GRECO was established on 1 May 1999, by a Resolution adopted by 17 Council of Europe states, following a 1998 Council of Ministers Resolution authorising its creation. It was conceived as a flexible and efficient follow-up mechanism, called to monitor, through a process of mutual evaluation and peer pressure, the observance of the Guiding Principles in the Fight against Corruption and the implementation of international legal instruments adopted in pursuance of the Council of Europe Programme of Action against Corruption. Full membership of the GRECO is reserved to those who participate fully in the mutual evaluation process and accept to be evaluated. The Member States of GRECO appoint permanent representatives who participate in plenary meetings of GRECO and are entitled to vote.

The GRECO currently has 44 member states and monitors the following instruments:

• Twenty Guiding Principles in the Fight against Corruption (1997)
• Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention (1999)
• Additional Protocol to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
• Council of Europe Civil Law Convention (1999)
• Recommendation on Codes of Conduct for Public Officials (2000)
• Recommendation on Common Rules against Corruption in the Funding of Political Parties

The monitoring process consists of evaluation rounds and compliance procedures, covering key topics. It involves country self-assessments, on-site visits by review teams, plenary discussions and a published report with recommendations.

• The First Evaluation Round (1.1.2000 – 31.12.2002) dealt with specific provisions of the 20 Guiding Principles, namely, independence, specialisation and means of national bodies engaged in the prevention and fight against corruption, as well as extent and scope of immunities and was followed by a
• The First Round Compliance Procedure followed with reports in 2003-2005.
• The Second Evaluation Round (1.1.2003 – 31.12.2005) deals with themes in the 20 Principles as well as in the Criminal Law Convention, such as confiscation of corruption proceeds and prevention of legal persons being used as shields for corruption.

The GRECO monitoring process involves

• country self-assessments based on a questionnaire
  o 1st Evaluation Questionnaire
  GRECO quest. 1.doc 55.50 kB
  o 2nd Evaluation Round Questionnaire
  GRECO quest. 2.doc 67.50 kB
• evaluation teams, composed of experts chosen from lists proposed by member states; these play a central role
• on-site visits by the evaluation teams who consult with government, private sector and civil society representatives;
• civil society inputs upon invitation
• a strong secretariat
• active plenary discussions, which discuss and adopt reports
• a report with recommendations, published subject to the agreement of the reviewed country. Not all countries have agreed to publication. To view the reports for the two Evaluation Rounds, visit the GRECO website.
• a follow-up compliance report. To view the reports for the First Round Compliance Procedure, visit the GRECO website.