement procedures and actions publicly available.

Trade taskforce recommendations

G20 governments to commit to begin immediate implementation the trade facilitation agreement, with priority given to:

a. transparency of fees, charges, procedures, timeframes and regulations; and
b. implementation of one-stop and automated customs procedures.

G20 governments ensure that all new trade agreements include specific anti- corruption clauses, requiring signatories to uphold the UN Convention against Corruption and OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and install High Level Reporting Mechanisms (3.a).

Human Capital taskforce recommendations

G20 Governments agree to harmonise laws related to anti-corruption that incentivise companies to build best practice compliance programs and self-report compliance breaches; and

a. form a working group consisting of business and enforcement agencies to map jurisdictional differences, propose regulatory change that recognises anti-corruption programs and self reporting, and monitor progress.

Infrastructure & Investment taskforce recommendations

G20 governments apply best practice procurement processes in all large and/or publicly significant infrastructure projects:
Projects must comply with recognised best practice, either those developed through the G20 ACWG, or one of the World Bank, UNODC or OECD guidelines; and
High Level Reporting Mechanisms should be installed or developed in relation to procurement and execution of public infrastructure projects (3.a).
G20 governments incentivise companies bidding for large and/or publicly significant infrastructure projects that have in place best practice anti-corruption compliance programs. Companies that can demonstrate this capacity should receive awarded bonus points and positive recognition in the bidding process. Governments should also:

support verification of the quality of these compliance programs by recognised professional bodies or accredited experts;
consider entering into integrity pacts and/or independent monitoring over the life of the project; and
encourage knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives amongst businesses to develop compliance programs throughout their supply chain.

IMITs should require signatories to enforce their anti-corruption and transparency obligations, undertake capacity building for public officials, and install high level reporting mechanisms to govern the treaty.

Financing Growth taskforce recommendations

G20 governments endorse the G8 core principles around transparency of ownership and control of companies and legal arrangements.

G20 commitments

Excerpts from the G20 leaders’ statement relevant to anti-corruption.

G20 Leaders’ Communiqué - Brisbane Summit

Excerpt:

Building a stronger, more resilient global economy:

We endorse the 2015-16 G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan that will support growth and resilience. Our actions are building cooperation and networks, including to enhance mutual legal assistance, recovery of the proceeds of corruption and denial of safe haven to corrupt officials. We commit to improve the transparency of the public and private sectors, and of beneficial ownership by implementing the G20 High-Level Principles on Beneficial Ownership Transparency.

G20 Action Plan

Some short description of G20 action plan

G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Action Plan 2015-2016

Excerpts:

Private sector transparency and integrity: G20 countries recognise that they must continue to work closely with business and civil society to reduce corruption.

For businesses, bribery and other forms of corruption can have a serious impact on their commercial viability, including by distorting competition, increasing the costs of cross-border transactions, and threatening the stability of their trading and investment environment.

G20 countries recognise that governments cannot fight corruption alone, and the private sector is an essential partner in helping us to achieve our anti-corruption goals.

G20 countries commit to continuing to work with the private sector and civil society to combat corruption, including by developing anti-corruption education and training for business, with a particular focus on SMEs, and by examining best practices for encouraging businesses to implement robust compliance programs and self-report breaches of corruption laws.