US withdraws from Council of Europe's main anti-corruption mechanism

The United States has withdrawn from the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). Washington officially notified the Council of Europe in late September.

The US State Department explained the decision by saying that participation in GRECO, in the view of the current administration, does not provide sufficient benefit for the country's national security. Instead of working through this international mechanism, Washington plans to place greater emphasis on its own anti-corruption tools — sanctions, visa restrictions, and criminal investigations. The US position is reported by Suspilne, citing the State Department's statement.

GRECO has operated under the Council of Europe since 1999. The organization assesses the anti-corruption mechanisms of member states, prepares recommendations, and monitors their implementation. At the same time, GRECO does not investigate specific corruption cases or impose legal sanctions — its system is based on mutual evaluation and international monitoring.

The US joined GRECO in September 2000 and remained a participant in the mechanism for over 26 years. The most recent full evaluation of the US anti-corruption system by GRECO took place in 2023 as part of the fifth round.

Prior to the US decision, Russia and Belarus also withdrew from GRECO. Russia ceased to be a member after denouncing the Council of Europe's Criminal Law Convention on Corruption in 2023, and Belarus after withdrawing from a number of anti-corruption conventions in May 2024.

After the US withdrawal, GRECO continues to unite Council of Europe countries and other states that participate in its anti-corruption monitoring. For Washington, the decision means ending participation in the regular assessments and monitoring of implementation of this body's recommendations.

Based on materials from: GRECO / Council of Europe, Suspilne