Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative

Regional Conference on ”Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in South Eastern Europe” – March 30-31, 2009 – Belgrade, Serbia
2009-03-30 08:00 - 2009-12-31 17:00 UTC
The Regional High Level Conference on ”Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in South Eastern Europe” was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and hosted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade, on March 30 – 31, 2009. The event focused on elaborating a common strategic platform for efective regional responses in several areas: serious crime and illicit trafficking; integrity and criminal justice systems; drug prevention and treatment; HIV treatment and care.
RAI Secretariat intervened in the working group established to elaborate technical assistance modality regarding the area of integrity and criminal justice systems. In the course of the Conference the high-ranked officials from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia endorsed a Declaration on the implementation of the Programme on ”Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security in South Eastern Europe”, thus manifesting the committment of these countries to take the measures in up-mentioned focus areas.
More information:
Agenda
List of participants
Joint Statement

International Conference on ‘Building Integrity and Reducing Corruption in Security Sector’, May 18–20, 2009 – Rakitje, Croatia
2009-05-18 08:00 - 2009-05-20 17:00
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and RACVIAC – Center for Security Cooperation coorganized International Conference on ‘Building Integrity and Reducing Corruption in Security Sector’ on May 19-20, 2009, in Rakitje, Croatia. The event focused on suppression of corruption in the public institutions with a particular attention to security sector.
It consisted of 3 main panels: “Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in SEE” touching general issues in regard to this phenomenon, “Reducing Corruption in Security Sector and Defense” dedicated to specific aspects of those sectors and “Anti-corruption Strategies and Best Practices from SEE Countries in Fighting Corruption” devoted to the regional experience and cooperation in the fight against corruption in SEE.
Around 60 participants (speakers and audience) took part at this Conference, representing parliamentary security/defence committees, relevant ministries, anti-corruption bodies from RAI and RACVIAC member countries, as well as relevant international organizations (such as NATO, Transparency International, OLAF, UNODC, World Bank, GRECO) and also representatives of UK Defense Anti-Corruption team and the University of Nottingham.
More information: Agenda
Presentations on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in SEE
Corruption: Understanding Risk and Building Stability in Region Dr. Josip Kregar
Transparency International – The Global Coalition Against Corruption – Mr. Miklos Marschall
Detection and Investigation of Corruption – Dr. Wolfgang Hetzer
Prevention – A Key Factor in Fighting Corruption – MSc. Sandra A. Blagojevic
Overview of United Nations Convention against Corruption – Mr. Erik Larson
Hour Glass Concept of Governance and Accountability – Mr. John Williams
Role of the Parliament in Curbing Corruption in SEE – Ms. Sanja Madzarevic-Sujster
Institutional Framework for Fighting Corruption – Mr. Mrcela Marin LLM
NATO-EAPC Initiative – Mrs. Susan Pond
European Defence Procurement Regulation – A Mechanism for Fighting Bribery – Dr. Aris Georgopoulos
Border Controls and Corruption – Mr. Tom McGonna
The Future of Corruption Benchmarking in the EU – Mr. Dimitar Markov
Presentations on Anti-Corruption Strategies and Best Practices from the South European Countries in Fighting Corruption
Asset Recovery as Part of the Anti-Corruption Mechanism – Mr. Radu Buica, Romania
GOA – Fight Corruption and Govern Transparently – Ms. Helena Papa, Albania
Presentation of SIPA – Mr. Emir Dugalija – Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Anti-Corruption Strategy – Administrative Capacity for Prevention and Fighting Corruption in MoI – Dr. Vassil Stoykov, Bulgaria
Presentation of State Commission for Prevention of Corruption – Mr. Cvetko Mojsoski, Macedonia
Anti-Corruption Experience – Best Practices and Lessons Learned – Mr. Radu Cotici, Moldova
Montenegrin Strategy and Practice in the Fight against Corruption and Organized Crime – Ms. Vesna Ratkovic, Montenegro

4th Summer School for Junior Magistrates from SEE, June 01-06, 2009 – Ohrid, Macedonia
2009-06-01 08:00 - 2009-06-06 17:00
RAI Secretariat, in cooperation with the hosting Academy for Training of Judges and Public Prosecutors of Republic of Macedonia, co-organized the annual Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South – Eastern Europe on June 01 – 06, 2009, in Ohrid, Macedonia. The event was organized for 4th consecutive year and was dedicated to the “International Standards and Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption”.
It consisted of five main training modules:

International standards in anti-corruption – the implementation of relevant conventions of United Nations and Council of Europe.
Asset recovery: proceeds of crime.
Anti-corruption policies and preventive measures – available tools and best practices.
Reform of the judiciary and anti-corruption, as challenges of the EU accession process.
EU experience regarding the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters stressing on the activity of structures like OLAF and EUROJUST.

