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2007 Assessment

France: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

France: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Anti-Corruption Agency
Indicators		Score
71	In law, is there an agency (or group of agencies) with a legal mandate to address corruption?	100
72	Is the anti-corruption agency effective?	61
73	Can citizens access the anti-corruption agency?	50

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

In law, is there an agency (or group of agencies) with a legal mandate to address corruption?

71: In law, is there an agency (or group of agencies) with a legal mandate to address corruption?

Score:

YES

Comments: Specialized units of the police and prosecuting authority also exist to deal with corruption and economic crime.

References: The law 93-122 of Jan. 29, 1993, [ LINK ],

The law creates the Central Service for the Prevention of Corruption (SCPC).

Is the anti-corruption agency effective?

72a: In law, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) is protected from political interference.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Law 93-122 of Jan. 29, 1993; Decree 93-232 of Feb. 22, 1993.

72b: In practice, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Bruno Fay, Service central de prévention de la corruption : dans les starting blocks depuis 10 ans, Sept. 30, 2005, [ LINK ];

Thomas Vallières, La lutte anticorruption entre de bonnes mains, Marianne, Feb. 25 - March 3, 2006

72c: In practice, the head of the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) is protected from removal without relevant justification.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Bruno Fay, Service central de prévention de la corruption : dans les starting blocks depuis 10 ans, Sept. 30, 2005;

Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport d'activité 2003, [ LINK ]

72d: In practice, appointments to the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) are based on professional criteria.

Score:

100

Comments: The current head of the service, appointed in 2006, is said to be close to the right-wing party UMP (formerly RPR). He is a controversial figure. As a public prosecutor he allegedly re-oriented politically-sensitive investigations in a direction which protected the politicians involved.

References: Arnaud Montebourg, open letter to the minister of Justice, July 17, 2003, [ LINK ];

Eric Halphen, Sept ans de solitude, 2002, Editions Denoël;

Thomas Vallières, La lutte anticorruption entre de bonnes mains, Marianne, Feb. 25- March 3, 2006;

L'investigateur, Alègre a parlé pour la première fois mais l'enquête est « en danger d'étouffement », June 2, 2003, [ LINK ]

72e: In practice, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments: The Central Service for the Prevention of Corruption is a small agency with a limited staff. Positions sometimes remain vacant for a long period of time. Members of the staff are generally experienced professionals form other ministries or services seconded to the SCPC. Some critics (Mazeaud, cited in Fay) think that these officials would be more useful if they stayed in their administration of origin.

References: Bruno Fay, Service central de prévention de la corruption: dans les starting blocks& depuis 10 ans, Sept. 30, 2005, [ LINK ];

Jean Gaubert, parliamentary question, Le fonctionnement du service central de prévention de la corruption, Sept. 8, 2003 (question) and March 2, 2004 (answer), [ LINK ]; Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport 2005, La documentation Française

72f: In practice, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) receives regular funding.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The agency (or agencies) has a predictable source of funding that is fairly consistent from year to year. Political considerations are not a major factor in determining agency funding. <p>50 Score Criteria: The agency (or agencies) has a regular source of funding, but may be pressured by cuts, or threats of cuts to the agency budget. Political considerations have an effect on agency funding. <p>0 Score Criteria: The agency\'s funding sources are unreliable. Funding may be removed arbitrarily or as retaliation for agency actions.$

Comments: Staff seconded to the SCPC are paid by their administration of origin, thus generating no expense for the SCPC. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs finances the SCPC's missions abroad. Scholars and parliamentarians, doubtful about the effectiveness of the Service, have proposed to close the Service altogether.

References: Bruno Fay, Service central de prévention de la corruption: dans les starting blocks& depuis 10 ans, Sept. 30, 2005, [ LINK ]

Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport 2005, La documentation Française;

Contribution of the Head of the SCPC at the conference 'European Anti-Corruption Agencies, protecting the Community's financial interests in a knowledge-based, innovative and integrated manner', ISCTE, Lisbon, May 17-19, 2006

72g: In practice, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) makes regular public reports.

Score:

100

Comments: The anti-corruption agency publishes an annual report with thematic articles. It publishes little in-depth or substantial analysis of events or phenomena. The Agency is a small and little-publicized body.

References: Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport 2005, La documentation Française;

Rapport d'activité 2003, [ LINK ],

Rapport d'activité 2004, [ LINK ]

72h: In practice, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) has sufficient powers to carry out its mandate.

Score:

100

Comments: The mandate of the SCPC does not include investigative powers. The main activities of the Service are research, formulating recommendations upon request, training, establishing and developing partnerships with the public and private sectors, with foreign authorities and international bodies.

References: Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport 2005, La documentation Française;

Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport d'activité 2003, [ LINK ],

Rapport d'activité 2004, [ LINK ]

72i: In practice, when necessary, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) independently initiates investigations.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Décision du Conseil constitutionnel n° 92-316 DC du 20 janvier 1993 [ LINK ]; Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport 2005, La documentation Française;

Rapport d'activité 2003, [ LINK ],

Rapport d'activité 2004, [ LINK ]

Can citizens access the anti-corruption agency?

73a: In practice, the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) acts on complaints within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Only specified authorities can make a request for advice to the SCPC. The SCPC produces about 50 pieces of advice per year. It also endeavours to answer the requests it receives from simple citizens.

References: Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, Rapport 2005, La documentation Française,

Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, replies given to the National Assessment Survey on ACAs, ISCTE, 2006-2007, [ LINK ]; Bruno Fay, Service central de prévention de la corruption: dans les starting blocks& depuis 10 ans, Sept. 30, 2005, [ LINK ]

73b: In practice, citizens can complain to the anti-corruption agency (or agencies) without fear of recrimination.

Score:

100

Comments: Only specified authorities can make a request for advice to the SCPC. Citizens cannot make requests -although the SCPC endeavors to answer their letters- and there is no proper complaint mechanism. The SCPC reportedly regrets that it is sometimes being used in a manipulative way by local politicians. The political loyalties of the people in charge of the SCPC might also induce fear of recrimination in the requesting persons or organizations.

References: Service Central de Prévention de la Corruption, replies given to the National Assessment Survey on ACAs, ISCTE, 2006-2007, [ LINK ]; Bruno Fay, Service central de prévention de la corruption: dans les starting blocks& depuis 10 ans, Sept. 30, 2005, [ LINK ]