Asset declarations and interest declarations
Some systems focus on officials' interests, such as jobs, directorships and shareholdings, to manage conflicts of interest. Others focus on assets, income and liabilities, to track changes in wealth. Many countries combine both.
- StAR distinguishes conflict of interest systems, which capture sources of income, board memberships, shareholdings and other financial interests and have a mainly advisory and preventive role, from illicit enrichment systems, which capture information about assets to monitor changes in wealth.1
- StAR says that many systems combine elements of both objectives, and that most countries use a combination of the two models.1
- France runs two separate filings with the HATVP: a declaration of assets (déclaration de situation patrimoniale) and a declaration of interests covering professional activities, board roles, shareholdings and the spouse's occupation.2
- Canada's Conflict of Interest Act is an example of an interest-focused system. Reporting public office holders file a confidential report with the Ethics Commissioner, and public declarations cover certain assets, outside positions and, for ministers, liabilities of $10,000 or more without amounts.3
- Argentina is an example of a full asset system. The comprehensive sworn declaration under Ley 25.188 covers real estate, vehicles, investments, bank deposits, debts and annual income and expenditure of the official and close family, in Argentina and abroad.4
- In the European Parliament, Members file a declaration of private interests and, since amendments adopted in September 2023, a declaration of assets and liabilities at the beginning and end of each term.5
Sources
- Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (World Bank and UNODC), Public Office, Private Interests: Accountability through Income and Asset Disclosure (28 March 2012)
- Haute Autorité pour la transparence de la vie publique, La déclaration d'intérêts
- Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada, Conflict of Interest Act (S.C. 2006, c. 9, s. 2), full text
- Gobierno de la República Argentina, Normativa, Ley 25.188, Ética en el ejercicio de la función pública, texto actualizado (1 November 1999)
- European Parliament Legislative Observatory, EP Rules of Procedure: strengthening integrity, independence and accountability, document summary (13 September 2023)