MALTA SIGNS COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONVENTIONS

On Monday, 20^th November 2000, Malta signed the following Council of Europe Conventions: (one Convention was signed and ratified).

The Criminal Law Convention on Corruption

Malta today signed theCriminal Law Convention on Corruption. Adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in November 1998, this Convention forms part of the follow-up action of the Summit of the Council of Europe Heads of State and helps the implementation of the Council's Programme of Action Against Corruption.

The said Convention is an ambitious instrument aiming at the coordinated criminalisation of a large number of corrupt practices. It also provides for complementary criminal law measures and for improved international co-operation in the prosecution of corruption offences. The scope of the Convention is a wide one, which complements existing legal instruments.

States are required to provide for effective and dissuasive sanctions including deprivation of liberty that can lead to extradition. Legal entities will also be liable for offences committed to benefit them, and will be subject to effective criminal or non-criminal sanctions, including monetary sanctions.

The Convention also incorporates provisions concerning aiding and abetting, immunity, criteria for determining the jurisdiction of states, liability of legal persons, the setting up of specialised anti-corruption bodies, protection of persons collaborating with investigating or prosecution authorities, gathering of evidence and confiscation of proceeds.

11 EU Member states have signed the Convention. The EU applicant countries have lately become parties to the Convention, together with others in Eastern and Central Europe and the Mediterranean. This Conventionwill come into force when it has been ratified by 14 states.

On this same date Malta signed the Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Malta has in addition signed and ratified the Additionaland Second Protocols to the European Convention on Extradition.