Key issues in Liechtenstein foreign policy International fight against crime The fight against crime and crime prevention have been a priority activity of Liechtenstein’s foreign policy for years. Within the framework of the relevant bodies of the UN and the Council of Europe, Liechtenstein has followed and actively shaped the international develop­ments in this field. Through its participation in conferences and various expert bodies, Liechtenstein represents its interests especially in fighting corruption, transnational organised crime, cybercrime, terrorism, and money laundering. The Arab Spring, i.e. the revolts against governments in North Africa and the Middle East and the movement towards democracy and freedom they inspired, has also become a special priority area. In this regard, Liechtenstein has supported the expansion of all international sanctions, especially of the European Union. In the international fight against crime, the fight against corruption has become increasingly important. Liechtenstein signed the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption in 2009 and joined the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in 2010. In 2010 and 2011, Liechtenstein underwent GRECO’s Joint First and Second Evaluation Rounds. In April 2011, a GRECO delegation visited Liechtenstein and held talks with representatives of the public authorities, the business associations, the media, and the academy. In October 2011, the report on the evaluation of Liechtenstein was adopted by the GRECO plenary. The report includes recommendations for Liechtenstein to improve its prevention of and fight against corruption. In April 2013, Liechtenstein will have to report on implementation. It will also undergo the Third Evaluation Round, which will concern criminal provisions regarding corruption and questions regarding the funding of political parties. In November 2009, the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Doha adopted a mechanism for monitoring implementation of the convention: a peer review process, in which the countries monitor each other reciprocally. It is the first time in the history of the United Nations that a mechanism of this kind In the international has been included in a convention. At the same time, the conference appointed a wor- fight against crime, the fight against corruption has become increasingly important. king group – the Implementation Review Group (IRG) – with the mandate to accompany the mechanism. In 2010, Liechtenstein concluded the ratification process for the UNCAC. In June 2011, Liechtenstein, together with Yemen, was for the first time chosen by lot as the evaluator of the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. In June 2012, Liechtenstein was then chosen together with Kazakhstan as the evaluator of Italy. The evaluation of Liechtenstein is scheduled for the period starting June 2013. On 2 September 2010, the Agreement for the Establishment of the International Anti-Corruption Academy as an international organisation was opened for signature in Vienna. Liechtenstein has supported this initiative, which was substantially promoted by Austria, by joining the agreement in September 2011. The Academy is envisaged as an interdisciplinary anti-corruption teaching and research centre based in Laxenburg near Vienna. | 61