“Corruption contributes to the deterioration of democratic values and constitutes a threat to the good governance and functioning of the state. Conflicts of interest is one of its most common forms and encompasses a broad range of issues, such as recruitment, the acceptance of gifts, or influencing public procurement,” stated Andrew DAWSON (United Kingdom, ECR), presenting, on behalf of the rapporteur Peter JOHN (United Kingdom, SOC), the draft report on ‘Conflicts of Interest at local and regional level” at the Governance Committee meeting, in Covasna County, Romania, on 30 May 2018.

The report encourages local and regional authorities to set up independent ethics committees to review the financial activity of members, and to accompany the disclosure policies by appropriate means, in particular through e-systems and human resource mechanisms. It also calls on governments and parliaments of member states to specify in a clear definition exactly what constitutes a conflict of interest.

This report is part of the Roadmap for Preventing Corruption and Promoting Public Ethics at Local and Regional Level, adopted by the Congress in 2016. It will be examined for adoption during the 35th Congress Session, in November 2018.

Source:https://www.coe.int/en/web/congress/-/conflicts-of-interest-at-local-and-regional-levels