Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13845 | 02 July 2015

Youth against corruption

Signatories: Ms Eleonora CIMBRO, Italy, SOC ; Mr Francesco Maria AMORUSO, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Volodymyr ARIEV, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Christian BARILARO, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Ms Gülsün BİLGEHAN, Turkey, SOC ; Mr Raphaël COMTE, Switzerland, ALDE ; Mr Paolo CORSINI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Reha DENEMEÇ, Turkey, EC ; Mr Namik DOKLE, Albania, SOC ; Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Ms Lotta JOHNSSON FORNARVE, Sweden, UEL ; Ms Ioanneta KAVVADIA, Greece, UEL ; Ms Inese LAIZĀNE, Latvia, EC ; Sir Edward LEIGH, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Andrei NEGUTA, Republic of Moldova, SOC ; Mr Nicos NICOLAIDES, Cyprus, SOC ; Mr Johan NISSINEN, Sweden, NR ; Ms Judith PALLARÉS CORTÉS, Andorra, ALDE ; Mr Damir ŠEHOVIĆ, Montenegro, SOC ; Mr Viktor VOVK, Ukraine, EC ; Mr Piotr WACH, Poland, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Corruption has reached huge proportions in a number of Council of Europe member States, jeopardising democratic governance and a legally sound and economically efficient functioning of our societies. New generations of politicians, entrepreneurs and other civil society actors are coming to power in time of urgent need to change attitudes and behaviours and instil greater sense of integrity and respect of law in European societies. Unfortunately, many of them are reluctant to raise their voices because they fear they would not be understood, come under pressure, or worse expose them to persecution.

And yet, European youth has an important role to play as an agent of change in the fight against corruption, both in public and private sectors, by bringing a new culture of integrity to all levels of society. Hence, the importance of training youth on how to fight corruption, including through social media, and of supporting them.

The Parliamentary Assembly should call on member States to increase efforts and develop targeted projects intended to:

raise awareness of young people about corruption and the way it seeps into economy (business and voluntary sectors), public administration and politics, undermining democratic societies;

build the capacity of European youth to stand up against corruption.

In this framework, ethics and integrity education for youth must be part of a broader effort to improve governance. Integrity platforms that involve young people, education actors, representatives of the private sector and public authorities, should be created, in co-operation with national parliaments, anti-corruption organisations and youth organisations.