On 20 September 2023, the EU network against corruption met for the first time. The network was established by the Joint Communication on combating corruption that was drafted by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and presented on 3 May 2023 (→ eucrim news of 3 August 2023). The aim is to foster collaboration, identify trends and maximise the impact and coherence of European efforts to prevent and fight corruption in order to create more effective anti-corruption policies.

The network is meant as an umbrella forum for all stakeholders in the EU to exchange good practices, and brainstorm ideas and plans for further work. Participants of the first meeting inter alia discussed the following topics:

• Objectives and potential added value of the network;
• Good practices and trends identified in the 2023 Rule of Law report, such as fight against corruption in seaports, use of technology for prevention and repression of corruption, and education and awareness-raising;
• Issues for future investigation.

The Commission presented the most relevant funding opportunities for anti-corruption projects under Erasmus+, the Internal Security Fund (ISF), and the Technical Support Instrument (TSI). For 2024, one of the main tasks of the network will be to map high-risk areas for corruption. The work of the network will also feed into the planned comprehensive EU strategy against corruption.