The Summer School for Junior Magistrates was opened by Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahimi – Deputy Minister of Justice of Republic of Macedonia. The junior magistrates spent one week in academic environment along the beautiful shores of the historic Ohrid Lake gaining from the knowledge and experience of honorable lecturers coming from public institutions, international organizations and civil society. The young prosecutors and judges were given the opportunity to exchange ideas and good practices on the anti-corruption field, to comment the weak and the strong points of their daily work, thus building bridges between the people in South – Eastern Europe.
The framework of the Summer School included presentations by experts from UNODC, Commission for Establishing of Property Acquired from Criminal Activity of Republic of Bulgaria, Slovenian Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Vienna University of Economics and Business, EULEX mission in Kosovo, EUROJUST, Macedonian Prosecution Office, Ministry of Justice of Republic of Macedonia and the Basic Court in Kavadarci. During the special outdoor session, the junior magistrates visited the Basic Court in Ohrid and held meetings with its president – Judge Vlado Dejanoski.
The event was closed with a certificate ceremony lead by Judge Aneta Arnaudovska – Director of the hosting Academy for Training of Judges and Public Prosecutors of Republic of Macedonia and Mr. Edmond Dunga – Head of RAI Secretariat, following the final evaluation of the attendants in the form of case study.
Additional Information:
Agenda
List of Participants
Presentations:
Summer School for Junior Magistrates from SEE – Stanislav Aleksandrov (RAI Secretariat)
Framework for Regional Cooperation and Sharing Best Practices in Fighting Corruption in SEE – Stanislav Aleksandrov (RAI Secretariat)
The United Nations Convention against Corruption – Hatem Aly (UNODC)
The Bulgarian Asset Recovery System – Desislava Gotskova (Criminal Assets Commission, Bulgaria)
Confiscation of Assets and Forfeiture of Unlawfully Acquired Property – Jovan I. Ilievski (Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office, Macedonia)
Institutional and Legal Measures for Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interests – Mirjana Dimovska (State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Macedonia)
Reforms in the Judiciary and Anti-Corruption as Challenges in the Process of Approximation to the European Union – Professor Judge Lazar Nanev (Kavadarci Basic Court)
The Fight against Corruption in Austria – o. Univ. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Brandstetter (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law)
CoE Civil and Criminal Law Conventions – Mag. Sandra A. Blagojevic (Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, Slovenia)
Implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption and CoE Conventions into Domestic Laws and Practice – Mag. Sandra A. Blagojevic (Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, Slovenia)
Anti-Corruption Policy Activities – Elena Hristoska (Ministry of Justice, Macedonia)
The Role and Tasks of Eurojust – Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)
The Role of Eurojust and Europol in Establishing and Supporting Joint Investigation Teams – Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)
The mechanism for detection and investigation of fraud and corruption within European Union – way of functioning + case studies – Alberto Perduca (EULEX Kosovo)
The international efforts to set up a sustainable judicial framework in UNMIK/Kosovo – Alberto Perduca (EULEX Kosovo)

Workshop on Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Asset Recovery by Creating a Regional Network of Practitioners – December 02-04, 2009 – Sofia, Bulgaria
2009-12-02 08:00 - 2009-12-04 17:00
The “Workshop on Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Asset Recovery by Creating a Regional Network of Practitioners and Building a Platform for Exchange of Information, Experience and Good Practices” was held on December 02-04, 2009 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event was co-organized by the joint Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Bank, UNODC Regional Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe (RPOSEE) and the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat.
It was also supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The Regional Conference was hosted by the Government of Bulgaria.
The Conference served as a forum for participants to exchange experience and address ways and means to coordinate policies and enhance cooperation, create or improve open channels for communication and prioritize technical assistance in the region. It included discussions on lessons learned, possible measures to make legislation on asset recovery more efficient, experience in the region with regard to mutual legal assistance requests and policy priorities for the lowering of barriers to asset recovery.
Among the main findings following the workshop was the lack of trust between the asset recovery bodies in SEE and the need for special trainings for the practitioners, who worked in those institutions.
Responding to the specific requirements of SEE countries UNODC and RAI Secretariat launched the idea to create a regional platform for building trust and trainings in the area of asset recovery, which is supposed to be established in 2010.
RAI Secretariat was represented at the Conference by Mr. Edmond Dunga and Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov, who took leading role in the panel dedicated to the process of networking in the area of asset recovery in SEE.
Please, have a look at the attached agenda and list of participants of the event, as well as the presentations delivered at the Workshop.
Stolen Asset Recovery – Mr. Stuart C. Gilman
A Practical Guide to Using Financial Disclosure – Mr. Stuart C. Gilman
Results of the Third Session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption – Mr. Erik Larson
The Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network – Mr. Evert van der Steeg
Asset Recovery in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Practical Observations – Mr. Heikki Wendorf
Presentation of Mr. Aleksandar Milojevic – Financial Investigations Unit, Service for Combating Organized Crime, Ministry of Interior, Serbia
Presentation of Mr. Aleksandar Milojevic – Example of Financial Investigation -_Financial Investigations Unit, Service for Combating Organized Crime, Ministry of Interior, Serbia
Measures on Confiscation of Crime Assets in Albania – Mr. Bledar Celiku
Seizure and Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime – Ms. Tamara Vitlarova, Macedonia
Confiscated Assets in Kosovo – Legal Framework – Mr. Yordan Sirakov
Asset Recovery – Presentation of Mr. Veselin Vuckovic, Deputy Supreme State Prosecutor of Montenegro
Presentation of Mr. Martin Kreutner – Director of Federal Bureau for Internal Affairs – Austria
Cooperation for Non-Conviction Based Confiscation between DNA and ANDI – Ms. Violeta Sechely, National Anti-Corruption Directorate – Romania
Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative – Mr. Felix Branisante, National Integrity Agency – Romania
Non-Conviction Based Forfeiture A Good Practices Guide – Mr. Theodore S. Greenberg
Politically Exposed Persons – Strengthening Preventive Measures – Mr. Theodore S. Greenberg
The Bulgarian Experience in Establishing a Specialized Asset Recovery Agency – Prof. Stoian Kushlev
Cooperation in Anti-Corruption Efforts and Characteristics of Successful Asset Recovery Network for SEE – Mr. Edmond Dunga
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative – Framework for Regional Cooperation and Sharing Best Practices in Fighting Corruption in SEE – Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov

