We are already in the sixth year, the sixth year of compiling relevant data and essentials including contact details, competences, powers and tasks, logo, size and structure, etc. of the EPAC institutions, the EU’s national Police Oversight Bodies (POB) and Anti-Corruption Authorities (ACA). For your convenience, you can find most of this information under the members section of this homepage. The figures and facts contained in the catalogue 2009 are based on the input we have received from member and observer organizations by 31 January 2009. The new catalogue 2010 and the updates of the website are under preparation. Additionally, you will find the final version of the Nova Gorica Declaration under "Documents".

At our last conference in Nova Gorica in 2009, perfectly hosted by our Slovenian colleagues from the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC), we addressed our motto “Continuing the Dialogue – Fighting Corruption with Integrity” and emphasized the broad spectrum of current topics relating to the comprehensive fight against corruption and police oversight issues as well as recent findings on the links between anti-corruption and the fight for human rights. Following the practice of our last years’ Annual EPAC Conferences, police oversight and anti-corruption matters were partly dealt within two different strands at the 2009 Conference.

One of the most significant points of the 9th EPAC Conference agenda was the constituent meeting of the EU contact-point network against corruption (EACN), which EPAC had been tasked to implement based upon its own existing structures by Council Decision 2008/852/JHA, OJ L 301/38, and the formal constitution of EPAC. Therefore, also the EU now has a formal voice of anti-corruption authorities. In addition, the informal cooperation in the context of EPAC will be continued, also offering access to the anti-corruption and police oversight authorities of the Council of Europe countries.

The two drafts of the EPAC and EACN Constitutions were unanimously adopted by the participants. Martin Kreutner (Austria) was elected as President, Drago Kos (Slovenia) and Ferenc Frankberger (Hungary) were elected as Vice-Presidents for Anti-Corruption, and Nicholas Long (UK) and Gil L. Bourdoux (Belgium) as Vice-Presidents for Police Oversight.

The Nova Gorica Conference again highlighted the need to provide POB and ACA - in accordance with the fundamental principles of the respective national legal systems - with the necessary independence so that they can conduct their tasks and obligations effectively, efficiently, without undue influence, and based on the principles of accountability, accessibility, impartiality, integrity, legitimacy and transparency.

The EPAC Partners will stay committed to engage in international cooperation and in exchanging experiences, learning and linking, sharing and networking. This applies, inter alia, to the establishment of the International Network for the Independent Oversight of Policing (INIOP) as well as to the integration of European professional perspectives into international conventions and mechanisms, as provided in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

In conclusion, our thanks and best wishes are conveyed to all EPAC members for submitting the necessary information for the Contact Catalogue 2010, for all the other support we have received, and for their constant general commitment.

We are looking forward to continuing our common projects and collaboration on independent police oversight issues and more general anti-corruption matters, and would like to wish all of you all the best and good luck in your challenging jobs.

Vienna/Brussels, January 2010

The President: