US ends 26-year membership in Council of Europe anti-corruption group GRECO

The United States of America has officially ended its participation in the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO), which operates under the Council of Europe. This decision concludes a 26-year period of US membership in the structure.

Official confirmation of withdrawal

The Council of Europe announced the end of cooperation, while the position of Washington was confirmed by the US State Department. It is noted that since GRECO's inception, only two countries had taken this step: Russia and Belarus.

History and purpose of the organisation

GRECO was established in 1999 to monitor member states' compliance with the Council of Europe's anti-corruption standards. The organisation conducts mutual evaluations and formulates recommendations regarding legislative, institutional, and practical measures to prevent corruption. Importantly, membership in GRECO is not limited to European Union countries.

The US became part of GRECO in 2000, one year after its creation. As recently as 2024, the US State Department marked the organisation's 25th anniversary and emphasised the significance of its work.

Reasons for Washington's decision

The State Department explained the withdrawal by stating that participation in GRECO, which involves an annual financial contribution, "не забезпечує відчутних переваг для національної безпеки США" (does not provide tangible benefits for US national security). The American side also emphasised that priority would henceforth be given to other anti-corruption tools, specifically visa restrictions, sanctions, and targeted foreign aid.

Council of Europe's reaction

The Council of Europe stated that the US had been a "цінним учасником" (valuable participant) in GRECO's work and the exchange of experience in the field of corruption prevention. Representatives of the organisation added that they remain open to the possibility of resuming cooperation with the United States in the future.