1 Grp. of States Against Corruption (GRECO), Third Evaluation Round Interim Compliance Report on Germany, 6, para. 20 (2012), available at http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/greco/evaluations/round3/GrecoRC3%282012%2915_Germany_Interim_EN.pdf.Google Scholar

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3 Council of Europe, Treaty Office, CLCOC Signature and Ratification Status (2013), available at http://www.conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=173&CM=8&DF=25/02/2013&CL=ENG.Google Scholar

4 For example at the G8 Summit 2007 in Heiligendamm, see The Group of Eight, Chair's Summary: Heiligendamm (June 8, 2007), http://www.g-8.de/Content/EN/Artikel/__g8-summit/anlagen/chairs-summary,templateId=raw,property=publicationFile.pdf/chairs-summary.pdf.Google Scholar

5 See, e.g., Jäckle, Wolfgang, Eine deutsche Peinlichkeit, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Jan. 15, 2012, at 2.Google Scholar

6 Wolf, Sebastian, Modernization of the German Anti-Corruption Criminal Law: The Next Steps, 8 German L.J. 295 (2007).Google Scholar

7 Strafgesetzbuch [StGB] [Penal Code], § 11, para. 1, no. 2 (Ger.).Google Scholar

8 Strafgesetzbuch [StGB] [Penal Code], Jan. 22, 1994, Bundesgesetzblatt (BGBl. I) 3322, § 108e (Ger.). The amendment entered into force as of 22 January 1994. On the history of the criminal offense of bribery of parliamentarians in Germany, see Ursula Epp, Die Abgeordnetenbestechung: § 108e StGB (1997); Manfred Ernst Möhrenschlager, Die Struktur des Straftatbestandes der Abgeordnetenbestechung auf dem Prüfstand: Historisches und Künftiges, in Festschrift für Ulrich Weber 217 (Bernd Heinrich, Eric Hilgendorf, Wolfgang Mitsch & Detlev Sternberg-Lieben eds., 2004).Google Scholar

9 The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Excerpts from the Criminal Code (StGB) of the Federal Republic of Germany (Unofficial Translation) Sect. 108(e), available at http://www.oecd.org/daf/antibribery/anti-briberyconvention/2377370.pdf.Google Scholar

10 See, e.g., Barton, Stephan, Der Tatbestand der Abgeordnetenbestechung (§108e StGB), 47 Neue Juristische Wochenschrift [NJW] 1098 (1994).Google Scholar

11 For a harsh critique, see Hans Herbert von Arnim, Der gekaufte Abgeordnete: Nebeneinkünfte und Korruptionsproblematik, 25 Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht [NVwZ] 249 (2006). For some illustrative examples of bribery not covered by the current Sect. 108e StGB, see Elisa Hoven, Die Strafbarkeit der Abgeordnetenbestechung. Wege und Ziele einer Reform des § 108e StGB, 8 Zeitschrift für Internationale Strafrechtsdogmatik [ZIS] 33, 35 (2013).Google Scholar

12 Strafgesetzbuch [StGB] [Penal Code], §§ 331–335 (Ger.).Google Scholar

13 Heinrich, See Bernd, Rechtsprechungsüberblick zu den Bestechungsdelikten (§§ 331–335 StGB), 25 Neue Zeitschrift für Strafrecht [NStZ] 197 (2005) for numerous references regarding the Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Korruption. Google Scholar

14 Wolf, Sebastian, Parlamentarische Blockade bei der Korruptionsbekämpfung? Zur verschleppten Neuregelung des Straftatbestandes der Abgeordnetenbestechung, 39 Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen [ZParl] 493, 496 (2008).Google Scholar

15 The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, available with other OECD anti-bribery instruments at http://www.oecd.org/daf/anti-bribery/anti-briberyconvention/ConvCombatBribery_ENG.pdf. For the most comprehensive analysis of this convention, see The OECD Convention on Bribery: A Commentary (Mark Pieth, Lucinda A. Low & Peter J. Cullen eds., 2007).Google Scholar

16 See Korte, Matthias, Der Einsatz des Strafrechts zur Bekämpfung der internationalen Korruption, 18 Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts und Steuerstrafrecht [WISTRA] 81, 86–88 (1999). The EU-Bestechungsgesetz, enacted at the same time, penalized bribery of public officials of both Member States of the European Union (EU) and EU institutions. EU-Bestechungsgesetz [EUBestG] [EU Anti-Corruption Act]; see Korte, supra note 16, at 83–85.Google Scholar

17 Wolf, Sebastian, Modernization of the German Anti-Corruption Criminal Law by International Legal Provisions, 7 German L.J. 785, 789 (2006).Google Scholar

18 Cf. id. at 786.Google Scholar

19 The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Act on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials In International Business Transactions (Unofficial Translation) Art. 2, Sect. 2, available at http://www.oecd.org/daf/anti-bribery/anti-briberyconvention/2377209.pdf.Google Scholar

