Participation of the PABSEC International Secretariat in the 2023 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum, Paris, 24-25 May 2023
Mr. Miltiadis Makrygiannis, PABSEC Deputy Secretary General participated in the 2023 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum which took place on 24-25 May 2023, in Paris, at the premises of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)
The forum, titled “Action to Impact: Working together to strengthen integrity and fight corruption”, included several sessions, many of them taking place simultaneously. Some of the most important were titled “Strengthening the Partnership between the Public and Private Sector to Combat Corruption”, “Reinforcing Democracy: The Role of Integrity amongst Elected and Appointed Officials”, “Zero Tolerance for Corruption: What Does it Mean in Practice for Development Cooperation?”, “Combating Fraud amid Crises: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic and the Path Forward”, “Reinforcing Democracies in a Globalized World: Countering Foreign Covert Influence and Foreign Interference” etc.
The opening included high-level remarks from the OECD Secretary General Mr. Mathias Cormann and world leaders, highlighting the importance of strong political leadership in combatting corruption.
As it was noted, international cooperation among likeminded countries is crucial for addressing many of today’s crises like rising inflation, deepening food and energy insecurity, and accelerating climate change. Corruption and a lack of integrity can be found at the core of many of these challenges, and exacerbate their effects on citizens, businesses, and government. Tackling issues such as the mismanagement of public funds, international bribery, tax fraud, and nontransparent lobbying practices require both the public and private sectors to stand firm and work together. The proposed solutions and actions should serve the people and not a select few.
Moreover, it was underlined that trust and integrity are key to fostering economic growth and innovation, and therefore are central to meeting long-term goals such as addressing climate change and the crisis of democracy. As people face multiple social, political and economic disruptions around the world, renewed international commitments and action from all stakeholders are imperative to address corruption and foster a rules-based economy. The leaders in the public and private sectors as well as civil society should strategize on how they can work together to strengthen anti-corruption measures and reinforce trust in the business environment.