Regional Conference on ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe in the Implementation of the UNCAC’ – December 09-10, 2009 – Sofia, Bulgaria
2009-12-09 08:00 - 2009-12-10 17:00
The UNODC Regional Program Office for South-Eastern Europe (RPOSEE), based in Sofia, and the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat co-organized a Regional Conference on ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe in the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption‘ on December 09-10, 2009, in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event had been endorsed by the Bulgarian government and was organized under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Tsvetan Tsvetanov.
The opening of the Regional Conference was on the 9th of December with the special purpose to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day. This day had been introduced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2003 with the aim to raise the public awareness to the problem of corruption as a complex social, political and economic phenomenon affecting all countries undermining democratic institutions, retarding economic development and contributing to government instability. In these lines, the Conference’s main goal was to exchange good practices on anti-corruption legislative, strategic and institutional structures and to give the floor to participants to discuss the way for their improvement.
The outcome of the conference was to outline interventions needed at regional level, and more specifically – to identify the way to address regional needs through specific and concrete technical assistance activities.
Please, have a look at the attached agenda and list of participants of the event, as well as the presentations delivered at the Conference.
The Work of the Secretariat / Results of the Third Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UNCAC – Mr. Erik Larson
Anti-Corruption Bodies – UNCAC Normative Framework and Interaction with the COSP – Mr. Hatem Aly
Fighting Corruption and the Need for Regional & International Cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Mr. Drew G. Engel
The Preventive Model of Anti-Corruption Agency – Experience of Montenegro – Mr. Dalibor Saban and Ms. Mirela Bakalbasic
BORKOR – National Project for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption in Bulgaria – Mr. Rolf Schlotterer
Assessment of the Legal Frameworks on Criminalization of Corruption Offenses of SEE Countries – Ms. Londa Esadze
Evidence-based Approaches to Assessing Corruption and UNODC Project in Western Balkans – Mr. Enrico Bisogno
Regional and State Level Cooperation Between UNDP and UNODC in South Eastern Europe Anti-Corruption Efforts – Mr. Francesco Checchi
Good Anti-Corruption Practices – Current and Future Challenges in South Eastern Europe Countries – Mr. Edmond Dunga
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative – Framework for Regional Cooperation and Sharing Best Practices in Fighting Corruption in SEE – Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov
International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) – Mr. Erik Larson

International Conference ‘International Collaboration in Conflict of Interest Prevention and Declaration of Assets – a Tool Against Corruption’ – May 03-04, 2010 – Tirana, Albania
2010-05-03 08:00 - 2010-05-04 17:00
The International Conference ‘International Collaboration in Conflict of Interest Prevention and Declaration of Assets – a Tool Against Corruption’ was held in Tirana, Albania, on 03-04 of March, 2010. The event was co-organized by Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and the Albanian High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets (HIDAA). The Conference was opened by H. E. Prof. Dr. Bamir Topi – President of the Republic of Albania and H.E. Jozefina Çoba Topalli – Speaker of the Albanian Assembly.
It brought together representatives of respective conflict of interest and asset declaration bodies from South-Eastern European countries – member states and observers in RAI, other European counterpart institutions, as well as relevant international stakeholders and organizations such as US Embassy in Tirana, Council of Europe and UNODC.
The main outcome of the event was the establishment of an independent and informal European network of integrity institutions responsible for conflict of interest prevention and assets declaration named “Integrity Experts Network” (IEN). The Network is envisaged to serve as a platform for policy making, exchange of information, experience and best practices between the practitioners in the area on focus. In that regard, the represented institutions adopted Declaration of the Network foundation and Statute about its functioning. It was agreed that the IEN Secretariat functions would be managed by RAI Secretariat in close cooperation with the institution having the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Network.
HIDAA was awarded to take the first Chairmanship-in-Office of the newly set up Network in the period May 2010 – May 2011, while the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption of Republic of Macedonia will take the second one in the period May 2011 – May 2012.
Finally, the integrity experts identified as first follow-up steps to the Conference the designation of national focal points, the setting up of the Steering Board of the Network and the elaboration of a working agenda for attracting the interest of the donor community.
Agenda
List of participants
Integrity Experts Network Statute
Tirana Declaration

First Regional Workshop on ‘Improvement of Justice and Home Affairs Statistics in the Western Balkans’ – May 12–14, 2010 – Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
2010-05-12 08:00 - 2010-05-14 17:00
The First Regional Workshop on ‘Strengthening of Justice and Home Affairs Statistics in the Western Balkans’ was held in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, from 12-14 of May 2010, as part of the project ‘Development of Monitoring Instruments for Judicial and Law Enforcement Institutions in the Western Balkans’. The project is supported by EU under CARDS program and has as its main aim to bring justice and home affairs (JHA) statistical systems in compliance with international and EU standards. The event was organized by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in cooperation with Ministry of Justice of Macedonia.
It was opened by His Excellency Mr. Mihailo Manevski – Minister of Justice of Macedonia. The workshop was attended by experts from relevant JHA institutions of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244, covering police, prosecution, courts, border authorities and national statistical offices, as well as UNODC staff and local focal points, project partners and associates, representatives of international organizations. The final technical assessment reports were presented to the participents, who, in the course of the discussions, adopted the following conclusions and recommendations:

Participants agreed on the importance of strengthening the capacities of Justice and Home Affairs institutions, including police, prosecution, courts, and institutions involved in asylum, visa and migration issues, to record, compile, report and disseminate statistics that are timely, accurate, reliable and in accordance with international standards and EU acquis and current practices.
Participants recommended continued work on the further development of crime and criminal justice statistics systems, as well as those for migration, asylum and visa issues, based on the UNODC Technical Assessment Reports and the recommendations contained in the Programme Guidelines, as revised during the workshop for each country or territory.
Participants recognized the importance of applying general statistical principles in the production and dissemination of crime and criminal justice data, such as transparency, accuracy and consistency.
The workshop further discussed and agreed on a set of JHA regional indicators in line with indicators commonly used at EU and international levels.
Participants have agreed on the individual, national priority needs of training on the development of administrative systems of collection, aggregation, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data in accordance with EU and other international standards. The training should start in September 2010.

Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat was represented by Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov – Anti-Corruption Expert. RAI Secretariat facilitates the project ”Development of Monitoring Instruments for Judicial and Law Enforcement Institutions in the Western Balkans” as associate partner to UNODC.
For more information, please, have a look at the attached report and conclusions of the event.

Signing Memorandum of Understanding concerning cooperation in fighting corruption through Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative by Republic of Serbia – May 17, 2010 – Zagreb, Croatia
2010-05-17 08:00 - 17:00
Republic of Serbia was the last Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) member country that joined the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning cooperation in fighting corruption in South-Eastern Europe (SEE). The MoU was signed by Ms. Snezana Malovic – Minister of Justice of Serbia, on May 17, 2010, in Zagreb, in the premises of Ministry of Justice of Croatia, serving as depositary state to the MoU.
Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov – Anti-Corruption Expert in the Sarajevo based office of the Initiative, addressed the event on behalf of RAI Secretariat. He focused on the importance of MoU for the functioning of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, providing financial sustainability of the Secretariat on one hand, as well as taking over the local ownership on the anti-corruption field in SEE on the other hand. Mr. Aleksandrov also highlighted the major role, which Serbia has to play for the future stability in the region. Minister Malovic stressed on the recent changes in Serbia regarding the fight against corruption, underlining the adoption of an Asset Recovery law and the establishment of new Anti-corruption Agency.
Photo Gallery

South-Eastern European Anti-Corruption Conference marking 10th Anniversary of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative – May 20–21, 2010 – Bucharest, Romania
2010-05-20 08:00 - 2010-05-21 17:00
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) marked its 10th anniversary with a South-Eastern European Anti-Corruption Conference organized in the House of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, on May 20-21, 2010. The event was attended by RAI Senior Representatives and national experts representing the Ministries of Justice, Ministries of Interior, Prosecutor’s Offices and Courts of Initiative’s member states and observers (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244), as well as international partners such as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Council of Europe (GRECO), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Transparency International (TI) – Romania.
The event was opened by Mr. Catalin Predoiu – Minister of Justice of Romania and Mr. Alexandru Tanase – Minister of Justice of Republic of Moldova. The anniversary of RAI was addressed by Prof. Ugo Draetta – former RAI Chairman and Mrs. Jennifer Gauck – former project manager in American Bar Association – Rule of Law Initiative, who had both played significant role for the succes of RAI idea and cause.
The marking of 10th anniversary of RAI was organized back-to-back with the presentation of the final results of the project survey on ”Integrity and Resistance to Corruption of the Criminal Judicial System in SEE” financed by US Department of State and implemented by RAI Secretariat, RCC and TI – Romania. The draft version of the survey report was disseminated among the target groups. The final version of the survey report will be finalized and published soon.
Ms. Vesna Ratkovic – RAI Chairperson and the staff of RAI Secretariat – Mr. Edmond Dunga (Head of Office), Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov (Anti-Corruption Expert), Ms. Dajana Stajic (Finance and Administrative Assistant) and Mr. Veselin Jovanovic (Fundraising and Outreach Assistant) express their gratitute to all past, current and future RAI partners and supporters for their dedication and efforts made on the anti-corruption field.
Please, have a look at the attached program of the event, RAI Chairperson’s opening remarks and Survey Report “Integrity and Resistance to Corruption of the Law Enforcement Bodies in South East European Countries“.

5th Summer School for Junior Magistrates from SEE, May 31 – June 06, 2010 – Durres, Albania
2010-05-31 08:00 - 2010-06-06 17:00
Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat, in cooperation with the hosting School of Magistrates of Republic of Albania, co-organized the annual Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South – Eastern Europe on May 31 – June 06, 2010, in Durres, Republic of Albania. Launched in 2006 as a forum for exchange of ideas and practices among young judges, prosecutors and investigators, the event was organized for 5th consecutive year and was dedicated to the “International Standards and Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption”.
It consisted of five main training modules:

International standards in anti-corruption – the implementation of relevant conventions of United Nations and Council of Europe;
Reform of the judiciary and anti-corruption, as challenges of the EU accession process;
Asset recovery: proceeds of crime;
Anti-corruption policies and preventive measures;
EU experience regarding the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters, stressing on the activity of structures like OLAF and EUROJUST.

