The EU and the UN have fostered their collaboration in the fight against corruption. On 5 October 2023, the second EU-UNODC Anti-Corruption Dialogue was held in Vienna. Representatives from the EU and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) discussed progress on individual initiatives and identified new avenues for cooperation and synergy. The dialogue dealt, inter alia, with the following topics:

• Intersection of corruption and gender;
• Empowering youth through fostering a culture of non-tolerance towards corruption;
• Institutional accountability and linkages between corruption and organised crimes;
• UNODC's collaboration in the EU Network against Corruption (→ eucrim news of 9 October 2023);
• The ongoing review of the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in the EU (→ infra);
• Intersection between corruption, security and fragility;
• Cooperation in anti-corruption programmes and mutual provision of technical assistance.

Participants also reflected on the achievements and perspectives of UNCAC, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023.

On 13/14 November 2023, the review for the implementation of the UNCAC in the EU was continued by an evaluation visit from reviewers from Czechia and Niue which will be responsible for the review. The Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) is a peer review process that assists States parties to effectively implement the Convention. In accordance with the terms of reference, each State party is reviewed by two peers - one from the same regional group - which are selected by a drawing of lots. The IRM is coordinated by the UNODC. The EU (as a regional organisation) is party to the Convention since 2008.

The reviewers met with several Commission departments and Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, including Europol, Eurojust, the EPPO, and OLAF. The visit mainly focused on the implementation of the UNCAC provisions on criminalisation and law enforcement as well as international cooperation.

The next steps in the EU’s review under UNCAC will be an executive summary, including recommendations and a final review report, which is expected in 2024.