# Airbus investigation exposes corruption risks with third parties

URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/press/airbus-investigation-exposes-corruption-risks-with-third-parties
Type: Press release
Published: 2016-08-08
Updated: 2020-04-07

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08 August 2016

Commenting on the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opening a new investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption at Airbus, Katherine Dixon Director of Transparency International Defence and Security Programme said:

> “The use of agents is one of the biggest corruption risks across the defence and aerospace sector, and Airbus is just one of a long line of companies that have run into trouble. The failure of Airbus to declare its agents highlights the weakness of self-disclosure requirements and why governments can and should use export policies to reduce the influence of corrupt middlemen.”
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> “The Airbus case demonstrates the need for more consistent transparency requirements in export policies around the use and payment of agents.”

Last month Transparency International issued a report highlighting the risks in the use of middlemen in defence deals. “Licence to Bribe? Reducing corruption risks around the use of agents in defence procurement” showed that 90% of companies assessed by TI, fail to provide evidence of regular due diligence over the use of agents.

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**Dominic Kavakeb**
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+44 (0)796 456 0340
Dominic.kavakeb@transparency.org.uk