sector on anti-corruption work and a lack of inter-institutional training.68 Despite small and medium enterprises (SMEs) making up 91 per cent of the Belgian market there is no anti-corruption policy work tailored to their peculiar needs. This is a concern for foreign bribery enforcement as the Belgian government promotes investment of SMEs abroad.69 There is insufficient public funding for academic research collecting information and analysing the risks that Belgium companies face when investing abroad and the ways to reduce them. There is no independent anti-corruption commission to raise awareness about corruption, coordinate preventive programmes, publicise reporting measures and initiate investigations which would also be required by Article 6 of the UN Convention against Corruption.70
Recent Developments In April 2011, the Belgian legislature extended the afkoopwet (redemption law) which allows for settlements to be concluded in criminal cases.71 Since April 2011, financial crimes and foreign bribery offences are covered by the law. The extension also means that settlements can be concluded between the defendant or suspect and the Belgian authorities in cases that are before the judge of investigation and during the criminal court proceedings. Previously the law was applicable only during the public prosecutor’s investigations. The settlement could be either a financial payment or the handing over of goods.72 (See Foreign Bribery Cases and Investigations above for an example of a settlement concluded under the law).
Recommendations for Priority Actions Dedicate more resources to enforcement authorities and the courts. Introduce systematic data collection which distinguishes foreign bribery statistics from other offences. Draw up anti-corruption policies tailored to SMEs that invest in foreign countries. Improve the implementation and coherence of anti-corruption programmes and guidelines in the private sector where they exist, where they do not, support their adoption. Public authorities tasked with stimulating foreign investment, such as Flanders Investment and Trade (Flemish Agency for International Entrepreneurship) should run trainings between the private and public sector on foreign bribery. Set up a Belgian anti-corruption commission. Increase knowledge about the risks of corruption for Belgian companies investing in foreign countries by funding relevant academic research.
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Vande Walle G (2012), “Anti-corruption policies in private companies: a new business trend or a real concern and for whom?”, M. Cools, B. De Ruyver, M. Easton, L. Pauwels, P. Ponsaers, Vande Walle G., T. Vander Beken, F. Vander Laenen, A. Verhage, G. Vermeulen, G. Vynckier (eds.), Maklu, Governance of Security Research Papers Series, Volume 6, Antwerpen-Apeldoorn, pages 141-154. 69 “Corruption prevention to foster small and medium-sized enterprise development”, VOLUME II, UNIDO and UNODC, 1 April 2013, www.unodc.org/documents/corruption/Publications/2012/Corruption_prevention_to_foster_small_and_medium_size_e nterprise_development_Vol_2.pdf. 70 United Nations Convention against Corruption, www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/Publications/Convention/08-50026_E.pdf. 71 The law has been somewhat controversial and has received significant media attention in Belgium. See HLN.be, 14 November 2012, “Afkoopwet bracht al tientallen miljoenen op”, www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Binnenland/article/detail/1533760/2012/11/14/Afkoopwet-bracht-al-tientallen-miljoenen-op.dhtml; HLN.be, 21 August 2013, ‘Straf afkopen schendt gelijkheidsbeginsel’, www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Binnenland/article/detail/1488770/2012/08/21/Straf-afkopen-schendt-gelijkheidsbeginsel.dhtml and Knack.be, 19 October 2012, “Na de Afkoopwet, de Uitverkoopwet?”, www.knack.be/opinie/columns/jan-nolf/na-deafkoopwet-de-uitverkoopwet/opinie-4000196096748.htm. 72 Gemeenschappelijke Omzendbrief nr./2012 van de Minister van Justitie , het College van Procureurs-Generaal bij de Hoven van Beroep betreffende Toepassing van artikel 216 bis Sv., in het bijzonder m.b.t. het verruimd verval van de strafvordering tegen betaling van een geldsom (VVSBG) OEP, 1 April 2012, www.static.tijd.be/pdf/afkopen.pdf; (in English) Common Circular of the Minister of Justice nr./2012, the Board of Procurators-General of the Courts of Appeal concerning Application of Article 216 bis Sv., Especially regarding the extended discontinuance against payment of a sum of money (VVSBG) OEP. See also, Van den Wyngaert C. (2011), “Strafrecht en strafprocesrecht in hoofdlijnen, deel 2, Antwerpen, MAKLU” pages 748-749.
EXPORTING CORRUPTION – OECD PROGRESS REPORT 2013
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