Detecting, investigating and prosecuting complex and cross-border corruption remains a challenge for authorities across the EU, including Ireland. Despite stronger anti-money laundering rules and improved cooperation frameworks, European enforcement still lags behind the speed, scale and sophistication of transnational corruption schemes.
Transparency International’s new report – Chasing Grand Corruption: Hurdles to Detection, Investigation and Prosecution of Complex Cases Across the EU – explores good practices and barriers facing investigators and prosecutors when tackling corruption and related money laundering. The report draws on desk research, surveys and interviews with authorities in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
Key findings include:
- Persistent barriers to accessing ownership and financial data
- Underuse of proactive detection tools
- Slow and cumbersome cross-border cooperation
- Resource shortages, outdated technology and gaps in specialist skills
- Few internal incentives for pursuing complex, high-level cases
Implications for Ireland
As a significant international financial centre with an open and globally integrated economy, the findings are especially pertinent for Ireland. The report underscores the need for:
- Enhanced resourcing for specialist gardaí and prosecutors at a scale to match the risk
- Structured training and protected career pathways that build and maintain specialist skills
- Frictionless, coordinated access to asset-ownership and beneficial ownership registers
- Clarity around privacy, data protection and legal privilege rules to support investigations
- Active engagement in EU and international cooperation mechanisms
Enforcement is one critical pillar within an integrated and strategic response to dirty money. Gaps in regulation, loopholes in corporate structures, and unreliable or fragmented financial data also represent weak links that can allow Ireland to be used as a safe haven for illicit financial flows.
TI’s ‘Chasing Grand Corruption’ report was produced as part of the STEP-EU project, which seeks to enhance the enforcement capacity of EU authorities in tackling complex, cross-border corruption and money laundering.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG JUST. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.