Türkiye is improving its supervision of public officials' financial declarations through a workshop focusing on comparative regulatory, policy and institutional arrangements for financial disclosure systems for public officials and the verification of data.

The event gathered representatives from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), the Tax Inspection Board, the Board of Treasury Controllers, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Trade, the General Directorate of Customs Enforcement, the Ministry of Interior, the Turkish National Police, the General Command of Gendarmerie, the Turkish Coast Guard Command, the Central Bank, the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency, the Capital Markets Board, and the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency.

The workshop provided a comparative overview of the regulatory, policy and institutional frameworks governing financial disclosure systems for public officials. Participants examined how asset declarations help prevent illicit enrichment and conflicts of interest, and reviewed relevant international standards, case-law and recommendations. Participants examined different models concerning the personal scope of asset declaration systems, including systems limited to high-level or high-risk officials and those covering all public officials, as well as the inclusion of family members. The material scope of declarations was also discussed, covering income, assets, expenses and interests, the required level of detail, mandatory and voluntary disclosures, and the frequency of submission.

Sessions further explored procedures for submission and storage, including the operation of electronic and paper-based systems, and issues related to interoperability with other public databases and access to information held by competent authorities.

In addition, the workshop considered verification procedures, exchange of data among national institutions and at the international level. The use of asset declaration data in criminal and administrative investigations, including in anti-money laundering cases, was discussed, together with the role of civil society and the media in accessing and using such information.

Participants enhanced their knowledge of best practices, exchanged experiences, and identified practical measures to strengthen the effectiveness and integrity of asset declaration frameworks.

This activity was organised within the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye " and its “Action against money laundering in Türkiye”.