US embassy cable - 05PARIS5174

UNCLAS PARIS 005174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/ERA, L/LEI, INL/C, EB/EPPD 
JUSTICE FOR OIA 
TREASURY FOR ENFORCEMENT CHARLES OTT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KJUS, SOCI, EFIN, KCRM, COE 
SUBJECT: INVITATION TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE (COE) CONFERENCE 
ON COMBATING ECONOMIC CRIME, LISBON, 28-30 SEPTEMBER 2005 
 
1.  This is an action request. See para 4. 
 
2.  The U.S. is invited by the Council of Europe Directors of 
Legal Affairs (DG-I) and the Ministry of Justice of Portugal 
to send an expert to the Octopus Interface Conference on 
Combating Economic Crime, Lisbon, 28-30 September 2005. 
 
3.  The goal of the conference is to take stock of new 
developments and trends and to elaborate proposals for 
further action by the Council of Europe with regard to 
economic crime.  Draft program includes: 
 
    - The Challenges of Economic Crime: 
 
            i.  Economic crime in Europe and the presentation 
of the Council of Europe's          2005 Organized Crime 
Situation Report; 
 
            ii. Assessments of economic crime: views from the 
private sector; 
 
            iii. Globalization and economic crime; the role 
of transnational corporations; 
 
            iv.  Risk assessment: new trends and future 
threats. 
 
    - Responses to Economic Crime: 
 
            i.  Public-private partnerships, the role of the 
public and of organizations 
            representing private interests; 
 
            ii.  The role of the private sector; risk 
management, corporate governance and      ethics; 
 
            iii.  The law enforcement and criminal justice 
response; 
 
            iv.  Filling the gaps: Dubious practices and 
legal loopholes. 
 
     - Panel discussion on "Economic Crime, Whose Problem is 
it?"; 
 
     - Workshops on offenses against public and private 
interests; 
 
     - The way ahead for the Council of Europe: elements of 
an action plan on economic and      financial crimes. 
 
Full program may be found at: 
http://www.min-nestrangeiros.pt/mne/cmce/042i f2005.pdf 
 
4.  Please contact Alexander.seger@coe.int by August 5 and 
ConGen Strasbourg concerning any planned attendance.  The 
U.S. representative will have observer status, i.e., without 
the right to vote or defrayal of expenses by the Council of 
Europe. 
STAPLETON