Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld GmbH, the federal and state government owner, has recruited independent monitors to police an anti-corruption pact that airport designers, suppliers and contractors must sign. The "Integrity Pact" commits both sides of contracts to eschew corruption. The contractually binding agreement was developed by Transparency International, an independent anti-corruption group. Adopting it will "send a clear signal in support of fair competition and corruption prevention," says Thomas Weyer, the owners technical director. "We will take a strict line in enforcing the rules."
The pact sets precise rules governing behavior of the owner and contractors, including disclosure of all payments. Violations by project participants can lead to contract cancellation or fines worth 5% of contract value. While anti-corruption pacts have been used around the world, the one at the Berlin airport will be Germanys first to include independent policing, says Transparency International. Peter Oettel, a retired senior Berlin-based engineer, leads the monitoring team.