Pilot integrity pacts in the EU made a valuable contribution to better public contracting in Europe.
We can observe positive changes in enhanced transparency and accountability, stronger competition and fairness, and improved value for money. With better policies in place, knowledge and skills gained or new integrity pacts underway, we can even see examples of sustainable change.
The pilots have brought together civil society organisations, public institutions and companies and have shown that protecting strategic investments from fraud, corruption and mismanagement benefits all involved parties.
Externally hosted content may include ads. These aren't endorsed by or reflect Transparency International's views.
If you are considering implementing an integrity pact and would like to dive in deeper, we invite you to explore the key resources below.
Public institutions
Managing and contracting authorities benefit from dialogue with affected communities, informing them of public projects’ effects on communities, and the opportunity to implement change based on their feedback. The additional expert opinion and recommendations have also proven beneficial and had a preventive effect, strengthening good governance on all levels as well as supporting institutional change.
- The decision-maker’s guide to collaborative public contracting monitoring aims to help public authorities embed integrity pacts in their programmes in order to safeguard strategic investments. It focuses primarily on EU investments under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and recovery funds, but can also support public authorities outside the EU.
- The practical guide to civic monitoring of public contracting projects will support advocates and implementers in advocating in three key areas:
Guide 1: Achieving broader recognition and adoption across the EU
Guide 2: Designing fit-for-purpose integrity pacts
Guide 3: Ensuring effective monitoring
- Monitoring public contracting: Experience from 18 integrity pacts in the EU aims to inform future decision-makers, public authorities, prospective independent monitors and participating bidders about the pilot integrity pacts in the EU. It includes data for each of the integrity pacts, key achievements, and a narrative overview.
Companies
Bidders and contractors benefit greatly from a level playing field and the guarantee that principles of competition and fairness will be applied. Recommendations issued as part of monitoring also help companies develop further their anti-corruption mechanisms. Their eventual implementation sends a strong message of commitment to transparency and corporate responsibility to the public.
- The business case for integrity pacts dives deep into the different benefits of integrity pacts for businesses. It covers the key 7 advantages, such as a level playing field for all bidders and enhanced company or sector reputation.
- Monitoring public contracting: Experience from 18 integrity pacts in the EU aims to inform future decision-makers, public authorities, prospective independent monitors and participating bidders about the pilot integrity pacts in the EU. It includes data for each of the integrity pacts, key achievements, and a narrative overview.
Civil society
By acting as civic monitors, civil society organisations help ensure that public contracting projects follow laws and best practices in anti-corruption, and eventually benefit the people. Through integrity pacts, they get an opportunity to monitor procurement cycles, engage communities in collective activities, educate them about public procurement, and foster a culture of accountability.
- Tender defender: Cards on the table! is a card game that helps civil society groups, journalists, activists, and others learn about public procurement and identify potential corruption risks.
- The practical guide to civic monitoring of public contracting projects will support advocates and implementers in advocating in three key areas:
Guide 1: Achieving broader recognition and adoption across the EU
Guide 2: Designing fit-for-purpose integrity pacts
Guide 3: Ensuring effective monitoring
- The implementation guide for civil society organisations seeks to demonstrate how the integrity pact can be applied to the infrastructure sector. It includes an analysis of the infrastructure cycle and the different types of risks that can arise in the different phases.
- Monitoring public contracting: Experience from 18 integrity pacts in the EU aims to inform future decision-makers, public authorities, prospective independent monitors and participating bidders about the pilot integrity pacts in the EU. It includes data for each of the integrity pacts, key achievements, and a narrative overview.