The Summer School for Junior Magistrates was opened by Mr. Genc Pollo – Minister of Innovation, Information and Communication Technology. The junior magistrates spent one week in academic environment along the Adriatic coast of Durres gaining from the knowledge and experience of honorable lecturers coming from public institutions, international organizations and civil society. The young prosecutors and judges were given the opportunity to exchange ideas and experience on the anti-corruption field, to comment the weak and the strong points of their daily work, thus building bridges between the people in South – Eastern Europe.
The framework of the Summer School included presentations by experts from UNODC, Council of Europe (GRECO), Vienna University of Economics and Business, EULEX mission in Kosovo, EUROJUST, EUROPOL, Tirana’s Prosecution Office and District Court in Durres. During the special outdoor session, the junior magistrates visited the District Court in Durres and held a meeting with its president.
The event was closed with a certificate ceremony lead by Prof. Dr. Mariana Semini-Tutulani – Director of the School of Magistrates of Albania and Mr. Edmond Dunga – Head of RAI Secretariat, following the final evaluation of the attendants in the form of case study.
Additional information:
Agenda
List of participants
Presentations:
Framework for Regional Cooperation and Sharing Best Practices in Fighting Corruption in SEE – Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov (RAI Secretariat)
Presentation of Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative and the possibility for cooperation within the framework of the national judicial systems in SEE – Mr. Erik N. Larson (UNDOC)
Anti-Corruption Standards of the Council of Europe – Ms. Tania van Dijk (GRECO)
The European Union’s Stockholm Program and the South-East European Justice and Home Affairs Strategy / The Role of Magistrates – Mr. Sorin Sterie (Regional Cooperation Council)
Presentation on activities related to asset recovery and corruption + practical cases – Mr. Dritan Rreshka (Joint Investigative Unit, Tirana)
Functioning of the judicial system in Albania with focus on recent changes regarding the EU accession process – Mr. Markelian Koca (District Court of Durres)
Austria’s Anti-corruption Laws and the International Standards in the Fight Against Corruption – Mag. Florian Singer (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law, Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Overview of Law Enforcement Framework in the Area of Anti-Corruption and International Cooperation – Dr. Severin Glaser (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law, Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Preventive Measures / Best Practices from Public and Private Sector – Mag. Markus Hoecher (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law, Vienna University of Economics and Business)
The Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN) – Ms. Jill Thomas (Europol)
The Role and Tasks of Eurojust in the Fight against Organized Crime – Ms. Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)
Two different approaches to Joint Investigation Teams / Experience and lessons learned – Ms. Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)
EU experience regarding the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Mr. Alberto Perduca (Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Torino)

International Conference ‘Corruption Prevention in the Midst of Crisis?’ – November 22-23, 2010 – Cologne, Germany
2010-11-22 08:00 - 2010-11-23 17:00
The DBB Akademie held its third international anti-corruption conference ‘Corruption Prevention in the Midst of Crisis?’ on November 22-23, 2010, in Cologne, Germany. The event was supported financially by OLAF through Hercule II Programme. The objectives of the conference were to provide an overview of up-to-date anti-corruption and anti-fraud practices in Europe and to exchange information and best practice examples among the various actors involved in the fight against corruption and fraud in light of the financial crisis.
It incorporated workshops in various topics such as: Whistleblowing; Think globally, act locally: Corruption prevention in German municipalities; Human resources development in corruption prevention efforts; Ethics offices for public administrations. On behalf of RAI Secretariat the conference was attended by Mr. Edmond Dunga and Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov, who took part in the workshop focused on European policies in the area of whistleblowing.
For more details, please have a look at the agenda of the event.

Regional Workshop on the Review Mechanism for the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) – December 08-09,2010 – Belgrade, Serbia
2010-12-08 08:00 - 2010-12-09 17:00
UNODC and Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat coorganized Regional Workshop on the Review Mechanism for the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) on December 8-9, 2010, in Belgrade, Serbia. The event was supported by the Serbian Anti-corruption Agency. The overall objective of the workshop was to develop the participants’ capacity to participate in the UNCAC Review Mechanism by presenting the existing requisites applicable to the review, training the participants in the methodology for country reviews and self-assessment checklist, thus enabling them to reproduce the training at national level.
After the workshop the participants took part in the conference organized by the Serbian Anti-corruption Agency on the occasion of 9th of December – the International Anti-corruption Day. It was also attended by the President of Republic of Serbia Boris Tadic, who underlined the necessity of involving not only the law enforcement and prevention authorities in the fight against corruption, but making it a priority for the whole society.
Please, have a look at the attached agenda of the workshop for more details.

Workshop ‘Conflict of Interest Prevention, Tools and Measures’ – January 20-21, 2011 – Tirana, Albania
2011-01-20 08:00 - 2011-01-21 17:00
The Albanian High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets (HIDDA), the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat co-organized the workshop on “Conflict of Interest Prevention, Tools and Measures”, with the financial support of US State Department. The event took place on January 20-21, 2011, in Tirana, Albania, as part of the the project “Strengthening the Integrity System in South-Eastern Europe”.
The representatives of SEE conflict of interest institutions – members of Integrity Experts Network (IEN), as well as the participating experts from other Europen partner institutions, had the chance to discuss issues related to functional incompatibilities and relevant sanctions in place, related persons, case studies, etc. During the workshop was presented the new web site of IEN (www.integrity-experts.net), launched by RAI Secretariat with the idea to be developed into a sustainable on-line Resource Center in the area of conflict of interest. The integrity experts identified as further step to be undertaken the elaboration and publication of comprehensive integrity manual. In addition, they underlined as priority for the up-coming IEN events to focus the discussions on case studies and case-by-case management.
For more information, please have a look at the attached list of participants and agenda of the event, as well as the presentations delivered at the workshop.
Presentation of Ms. Fjorida Kallco (HIDAA, Albania) – Prevention of Conflict of Interest in carrying out Public Functions
Presentation of Ms. Fjorida Kallco (HIDAA, Albania) – Prevention of Conflict of Interest in carrying out Public Functions (Albanian)
Presentation of Ms. Luiseda Zhapa (HIDAA, Albania)
Presentation of Ms. Irena Hadziabdic (Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Presentation of Ms. Polya Stefanova Petrova-Ognyanova (Bulgarian National Audit Office) – Conflict of Interest / Legal Framework
Presentation of Mr. Esad Ejupi (Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency) – Role of Anti-Corruption Agency in Suppression and Prevention of Corruption in Kosovo
Presentation of Mr. Esad Ejupi (Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency) – Role of Anti-Corruption Agency in Suppression and Prevention of Corruption in Kosovo (Albanian)
Presentation of Mr. Vladimir Georgiev (Macedonian State Commission for Prevention of Corruption)
Presentation of Ms. Daniela Railean (Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption, Moldova) – Conflict of Interest and Related Persons
Presentation of Ms. Ivana Vojinovic (Commission for the Prevention of Conflicts of Interest of Montenegro) – Conflict of Interest of Public Officials in Montenegro
Presentation Ms. Andreea Bucheanu and Ms. Ionela-Alina Ulmeanu (National Integrity Agency, Romania)
Presentation of Ms. Marisa Miralles (Anti-Fraud Office of Catalonia, Spain) – Functional incompatibilities and relevant sanctions at central and regional level
Presentation of Ms. Tatjana Babic and Ms. Valentina Sestovic (Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency)