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21 Bundesgerichtshof [BGH—Federal Court of Justice], Case No. 5 StR 453/05, 51 Entscheidungen des Bundesgerichtshofes in Strafsachen [BGHSt] 44 (May 9, 2006), http://dejure.org/dienste/vernetzung/rechtsprechung?Text=5%20StR%20453%2F05&Suche=5%20StR%20453%2F05.Google Scholar

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23 United Nations Convention Against Corruption, Oct. 31, 2003, 2349 U.N.T.S. 41 [hereinafter UNCAC], available at http://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/Publications/Convention/08-50026_E.pdf. On the UNCAC, see, e.g., Philippa Webb, The United Nations Convention Against Corruption: Global Achievement or Missed Opportunity?, 8 J. Int'l Econ. L. 191 (2005); Die Konvention der Vereinten Nationen zur Bekämpfung der Korruption. Betrachtungen aus Wissenschaft und Praxis (Rainer Hofmann & Christina Pfaff eds., 2006).Google Scholar

24 Criminal Law Convention On Corruption, Jan. 27, 1999, C.E.T.S. No. 173 [hereinafter CLCOC], available at http://www.conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/173.htm.Google Scholar

25 Wolf, supra note 14, at 496.Google Scholar

26 According to UNCAC Art. 2(a), “‘Public official’ shall mean: (i) any person holding a legislative … office of a State Party, whether appointed or elected, whether permanent or temporary, whether paid or unpaid, irrespective of that person's seniority. …”Google Scholar

27 UNCAC Art. 15.Google Scholar

28 “Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offenses under its domestic law, when committed intentionally, the promising, offering or giving by any person, directly or indirectly, of any undue advantage to any of its public officials, for himself or herself or for anyone else, for him or her to act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her functions.” CLCOC Art. 2.Google Scholar

29 “Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offenses under its domestic law, when committed intentionally, the request or receipt by any of its public officials, directly or indirectly, of any undue advantage, for himself or herself or for anyone else, or the acceptance of an offer or a promise of such an advantage, to act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her functions.” CLCOC Art. 3.Google Scholar

30 CLCOC Art. 4.Google Scholar

31 “Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, reserve its right not to establish as a criminal offence under its domestic law, in part or in whole, the conduct referred to in Articles 4, 6 to 8, 10 and 12 or the passive bribery offences defined in Article 5.” CLCOC Art. 37, para. 1.Google Scholar

32 GRECO, supra note 1.Google Scholar

33 See supra Part B.Google Scholar

34 To name just one of the most cited references: Anne van Aaken, Genügt das deutsche Recht den Anforderungen an die VN-Konvention gegen Korruption? Eine rechtsvergleichende Studie zur politischen Korruption unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Rechtslage in Deutschland, 65 Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht [ZaöRV] 425, 430 (2005).Google Scholar

35 Grp. of States Against Corruption (GRECO), Third Evaluation Round Evaluation Report on Germany on Incriminations, 30, para. 107 (2009), available at http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/greco/evaluations/round3/GrecoEval3%282009%293_Germany_One_EN.pdf. See also GRECO, supra note 1.Google Scholar

36 Weigend, Thomas, Internationale Korruptionsbekämpfung: Lösung ohne Problem?, in Festschrift für Günther Jakobs 747, 753 (Michael Pawlik & Rainer Zaczyk eds., 2007).Google Scholar

37 Wolf, supra note 14, at 502.Google Scholar

38 See supra Part C; Möhrenschlager, supra note 8, at 230.Google Scholar

39 Wolf, supra note 14, at 499.Google Scholar

40 Id. at 500.Google Scholar

41 Schenk, Ariane, Rechtsfragen im Kontext der Abgeordnetenkorruption, Wissenschaftliche Dienste des Deutschen Bundestages, Ausarbeitung WD 7—3000—148/08 (2008), available at https://netzpolitik.org/wpupload/Abgeordnetenkorruption.pdf. Remarkably, the administration of the Bundestag has not published this study yet and tried to prevent its publication by a private website. See Sebastian Wolf, Regulierungsproblem Abgeordnetenbestechung: eine Analyse neuerer Entwicklungen, 6 Corporate Compliance Zeitschrift [CCZ] 99, 100 (2013).Google Scholar

42 GRECO, supra note 35.Google Scholar

43 Grp. of States Against Corruption (GRECO), Third Evaluation Round Compliance Report on Germany, 16, para. 75 (2011), available at http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/greco/evaluations/round3/GrecoRC3%282011%299_Germany_EN.pdf.Google Scholar

44 ICC Deutschland, ICC Deutschland setzt sich für UN-Antikorruptionskonvention ein (2012), available at http://www.icc-deutschland.de/news/429-icc-deutschland-setzt-sich-fuer-un-antikorruptionskonventionein.html.Google Scholar

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46 Kade, Claudia, Lammert allein im Kampf gegen die Korruption, Financial Times Deutschland online (2012), available at http://www.ftd.de/politik/europa/:positionspapier-vom-parlamentspraesident-lammert-allein-imkampf-gegen-die-korruption/70115633.html.Google Scholar

