The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has published two compliance reports on Denmark, assessing progress made in the implementation of the recommendations it made in 2014 and 2019.

It has concluded that there has been no progress in Denmark’s level of implementation of the four recommendations concerning members of parliament contained in the Fourth Round Evaluation report from 2014. Out of six recommendations in total, only two have been implemented satisfactorily (concerning judges and prosecutors). 

In view of the very low level of compliance with the recommendations, GRECO:

• Invites the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to send a letter – with a copy to the Head of delegation of Denmark – to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, drawing the attention to non-compliance since 2018 with the relevant recommendations and the need to take determined action with a view to achieving tangible progress as soon as possible.
• Recalls that the authorities will receive a high-level mission with a view to reinforcing the importance of complying with the outstanding recommendations.
• Asks the Head of the Danish delegation to provide a report on the progress made in implementing recommendations by 30 November 2025 at the latest.

With respect to top executive functions, GRECO concluded that “no progress has been made on any of the recommendations.” The only positive step is the announced establishment of an expert committee to prepare proposals for a new Access to Public Administration Files Act. However, this process is still at a very early stage.

As far as the police are concerned, GRECO noted that no new measures or information have been reported in respect of improving the system of authorising secondary activities, conducting a study on the employment of staff once they leave the police, analysing the need for introducing a requirement for certain officials to declare financial interests and raising the awareness of staff on their duty to report corruption-related misconduct.