International Workshop ‘Conflict of Interest Detection, Management and Resolution Experiences’ – April 19-20, 2011- Tirana, Albania
2011-04-19 08:00 - 2011-04-20 17:00
The Albanian High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets (HIDDA), the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat co-organized the workshop on “Conflict of Interest Detection, Management and Resolution Experiences”, with the financial support of US State Department. The event took place on April 19-20, 2011, in Tirana, Albania, as part of the the project “Strengthening the Integrity System in South-Eastern Europe”.
Apart from detection, management and resolution of conflict of interest cases, the representatives of SEE integrity institutions – members of Integrity Experts Network (IEN), as well as the participating experts from other Europen partner institutions, also discussed issues related to domestic cooperation and support provided by other public institutions aiming at data verification, checking and collection. A representative group of integrity experts has been welcomed at a reception by H. E. Prof. Dr. Bamir Topi – President of the Republic of Albania.
During the workshop was presented the newly established forum, integral part of IEN web site (www.integrity-experts.net), launched by RAI Secretariat. The second day of the event was dedicated to the ”Open Day” activity, organized each year by HIDAA. The activity represents transparent and random selection of 4% of all level public officials in Albania, who will pass through a full audit of their declarations of private interests.
Agenda
Presentations
Detection, Management and Resolution Experiences of Conflicts of Interest – Ms. Fjorida Kallço
Law on Conflict of Interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Practical experience – Mr. Vedran Hadzovic
Conflicts of Interest Detection, Management and Resolution Experience – Ms. Silvia Kadreva
Role of Anti-Corruption Agency in Suppression and Prevention of Corruption in Kosovo
Conflicts of Interest Detection, Management and Resolution Experiences – Mr. Vladimir Georgiev
Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency – Ms. Natasa Bojic and Ms. Valentina Sestovic
Conflicts of Interest Detection, Management and Resolution Experiences – Mr. Rogelio Grajal and Ms. Marisa Miralles

Meeting of the SEECP Directors of National Institutions and Agencies for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime – May 09-10, 2011 – Budva, Montenegro
2011-05-09 08:00 - 2011-05-10 17:00
The Meeting of the SEECP Directors of National Institutions and Agencies for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime took place in Becici, Montenegro, on May 09-10, 2011. The event was held in the framework of SEECP. It was co-organized by Montenegrin Directorate for Anti-Corruption Initiative, Regional Cooperation Council and Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative Secretariat. The Meeting was opened by Mr. Ivan Brajovic – Minister of Interior of Montenegro.

The participants presented their experience and good practice in regard to the institutional anticorruption framework set up in South-Eastern Europe, focusing the discussions on the balance between law enforcement and prevention, as well as identifying some common challenges on the anticorruption field for the countries in the region. Among the most shared opinions was the one that the SEECP member states need a regional methodology with concrete benchmarks, which will indicate their real progress as far as implementation of anticorruption policies and measures is concerned.
Agenda
List of participants
Presentations
Austrian Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption – Mr. Rene Wenk
Ten Guiding Principles and Parameters on the Notion of Independence of AC Bodies – Ms. Gerlinde Wambacher
Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (Moldova) – Mr. Radu Cotici

6th Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South-Eastern Europe – June 06-10, 2011 – Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
2011-06-06 08:00 - 2011-06-10 17:00
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat, in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice of Republic of Bulgaria, co-organized the annual Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South-Eastern Europe on June 06-10, 2011, in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Launched in 2006 as a forum for exchange of ideas and practices among young judges, prosecutors and investigators, the event was organized for 6th consecutive year and was dedicated to the “International Standards and Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption”.
It consisted of four main training modules:

International standards in anti-corruption – the implementation of relevant conventions of United Nations and Council of Europe;
Reform of the judiciary and anti-corruption, as challenges of the EU accession process;
Anti-corruption policies and preventive measures;
EU experience regarding the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters, stressing on the activity of structures like OLAF and EUROJUST.

