Council of Europe Demands Stricter Anti-Corruption Measures for Portuguese Government and Police
The Council of Europe has stated that senior officials in the Portuguese government and its security forces are not subject to adequate scrutiny regarding anti-corruption measures, despite acknowledging that Portugal has made some progress in this area. According to a newly released report from the Group of States against Corruption (Greco), Portugal has advanced in implementing measures to prevent corruption among high-level executives in the central government and police forces, but further actions are required to ensure full compliance and transparency.
In its interim compliance report, Greco assessed that Portugal has only partially fulfilled 18 of the 28 anti-corruption recommendations previously issued by the Council of Europe. The report highlighted the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Mechanism and the Entity for Transparency, as well as the adoption of a new Code of Conduct, as positive developments. However, it stressed that “much work remains to be done to consolidate all integrity standards and provide practical guidance” to officials in positions of power.
The specialized anti-corruption body expressed concern that integrity checks are not being effectively applied across the board to all individuals holding high-level executive functions. The report calls on Portuguese authorities to take “more determined measures” to close these gaps. It also points to the need for “additional efforts to make the process of accessing information more efficient, review the current procedure for public consultations on decree-laws, and regulate ‘lobbying’ and increase its transparency.”
Greco also noted that a new National Anti-Corruption Strategy and its corresponding Action Plan for the 2025-2028 period have not yet been adopted. Furthermore, the report calls for clearer rules regarding the acceptance of gifts by public officials and demands the “timely publication of information introduced in the central register of gifts.” A key recommendation with significant political implications is the call for asset disclosure rules to be extended to all cabinet members, with all declarations of assets, interests, and responsibilities made fully accessible to the public to enhance accountability.
The report also turned its attention to Portugal’s main police forces, the PSP and GNR. While acknowledging the existence of internal whistleblowing channels, Greco identified a need to improve gender balance, establish a confidential counseling mechanism for officers, and implement a system of regular integrity checks. The document also calls for a review of the disciplinary system, promotion procedures for senior roles, and stronger safeguards against conflicts of interest, particularly concerning donations and sponsorships received by the police forces.
According to the report's authors, both the PSP and GNR must still develop specific and comprehensive anti-corruption strategies. They also pointed to the need for increased staffing at the General Inspectorate of Internal Affairs (IGAI), the body responsible for overseeing the police. While Greco praised the adoption of the new Code of Conduct for the PSP and the ongoing work on a similar document for the GNR, it emphasized that these codes must be supplemented with practical, real-world guidance for officers to be effective.
The findings from Greco place Portugal’s governance and institutional integrity under a microscope, with the Council of Europe signaling that it expects more decisive action to align the country with European anti-corruption standards. The government’s response to these recommendations will be critical in demonstrating its commitment to transparency and the rule of law.
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