Webinar: "The OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (Foreign Bribery)"

The National Transparency Authority (NTA), in cooperation with the Hellenic Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the fourth consecutive annual online webinar on the topic: “The OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (Foreign Bribery).”

During the webinar, the provisions of the Convention and its significance for the international anti-corruption framework were presented. Furthermore, representatives of the Greek public administration, the academic community, prosecutorial authorities, and the private sector discussed the implementation of the Convention’s provisions on bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions and their importance for strengthening public integrity and the sustainable development of entrepreneurship.

 The workshop was welcomed by Mr. George Pagoulatos, Ambassador of Greece to the OECD and Professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business, Ms. Irini Pardali, Embassy Attaché representing the Hellenic Diplomatic Academy, and Mr. George Kasapas, Deputy Head of the Strategic Planning and Behavioral Analysis Directorate of the NTA.

Mr. Pagoulatos referred to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention (1999) as the only international agreement that focuses on the “supply side,” criminalizing illegal payments to foreign public officials. He noted that the recent evaluation of Greece’s implementation of the Convention, in June 2024, concluded that our country implemented “in record time” 38 of the 49 recommendations it received in 2022, adopting significant legislation for a holistic approach to combating business corruption and implementing a major reform.

Ms. Pardali, expressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ full satisfaction and support for the collaboration with NTA, with the aim of raising awareness and informing the Diplomatic Corps, and the expectation that the new National Anti-Corruption Action Plan will serve as the new framework for cooperation.

Mr. Kasapas, emphasized the importance NTA places on internationally recognized best practices and recommendations relevant to the country, which are systematically utilized both in the planning and implementation of the Authority’s interventions in the field of public integrity. At the same time, he emphasized that the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2022 –2025 incorporates specific actions that contribute to the effective implementation of the OECD Convention, which constitutes a key pillar of the country’s comprehensive policy framework for strengthening public integrity.

 The session of presentations was opened by Mr. Ioannis Naziris, Assistant Professor of Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, who presented the basic framework and structure of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, placing it within the broader framework of international initiatives to prevent and deterrence corruption. He then analyzed the main provisions of the Convention that are of particular criminal law interest, with specific reference, among other things, to the obligation to criminalize bribery, the liability of legal entities—in light of recent legislative developments—as well as the role played by diplomatic and consular authorities in early detection and handling of international bribery cases.

Mr. Dimitrios Apostolas, Deputy Prosecutor for Economic Crime, outlined the current regulatory and institutional framework governing the operation of the Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Crime. At the same time, he highlighted the importance of institutional cooperation for the effective and timely detection, as well as the substantive investigation of cases of bribery of foreign public officials.

During his remarks, Mr. Marios Belimbasakis, First Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs, representing the B1 Directorate of Extroversion Planning and Coordination of Extroversion Bodies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), emphasized the importance of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery as a fundamental tool for transparency and healthy international competition, highlighting the role of the MFA and the network of Economic and Commercial Affairs Offices in preventing corruption, informing businesses, and supporting extroversion in terms of integrity and credibility.

In the same context, Mr. Spyridon Papachristopoulos, Senior Expert Advisor, an official of the 7th General Directorate for Development and Humanitarian Aid of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referred to the Ministry’s recent legislative initiatives, which substantially contribute to the formation of a coherent framework for the prevention of corruption and help ensure the country’s compliance with international recommendations.

Next, the floor was given to Dr. Anastasia Sotiropoulou, Legal Advisor to the Governor of NTA who presented and analyzed the key points of four (4) institutional tools/recommendations that frame and specify the scope of application of the OECD Convention.

Ms. Zefi Nikolaou, President of the Hellenic Association of Compliance Professionals, highlighted in her speech the importance of integrity mechanisms—such as systems, policies, and procedures—as well as the crucial role of Compliance Officers in effectively tackling corruption, with an emphasis on bribery, and in promoting sustainable business practices. At the same time, she emphasized that integrity is not just an ethical stance, but a strategic choice that strengthens trust, creates a competitive advantage, and contributes to organizational resilience and institutional credibility in a demanding international environment.

Finally, Ms. Vicky Kastanioti, representative of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), highlighted in her remarks the importance of corporate integrity mechanisms for the smooth and sustainable operation of businesses, such as codes of conduct, third-party due diligence procedures, and whistleblower protection systems. At the same time, he explained how businesses utilize these mechanisms in practice, while also presenting the role of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) in promoting and strengthening corporate integrity. Particular emphasis was placed on the added value resulting from synergies between the public and private sectors, such as those being developed within the framework of this webinar.