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48 Deutscher Bundestag: Drucksachen und Protokolle [Bt-Drs.] 17/1412 (Ger.); Deutscher Bundestag: Drucksachen und Protokolle [Bt-Drs.] 17/5933 (Ger.); Deutscher Bundestag: Drucksachen und Protokolle [Bt-Drs.] 17/8613 (Ger.), available at http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a06/anhoerungen/archiv/27_Bek__mpfung_Abgeordnetenbestechnung/index.html.Google Scholar

49 For more comprehensive analyses of the bills, see Hoven, supra note 11; Wolfgang Jäckle, Abgeordnetenkorruption und Strafrecht: Eine unendliche Geschichte?, 45 Zeitschrift für Rechtspolitik [ZRP] 97 (2012); Eric Schnell, Neuer Anlauf zur Bekämpfung der Abgeordnetenbestechung?, 44 Zeitschrift für Rechtspolitik [ZRP] 4 (2011). See also infra notes 53 and 54.Google Scholar

50 All documents of the hearing are available at http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a06/anhoerungen/archiv/27_Bek__mpfung_Abgeordnetenbestechnung/index.html.Google Scholar

51 Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Grundgesetz] [GG] [Basic Law], May 23, 1949, BGBl. I, Art. 103 para. 2 (Ger.).Google Scholar

52 Id. GG Art. 38, para. 1.Google Scholar

53 See Draft Laws Against the Bribery of MPs: Hearing Before Deutscher Bundestag Legal Committee (Oct. 17, 2012) (opinion of Ulrich Franke), available at http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a06/anhoerungen/archiv/27_Bek__mpfung_Abgeordnetenbestechnung/04_Stellungnahmen/Stellungnahme_Dr__Franke.pdf; Draft Laws Against the Bribery of MPs: Hearing Before Deutscher Bundestag Legal Committee (Oct. 17, 2012) (opinion of Klaus Ferdinand Gärditz), available at http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a06/anhoerungen/archiv/27_Bek__mpfung_Abgeordnetenbestechnung/04_Stellungnahmen/Stellungnahme_G__rditz.pdf; Draft Laws Against the Bribery of MPs: Hearing Before Deutscher Bundestag Legal Committee (Oct. 17, 2012) (opinion of Gerald Kretschmer), available at http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a06/anhoerungen/archiv/27_Bek__mpfung_Abgeordnetenbestechnung/04_Stellungnahmen/Stellungnahme_Kretschmer.pdf; Draft Laws Against the Bribery of MPs: Hearing Before Deutscher Bundestag Legal Committee (Oct. 17, 2012) (opinion of Cyrill-A. Schwarz), available at http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a06/anhoerungen/archiv/27_Bek__mpfung_Abgeordnetenbestechnung/04_Stellungnahmen/Stellungnahme_Schwarz.pdf. See also Draft Laws Against the Bribery of MPs: Hearing Before Deutscher Bundestag Legal Committee (Oct. 17, 2012) (minutes of hearing), available at http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/ausschuesse17/a06/anhoerungen/archiv/27_Bek__mpfung_Abgeordnetenbestechnung/05_Wortprotokoll.pdf. For a short summary of the opinions, see Wolf, supra note 41, at 102.Google Scholar

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55 Cf. Haverland, Markus, National Adaptation to European Integration: The Importance of Institutional Veto Points (European Univ. Inst., Working Paper RSC No. 99/17, 1999), available at http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/1622/99_17t.htm?sequence=1.Google Scholar

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58 Bribery in order to attain a specific non-action of a parliamentarian does not seem to be covered by the proposal. However, UNCAC Art. 15 requires countries to also criminalize bribes offered or granted “in order that the official … refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties.” The same goes for CLCOC Art. 4 in conjunction with Art. 2 and 3 (see Part C).Google Scholar

59 Remarkably, the bill deals with bribery of members of foreign parliaments and international parliamentary assemblies. This might imply that Art. 2 Sect. 2 IntBestG (see Part B) will be abolished if the draft law is adopted. However, currently the attempt of bribery of foreign or international parliamentarians in international business transactions is also prohibited. Thus, on one hand the reform would extend the scope of application of the foreign bribery offense, because it would no longer be restricted to bribery “in international business transactions.” But on the other hand, the criminalization of attempted bribery would be repealed. For a comparison of this draft law and other current bills mentioned above, see also Wolf, supra note 41, at 103–104.Google Scholar

60 As Germany would still not meet all requirements of CLCOC, the Federal Government would have to declare some reservations to certain articles of this treaty. For example, trading in influence (CLCOC Art. 12) is not criminalized in Germany, and bribery in the private sector (CLCOC Art. 7 and 8) is only prohibited to some extent. Cf. Wolf, supra note 17, at 792.Google Scholar

61 Cf. Johannes C. Bockenheimer, Union streitet über Abgeordnetenbestechung, Handelsblatt online (2013), available at http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/uno-konvention-union-streitet-ueberabgeordnetenbestechung/7864454.html.Google Scholar

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