The Sentry

Every year, trillions of dollars are lost to corruption and illicit financial flows. These resources could have been used to promote peace, public health, and climate action, but instead they finance conflicts, undermine democracy, threaten security, and exacerbate human suffering. The United States, which has long played a leading role in combating corruption and illicit finance, has recently scaled back its engagement. Enforcement of laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has weakened; transparency initiatives have been dismantled, and major efforts to combat cross-border corruption have been discontinued. The downsizing of USAID planned closures of embassies and consulates, and reduced information sharing have created funding shortfalls and intelligence gaps. In this vacuum, the EU and European countries have an opportunity to take the lead in the fight against corruption and illicit financial transactions. To do so effectively, they need the kind of field-based intelligence and technical expertise that The Sentry can provide. 

Through this project, The Sentry aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to combat corruption, illicit finance, and environmental crime by providing policymakers and institutions with access to relevant information, analysis, and tools that support long-term action.

What happens in the project? 

The project is structured in four phases: 

• A comprehensive mapping of key stakeholders to support strategic relationship-building across the EU. 

• A comparative analysis of existing sanctions frameworks in multiple jurisdictions—including the EU, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland—to identify gaps in sanctions design and implementation, as well as opportunities for cooperation. 

• Tailored briefings and thematic roundtable discussions are organized to highlight how cross-border corruption and the exploitation of natural resources threaten the EU’s strategic, economic, and environmental interests. 

• Finally, policy briefs and opinion pieces are published to foster public debate and provide EU decision-makers with stronger evidence and analysis to inform policy decisions. 

Why is the project supported? 

There is strong momentum for Europe to take a leading role in combating corruption and making it increasingly difficult for perpetrators to conduct illicit financial activities and move illegal financial flows.