In the framework of the event the junior magistrates spent one week in academic environment along the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria gaining from the knowledge and experience of honorable lecturers coming from public institutions, international organizations and civil society. The young prosecutors and judges were given the opportunity to exchange ideas and experience on the anti-corruption field, to comment the weak and the strong points of their daily work, thus building bridges between the people in South-Eastern Europe.
The framework of the Summer School included presentations by experts from UNODC, Council of Europe (GRECO), Vienna University of Economics and Business, EULEX mission in Kosovo, EUROJUST, the Bulgarian Prosecution Office and District Court in Bourgas. During the special outdoor session, the junior magistrates visited the District Court in Bourgas and held a meeting with its president.
The event was closed with final evaluation of the attendants in the form of case study presented by the National Institute of Justice of Bulgaria followed by certificate ceremony lead by Judge Dragomir Yordanov – Director of the National Institute of Justice and Mr. Edmond Dunga – Head of RAI Secretariat.
For more information, please, have a look at the attached list of participants and agenda of the Summer School, as well as the presentations delivered at the event:
Summer School for Junior Magistrates from SEE – Stanislav Aleksandrov (RAI Secretariat)
Framework for Regional Cooperation and Sharing Best Practices in Fighting Corruption in SEE – Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov (RAI Secretariat)
Overview of the UNCAC with Focus on International Cooperation – Mr. Erik Larson (The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The UNCAC and International Asset Recovery – Mr. Erik Larson (The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Overview of CoE Civil and Criminal Law Conventions – Mr. Edmond Dunga (GRECO Bureau Member and Head of RAI Secretariat)
The South-Eastern European Justice and Home Affairs Strategy in line with EU strategy in the area – the role of magistrates – Mr. Sorin Sterie (Regional Cooperation Council)
Description of the functioning of Prosecutor’s Office with focus on the recent changes regarding the EU accession process – Mr. Sava Petrov (Supreme Prosecution Office of the Republic of Bulgaria)
Functioning of the judicial system in Bulgaria with focus on the recent changes regarding the EU membership – Ms. Darina Kostova (Bourgas District Court)
Overview of Austria’s framework of anti-corruption laws; its evolution in regard to the international standards – Mag. Guenther Hauss (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law)
Preventive Measures – Best Practices from Public and Private Sector – Mag. Markus Hoecher (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law)
OLAF – the mechanism for detection and investigation of fraud and corruption within European Union – way of functioning + case studies – Mr. Alberto Perduca – (Former Director of Investigations and Operations at OLAF and Head of Justice Component of EULEX Mission in UNMIK/Kosovo)
Investigation and Prosecution of Cross-border and Organized Crime: How to enhance the development of Europe-wide cooperation on criminal justice cases? – Ms. Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)
Joint Investigation Teams – way of functioning + case studies – Ms. Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)

Workshop on ‘Integrity Promotion: International and National legal instruments and mechanisms’ – July 04-05, 2011 – Ohrid, Macedonia
2011-07-04 08:00 - 2011-07-05 17:00
The Macedonian State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC), with support and assistance of the Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat for South-Eastern Europe and Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), organized the International Workshop on “Integrity Promotion: International and National Legal Instruments and Mechanisms” on July 04-05, 2011, in Ohrid, Macedonia. The event was part of the the project “Strengthening the Integrity System in South-Eastern Europe”.
Based on Tirana Declaration on “Enhancing International Cooperation on Conflict of Interests Prevention and Declaration of Assets through the Establishment of the Integrity Expert Network (IEN)”, SCPC as a second Chairmanship-in-Office for the period of May 2011 – May 2012, brought together the relevant agencies in charge of integrity issues members of the Integrity Experts Network, as well as other relevant institutions from Macedonia, international stakeholders and organizations.
The main purpose of this event was enhancing cooperation between the IEN member institutions through the exchange of information, experience and knowledge on integrity issues. The Workshop provided overview of the legal framework on integrity in each country: existence, format, application in practice, best practices and challenges.
At the end of the event the participants stressed on prevention as an important part of the overall fight against corruption. In that regard they underlined the importance of promotion of integrity as opposition to corruption. The participants agreed that the lack of integrity in governments and state administration institutions is conducive to corruptive behavior. Budgetary sustainability in liaison with independence of integrity institutions was identified as potential topic on focus for some of the next IEN meetings.
For more information, please, have a look at the attached list of attendants, agenda and conclusions of the event, as well as the presentations delivered at the workshop.
Presentations
Control of Assets and cases of Conflict of Interest of officials who exercise public functions – An important instrument in the fight against corruption – Mrs. Aida Karapinjalli (HIDAA, Albania)
Presentation of Mr. Slobodan Lekovic (Commission for the prevention of conflicts of interest, Montenegro)
Conflict of interest prevention – the role and importance of the asset declaration system in combating corruption – Mr. Zlatko Draganovic (Commission for Conflict of Interest, Croatia)
Presentation of Mrs. Silvia Kadreva (Bulgarian National Audit Office, Bulgaria)
Integrity Promotion: International and National legal instruments and mechanisms – Mr. Rogelio Grajal and Ms. Marisa Miralles (Anti-Fraud Office of Catalonia, Spain)
Presentation of Mr. Voislav Zafirovski (State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Macedonia)
Corruption risk assessment in the Republic of Moldova – Ms. Daniela Railean (Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption, Moldova)
Presentation of Mrs. Jana Kulenska Crepiko (Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, Slovenia)
National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Integrity Plans in Serbia – Mrs. Natasa Bozic and Mrs. Ana Jerosimic (Anti-Corruption Agency, Serbia)

International Workshop ‘Implementation of the Integrity in the Macedonian Legislation’ – October 28, 2011 – Skopje, Macedonia
2011-10-28 08:00 - 17:00
The Macedonian State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, with the financial support of Embassy of Norway, organized the International Workshop on ‘Implementation of the Integrity in the Macedonian Legislation’ on October 28, 2011, in Skopje, Macedonia. The event was part of the Integrity Experts Network (IEN) activities.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the Commission for Preventing of Corruption of Slovenia and Anticorruption Agency of Serbia, as well as by Macedonian institutions involved in the process of implementation of the integrity in the system: Ministry of Justice, Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of Information Society and Administration, Ministry of Finance – Sector of Public Internal Financial Control, Custom Administration, Public Revenue Office, State Audit Office and the Center for Civil Communication. Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov – Anticorruption Expert in RAI Secretariat, took part in the event on behalf of the Initiative.
The workshop had the format of round table and shared the following objectives: exchange of information, experience and knowledge between the participating IEN member institutions on integrity issues; identification and promotion of good practices through discussion of different cases; and discussion on practical ways of implementation of the integrity in the Macedonian legislation.

