TI's progress reports are intended to provide an annual assessment of government enforcement by OECD Convention countries. It examines the enforcement performance in 34 of the 37 parties to the Convention (including all Group of Seven (G7) countries). The first report issued in March 2005, covered 24 countries; the second in June 2006, covered 31 countries; and the third in July 2007 covered 34 countries.

TI’s 2008 Report shows that there is significant enforcement in sixteen countries, two more than in the 2007 Report, with little or no enforcement in the others. While 2007 Report showed progress over 2006, the lack of enforcement in over half the countries is very disturbing.

The 16 countries that showed significant enforcement are: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

There has been little or no enforcement in another eighteen countries, including three G7 countries, showing a lack of sufficient commitment to date in those countries. These are Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Download the full report in pdf.

Public information about government enforcement is essential for citizens to know if their governments are complying with OECD Convention obligations and to hold them to account. Publicly accessible statistics should be maintained on prosecutions, civil actions and investigations relating to foreign bribery. Indictments, judicial investigations, prosecutions, civil actions, settlements and court judgments in foreign bribery cases should be a matter of public record and easily accessible. Publicly traded companies should be required to publicly disclose any investigations or prosecutions as well as judgements and settlements.

TI experts in 24 countries report a lack of access to information about cases and / or investigations. These are: Argentina , Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

In TI’s view, the next year is crucial for the success of the Convention. The report lays out some priority areas for action:

• UK commitment. The UK Parliament will have an opportunity to address inadequacies in UK laws based on a Law Commission report expected in October. Moreover, based on the increased volume of foreign bribery investigations by the British Serious Fraud Office TI hopes to see clear signs of stronger enforcement in the near future.
• Other lagging governments. It is also important that countries where there has been little or no enforcement, particularly Japan, send a strong signal that they are seriously pursuing prosecutions.
• Closing national security loophole. The termination of the investigation into the BAE case based on national security concerns created a dangerous precedent. If the House of Lords affirms the decision of the High Court invalidating the termination, this precedent and concerns about it will be removed.
• Continuation of rigorous monitoring programme. OECD reviews have provided the most important impetus for government action to enforce the convention. It is essential that the monitoring programme continue in 2009 and beyond.
• Accession by other major exporting states. The convention would be enhanced by the accession of China, India, Russia and other major exporting states. However, increased enforcement by the present parties should not be delayed until others come aboard.

• Tightening the net on business bribery
  Financial Times, 1 July 2008
• Japan lags behind in fighting foreign bribery
  Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 30 June 2008
• Deutschland im Kampf gegen Auslandskorruption ganz vorne
  die-topnews, 25 June 2008
• U.K., Japan and Canada failing to crack down on foreign bribes, says watchdog group
  Financial Week, 25 June 2008
• Staaten zu milde bei Korruption
  Financial Times Deutschland, 25 June 2008
• Deutschland Vorreiter im Kampf gegen Auslandskorruption
  Agence France Presse, 24 June 2008
• Deutsche kämpfen am härtesten gegen Auslandskorruption
  Spiegel, 24 June 2008
• NGO calls out Japan, Britain on graft
  Agence France Presse, 24 June 2008
• Bestechung wird zu wenig bekämpft
  Wiener Zeitung, 24 June 2008
• Italia, Japón, Gran Bretaña y Canadá no combaten la corrupción con rigor
  Milenio, 24 June 2008
• Publicaron un crítico informe de Transparencia Internacional sobre los sobornos en Argentina
  Diario uno, 24 2008
• Crítico informe sobre el soborno transnacional en el país
  Perfil, 24 June 2008
• Korruption: Deutsche Justiz ist streng bei Bestechung
  Reuters, 24 June 2008
• Britain, Italy Accused of Ignoring Corruption
  Deutsche Welle, 24 June 2008
• Wie die Industrieländer Auslandskorruption bekämpfen
  Financial Times Deutschland, 24 June 2008
• UK accused of 'lacking political will' to punish bribery
  The Guardian, 24 June 2008
• Anti-corruption report: UK singled out over BAE inquiry
  The Guardian, 24 June 2008
• Britain's hollow words on corruption
  The Guardian, 24 June 2008

• TI In Focus: OECD Convention 10th anniversary
• TI In Focus: 2007 OECD Progress Report

• OECD website: Anti-bribery Convention - Information by country
• Shearman & Sterling's Recent Trends and Patterns in FCPA Enforcement report

TI's press releases:

• Poder Ciudadano (TI chapter in Argentina): Crítico informe sobre el tratamiento del soborno transnacional en Argentina
• TI press release: Mixed messages on fighting foreign bribery, says TI report
• Situation équivoque concernant la lutte contre la corruption transnationale, selon un rapport de TI
• Mensajes contradictorios en la lucha contra el soborno de funcionarios extranjeros, dice informe de TI
• Transparency International Calls for Action to Enforce the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention (Berlin/Rome, 21 November 2007)
• UK actions on Saudi defence contract are blow to Anti-Bribery Convention, says Transparency International (Berlin, 13 June 2007)
• TI Calls for action against bribery at OECD Ministerial meeting (Berlin, 15 May 2007)
• Transparency International continues to urge OECD action on UK termination of bribery investigation (Berlin, 12 March 2007)
• TI continues its insistence to re-open bribery case of UK - Saudi Arabia arms deal (Berlin, 15 January 2007)