UK, France, & Switzerland Join Forces in New Anti-Corruption Taskforce Amid U.S. FCPA Pause

Key Takeaways

• New Anti-Corruption Taskforce: The UK’s Serious Fraud Office, France’s Parquet National Financier, and Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General have formed a taskforce to strengthen collaboration and tackle international bribery and corruption.
• Timely Announcement: The taskforce was announced amid the U.S. decision to pause FCPA enforcement for 180 days, creating potential shifts in global anti-corruption efforts and enforcement priorities.
• Cross-Border Cooperation: The three agencies will work together more closely, leveraging their expertise and jurisdiction to target cross-border corruption and financial crime.
• Commitment to Combating Crime: Officials from the UK, France, and Switzerland emphasized the importance of international partnerships in tackling economic crime and protecting global prosperity.

Deep Dive

The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), France’s Parquet National Financier (PNF), and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) have announced the creation of a new alliance aimed at strengthening efforts to tackle international bribery and corruption. This new partnership, unveiled at a press event in London today, marks a step forward in global cooperation to combat financial crime.

The taskforce will build on a decade of operational collaboration between the three agencies, which have long had the legal authority to prosecute cases of bribery and corruption that cross international borders, provided there is a connection to their respective countries. The formation of this new taskforce is intended to enhance the agencies’ ability to work together more efficiently and effectively, pooling resources, expertise, and information to tackle bribery and corruption on a larger scale.

The announcement comes at an important moment, following President Trump’s February 2025 executive order pausing enforcement of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for 180 days. This pause, which gives the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) time to review and revise its approach to FCPA enforcement, has raised questions about the future of global anti-corruption efforts and whether the U.S. will continue to play the same aggressive role in holding corporations accountable for international bribery.

In his statement, Nick Ephgrave, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, emphasized the importance of this partnership, “The commitment we have made today reaffirms our individual and collective commitment to tackling the pernicious threat of international bribery and corruption, wherever it occurs. We will make use of every power and partnership available to confront this criminality. This taskforce is an important step forward in our approach.”

Jean-François Bohnert, Head of the PNF, expressed his support for the initiative, noting, “I am delighted that ten years of operational cooperation between the PNF, SFO, and OAG are developing today into the setting up of a prosecutorial taskforce. This taskforce will definitely strengthen our current cooperation in order to fight more efficiently against bribery and corruption in individual cases.”

Stefan Blättler, Attorney General of the Swiss Confederation, highlighted the importance of international partnerships in the fight against corruption, stating, "Within the framework of this cooperation, we will be able to help ensure that fraud and crime can be better combated in the future. This task force is of great importance for Switzerland."

In addition, Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP, representing the UK government, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative, stating, “I welcome the SFO’s commitment to working even more closely with their French and Swiss partners, including by setting up this new taskforce to tackle international bribery and corruption. Through strong international partnerships, we will be able to robustly tackle cross-border economic crime and protect our future prosperity.”

While the U.S. FCPA pause may seem like a temporary relief for some companies, businesses are urged not to become complacent. The global fight against bribery and corruption continues, and violations of the FCPA still very much remain illegal. Furthermore, with the DOJ set to revisit its approach, companies must stay vigilant in maintaining robust anti-corruption measures.

The formation of this taskforce between the UK, France, and Switzerland signals a commitment to maintaining strong anti-corruption enforcement despite potential shifts in U.S. policy. The global battle against bribery and corruption will continue to evolve, but it's imperative that the commitment to holding offenders accountable remains as strong as ever.

The new taskforce aims to bolster the existing ties between the three nations and facilitate joint action on investigations and prosecutions. By enhancing cooperation and sharing expertise, the alliance seeks to address the growing challenge of global bribery and corruption, which often involves complex cross-border criminal networks.

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