US withdraws from European anti-corruption group GRECO

Wednesday 30 September 2026 - 14:15

By: Azzat Manal

US withdraws from European anti-corruption group GRECO

The United States has formally withdrawn from the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption, known as GRECO, becoming the third country to leave the anti-corruption body after Russia and Belarus. The decision was formally notified to the Council of Europe on Monday and announced the following day.

The move comes as the administration of President Donald Trump continues to reassess US participation in international and multilateral institutions. Washington has argued that some international organizations have expanded beyond what it considers their appropriate mandates or have failed to deliver sufficient benefits for the United States. The GRECO withdrawal adds another European institution to that broader review.

A US State Department official said American participation in GRECO, which involves an annual financial contribution, does not provide tangible benefits to US national security. The department said Washington would instead prioritize other instruments in its anti-corruption efforts, including visa restrictions, sanctions and targeted foreign assistance designed to support criminal investigations abroad.

The decision marks a change after more than two decades of US involvement. Washington joined GRECO in September 2000, one year after the body was established by the Council of Europe. GRECO monitors countries’ compliance with anti-corruption standards and promotes the exchange of experience and good practices among participating states.

GRECO is not limited to members of the European Union. Its membership includes European and non-European countries, reflecting the organization’s broader role in international cooperation on corruption prevention and public integrity. The Council of Europe describes the group as a mechanism based on collective expertise and peer review.

The Council of Europe said the United States had been a valuable contributor to GRECO’s work, particularly in the exchange of experience and good practices in preventing and combating corruption. It also said that GRECO remained open to resuming cooperation with Washington in the future to support efforts aimed at preventing corruption, strengthening integrity and upholding the rule of law.

The US departure follows another recent change in its relationship with the Council of Europe. Washington withdrew from the Venice Commission, an advisory body on constitutional law, in January 2026. The United States has also taken steps to reduce its involvement in several other international institutions during the Trump administration.

GRECO’s work remains active despite the US decision. In September, the organization continued its evaluation activities and published assessments concerning several member states, while its president highlighted the importance of anti-corruption measures for democratic security, public integrity and the rule of law.

Under GRECO’s rules, a member can withdraw through a formal declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, with the timing of the withdrawal taking account of the organization’s financial year. The procedure also provides for arrangements concerning the financial consequences of a member’s departure.

The withdrawal therefore represents both a change in Washington’s participation in a European anti-corruption mechanism and another development in the evolving relationship between the United States and multilateral institutions. The Council of Europe’s offer to resume cooperation leaves open the possibility of future engagement on corruption prevention and the rule of law.