The G8 Communique: Strong words on global fight against corruption, treading water on Africa and oil
St Petersburg / Berlin, 17 July 2006

The G8’s statement on Fighting High-Level Corruption points to a maturing understanding of corruption and numbered days

for impunity of public officials. The statements on oil and on Africa contain nods to the requisite initiatives, but are short on

detail and lack concrete commitments.

Fighting High-Level Corruption

Transparency International (TI) welcomes the G8 recognition of the horrendous effects of corruption on development,

democratic governance and the rule of law, but they must do more. Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States

should ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) without further delay and support robust

monitoring. Canada, Italy, Japan, the UK and Russia must enforce the foreign bribery prohibition contained in the OECD

Convention and UNCAC. The G8 cannot prescribe anti-corruption and transparency measures that they themselves have not

followed.

Energy

Although transparency and anti-corruption measures in the oil sector were mentioned, where were the specific measurable

steps? Awareness and recognition of the need for these measures is a positive development, but real progress will only come

when G8 countries hold themselves to specific targets.

Africa

The summit missed the chance to offer hope for the world’s poor. A fraction of the momentum of recent years was carried

forward in the G8’s Update on Africa. Within that, Transparency International welcomes the G8’s reaffirmed support for

the African Peer Review Mechanism (for monitoring governance progress), transparency in oil and gas, and the United

Nations Convention against Corruption. Recovery of stolen assets, making revenue streams transparent and implementing

anti-corruption instruments are the key ways to ensure development and investment that fulfils the promise of a better

future for the continent.

Germany 2007

Chancellor Merkel today indicated today that the G8 will tackle global poverty next year. Transparency International calls

on the German government to ensure that governance and development are at the heart of the agenda for next year’s summit

and to ensure a participative process, starting now, in which civil society feeds into the programme for 2007.

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Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

For information and interviews with Transparency International spokespeople in Russia or globally, please contact Jesse

Garcia at +49 171 421 0789 or at jgarcia@transparency.org

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http://www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2006/2006_07_17_g8_communique