Recital (11)

To avoid impunity for corruption offences in the public sector, the scope of application of this Directive should be well defined. First, the concept of public official should also cover persons working in international organisations, including in the institutions, agencies and bodies of the Union and international courts. Second, as many entities or persons exercise public functions without holding a formal office, the concept of public official should cover all relevant officials, whether appointed, elected or employed on the basis of a contract, holding a formal administrative or judicial office, as well as all persons providing a public service, who have been vested with public authority or are subject to the control or supervision of public authorities in relation to the carrying-out of such a public service function, even if they do not hold formal office. For the purposes of this Directive, the definition of public official should also cover persons performing public service functions in state-owned and state-controlled enterprises, as well as in asset-management foundations and privately owned companies performing public service functions and in the legal persons established or maintained by them. Any person holding a legislative office at national, regional or local level should be assimilated to a national official for the purposes of this Directive in accordance with national law.