Anti-Corruption
measures
A new Anti-Corruption Act,
containing measures to prevent corruption entered into force in February
1999. The most important amendments to the new law affect the contents
of the declaration of economic interests by civil servants and parliament
members. These now have to be more detailed. The acceptance of bribes for
failure to perform are covered by the law, as well as payments to persuade
other officials. Finally, disciplinary, criminal and administrative liability
have been introduced.
In spite of these legislative
efforts, the fight against corruption continues to need political attention.
Estonia needs to ratification both the 1997 OECD Convention on Combating
Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions
and the 1999 Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. Two
remaining issues to be covered by the law are the criminal liability of
legal persons and the passive corruption of foreign or international officials.
Furthermore, Estonia has not yet criminalised promises accepted by public
officials in favour of someone else, e.g. a political party. In 1998, the
Estonian courts settled 5 cases of corruption. Currently 4 cases are being
investigated. However this data does not include cases of bribery.
In June, Estonia has signed
the Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the proceeds
from Crime. Ratification is underway.