The French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) is about to unveil its new national multi-year plan to fight corruption for the period 2024-2027. This plan is expected to set out the objectives to be achieved, along with concrete measures and indicators to track progress. Despite the qualities and determination shown by the AFA, it cannot alone carry the burden of France’s anti-corruption strategy. International organizations and civil society have been urging the country for years to make the fight against corruption a fully-fledged public policy, under the responsibility of the government.
Recently, both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Group of States Against Corruption (Greco) have emphasized the need for France to take stronger political action in combating corruption through a comprehensive approach. To achieve this, one of the first measures that must be taken is the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee dedicated to combating corruption, as proposed in a 2021 parliamentary report on the evaluation of the Sapin 2 law. This committee would be chaired by the Prime Minister and would bring together various ministers, administrative directors, and relevant authorities.
In addition to providing political leadership, the inter-ministerial committee would improve administrative coordination and facilitate regular information sharing among key public stakeholders. Currently, the AFA has a strictly defined scope of action, while other administrations handle anti-corruption efforts within their respective competencies. This complex administrative structure hinders the effectiveness of public action and prevents the identification of anti-corruption efforts as a full-fledged government policy that must be held accountable to Parliament.
Looking at strategies implemented by countries with similar ambitions in fighting corruption, it is evident that the issue is elevated to the highest political level and coordinated nationally regardless of internal state-specific factors. This new political drive is especially crucial now as the focus should be on strengthening obligations for public actors, particularly the government, Parliament, and local authorities. The fight against corruption must be a priority, and a more strategic and coordinated approach is necessary to address this pervasive issue.
It is clear that the fight against corruption should be a top priority for the French government, with a comprehensive and strategic approach involving strong political leadership, inter-ministerial coordination, and a clear commitment to transparency and accountability. By implementing the proposed measures, France can strengthen its anti-corruption efforts and demonstrate a strong commitment to rooting out corrupt practices across all sectors of society. The upcoming national plan to combat corruption for 2024-2027 presents an opportunity for France to reinvigorate its anti-corruption strategy and make tangible progress in the fight against this pervasive issue.
