GRECO, The Group of States Against Corruption is the main body of the Council of Europe and evaluates the measures taken by countries to prevent corruption. It also monitors compliance. Recommendations emerge from the evaluations, at least two-thirds of which must have been translated into decisive action to be considered a success. Along with 47 other countries, Belgium has been a member of GRECO for many years.

The latest report from the anti-corruption watchdog shows that the Belgian Justice Department is scoring well.

Two evaluations are currently underway: the fourth cycle and the fifth cycle.

- The fourth started in 2014 and takes a close look at the House of Representatives and the Senate on the one hand and judges and prosecutors on the other. 

- Cycle five, started in 2020, focuses on the fight against corruption within the executive branch (federal ministers and their cabinets) and the federal police. 

The latest report of cycle four shows that Justice has translated six of the seven recommendations into concrete actions. The remaining recommendation is already being partially implemented. GRECO is therefore grateful to the Belgian judiciary.

“The judges of administrative courts at the federal level are subject to deontological rules,” the latest report reads. "The normative framework for the organization of the working reports of the courts and of the public prosecutor's office is in place. The competent disciplinary authorities for judges and prosecutors have been strengthened and detailed information on them is now regularly published."

One working point remains. “The harmonization of the distribution of court cases among the different judges and courts could be better,” GRECO still points out.