ITALY'S POSITION ON OECD WORKING GROUP ON BRIBERY

UNCLAS ROME 000130 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/IFD/OMA - DJUNCKER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KCOR OECD IT SUBJECT: ITALY'S POSITION ON OECD WORKING GROUP ON BRIBERY REF: 06 STATE 197786 ¶1. (SBU) EcMin met January 19 with Francesco Borgomeo, Chief of Cabinet at the Ministry of Justice, to discuss Italy's views on the OECD's Working Group on Bribery (reftel). Borgomeo stated that the GOI agrees as to the effectiveness of the Working Group. He added that Italy will continue to work to ensure the Bribery Convention's effectiveness, but that he lacked information on the budget issues and priorities flagged in the reftel. He said that he had not yet received a complete read-out of the GOI's participation in the latest working group, but that his staff would relay to post any concerns or questions, once they had contacted the GOI mission to the OECD. (Note: The GOI's efforts on the OECD Bribery Convention are coordinated jointly by the Ministries of Interior and Justice. End note.) ¶2. (SBU) As an example of GOI efforts to provide greater enforcement against bribery, Borgomeo explained that the Ministry of Justice is currently working with other Italian ministries to implement a certification system for Italian corporations, modeled on the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Borgomeo also explained, in reply to EcMin questioning, that the GOI is unaware of any "major" cases of Italian firms involved in bribery overseas. However, Borgomeo added, given the fact that many Italian firms are involved in the construction sector overseas, it is likely that some bribery takes place. He emphasized that the GOI's new certification regime would help prevent such activity overseas, as well as domestically. SPOGLI