The report presents the results of GRECO’s monitoring of anti-corruption measures in its 48 member states. In 2025, GRECO continued to assess the implementation of recommendations in two areas: the prevention of corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, and the development of integrity systems within central governments and law enforcement agencies.
According to GRECO, countries are generally continuing to move towards more resilient corruption prevention mechanisms, but progress remains uneven and, in many cases, insufficient. GRECO notes that effective anti-corruption efforts require not only formal rules, but also independent, effective and trustworthy institutions.
Fifth Evaluation Round
A significant part of the report is devoted to the Fifth Evaluation Round, which concerns the prevention of corruption and the promotion of integrity within central governments and law enforcement agencies. In 2025, GRECO adopted 20 compliance reports under this round, while a total of 23 reports were published, including one evaluation report and 22 compliance reports.
This part of the report pays particular attention to the role of persons with top executive functions. In GRECO’s view, they should set the standard of integrity for the entire system of public administration. At the same time, many states continue to face problems with the application of codes of conduct, oversight of compliance with anti-corruption standards, regulation of contacts with lobbyists, transparency of the legislative process, access to information, management of conflicts of interest, and verification of declarations of assets and interests.
GRECO also points to a number of unresolved issues concerning law enforcement agencies. These include the need to develop anti-corruption strategies and risk assessments, increase the transparency of appointment and promotion procedures, conduct regular integrity checks of staff, manage conflicts of interest, regulate gifts and outside activities, and protect persons reporting violations.
Overall, the implementation of recommendations under the Fifth Evaluation Round is assessed as insufficient. The report notes that tangible progress has been achieved in a number of states, but in many cases a significant share of recommendations remains only partly implemented or not implemented at all. GRECO also indicates that progress in law enforcement is generally more consistent than in relation to persons with top executive functions, where key integrity safeguards often remain incomplete.
The report also covers other areas of GRECO’s work. In particular, the Fourth Evaluation Round focused on the prevention of corruption among parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, while the Sixth Evaluation Round, launched in 2025, is devoted to integrity and corruption prevention at local and regional levels.
Good Practices and Recommendations
The report also provides examples of good practices.
For instance, Cyprus has regulated the status of political advisers: integrity requirements, rules on conflicts of interest, gifts and hospitality, as well as asset declaration obligations, have been introduced for them. In addition, information about such advisers and their functions is published on the President’s website.
Another example from Cyprus concerns the launch of a single electronic platform for public consultations. It is intended to replace the fragmented publication of draft legislation on individual ministry websites and provides for a minimum consultation period of four weeks, the appointment of coordinators in each ministry, training and centralised monitoring.
In Germany, increased transparency of the legislative process is cited as a good practice: federal ministries must disclose information on the substantial involvement of lobbyists and other third parties in the preparation of draft legislation, including at stages preceding official consultations.
Some examples concern law enforcement agencies. In Iceland, almost all vacancies in the police are now filled through special selection committees that assess candidates on merit, while the integrity checking policy applies both to recruitment and to regular checks of staff during their careers. In Romania, the gendarmerie has created a dedicated page with public information on donations and sponsorship received by its units.
GRECO stresses that further progress depends on the practical implementation of recommendations. States need not only to adopt new rules, but also to ensure their application: to conduct corruption risk assessments, develop confidential counselling mechanisms, verify declarations of assets and interests, ensure transparency of contacts with lobbyists, and protect persons reporting violations.