Conference ‘Launch of South-East European Judicial Training Network – Initial Step to the Establishment of Framework for Integrated Anti-corruption Legal Education in the Region’ – April 24-25, 2012 – Sofia, Bulgaria
2012-04-24 08:00 - 2012-04-25 17:00
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and the National Institute of Justice of Bulgaria co-organized the conference on “Launch of South-East European Judicial Training Network – Initial Step to the Establishment of Framework for Integrated Anticorruption Legal Education in the Region”. The event took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 24 – 25, 2012, and implemented the first phase of the project ”Establishment of Framework for Integrated Anticorruption Legal Education in South-Eastern Europe”.
It was attended by experts of judicial training institutions from all RAI member states, representatives of High Judicial Council, Prosecutor’s Office and state courts of the hosting country, as well as representatives of GIZ, SEELS and diplomats from the embassies based in Sofia.
Among the main decisions taken by the participants at the conference were to establish Regional Network for Judicial Training (RNJT) as a tool for strengthening of regional cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices in the area with focus on anticorruption legal education; to use the services of RAI Secretariat as Secretariat to RNJT; to serve as national contact points in regard to RNJT unless another person is appointed in two weeks period after the closing of the conference; to prepare and present at the next event their view and ideas on the outcomes of RNJT on one hand and the cooperation among RNJT and SEELS on the other hand.
Agenda
List of participants
Conclusions and Decisions
Presentations
Albanian Magistrates’ School
Public Institution Centres for Judicial and prosecutorial training – Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Institute of Justice – Bulgaria
Judicial Academy – Croatia
Kosovo Judicial Institute
Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors – Macedonia
Supreme Court of Montenegro – Judicial Training Centre
Serbian Judicial Academy
South East European Law Schools Network
Establishment of Framework for Integrated Anticorruption Legal Education in South-Eastern Europe – Project Overview

7th Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South-Eastern Europe – May 28 – June 02, 2012 – Opatija, Croatia
2012-05-28 08:00 - 2012-06-05 17:00
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat, in cooperation with the Judicial Academy of Republic of Croatia, co-organized the annual Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South-Eastern Europe on May 28 – June 02, 2012, in Opatija, Croatia. Launched in 2006 as a forum for exchange of ideas and practices among young judges, prosecutors and investigators, the event was organized for 7th consecutive year and was dedicated to the “International Standards and Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption”. It consisted of four main training modules:

International standards in anticorruption – the implementation of relevant conventions of United Nations and Council of Europe;
Reform of the judiciary and anticorruption, as challenges of the EU accession process;
Anticorruption policies and preventive measures;
EU experience regarding the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters, stressing on the activity of structures like OLAF and EUROJUST.

In the framework of the event the junior magistrates spent one week in academic environment along the Adriatic coast of Croatia gaining from the knowledge and experience of honorable lecturers coming from public institutions, international organizations and civil society. The young prosecutors and judges were given the opportunity to exchange ideas and experience on the anticorruption field, to comment the weak and the strong points of their daily work, thus building bridges between the people in South–Eastern Europe.
The framework of the Summer School included presentations by experts from UNODC, Council of Europe (GRECO), Vienna University of Economics and Business, the Prosecutor’s Office in Torino – Italy, EUROJUST, Regional Cooperation Council, Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption of Republic of Moldova, the Croatian State Attorney Office and Ministry of Justice of Croatia. During the special outdoor session, the junior magistrates visited the District Court in Rijeka and held a meeting with its president and chiefs of Criminal Department.
The event was closed with final evaluation of the attendants in the form of case study presented by the Judicial Academy of Croatia followed by certificate ceremony lead by Mrs. Nella Popovic – Head of International Cooperation and Projects Service in the Judicial Academy of Croatia, Mr. Davor Dubravica – Head of Independent Anticorruption Sector in Ministry of Justice of Croatia and RAI Chairperson, Mr. Edmond Dunga – Head of RAI Secretariat and Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov – Anticorruption Expert in RAI Secretariat.
For more information, please, have a look at the attached list of participants and agenda of the Summer School.
Presentations
Summer School for Junior Magistrates from SEE – Stanislav Aleksandrov (RAI Secretariat)
Framework for Regional Cooperation and Sharing Best Practices in Fighting Corruption in SEE – Stanislav Aleksandrov (RAI Secretariat)
UNCAC – The role of the Conference of the States Parties to the UNCAC and its Review of Implementation Mechanism – Demosthenes Cryssikos (UNODC)
UNCAC – ChapterIV. International Cooperation – Demosthenes Cryssikos (UNODC)
UNCAC – Chapter V. Asset Recovery – Demosthenes Cryssikos (UNODC)
Respecting International Anti-Corruption Standards – Anna Myers (GRECO Secretariat)
Whistleblowing: International Overview – Anna Myers (GRECO Secretariat)
OLAF – the mechanism for detection and investigation of fraud and corruption within European Union – way of functioning + case studies – Alberto Perduca (Italian magistrate, Former Director of Investigations and Operations at OLAF and Head of Justice Component of EULEX Mission in UNMIK/Kosovo)
The international efforts to set up a sustainable judicial framework in UNMIK/Kosovo – Alberto Perduca (Italian magistrate, Former Director of Investigations and Operations at OLAF and Head of Justice Component of EULEX Mission in UNMIK/Kosovo)
Description of the Functioning of Prosecutor’s Office with the focus on the Recent Changes Regarding EU Accession Process – Diana Pervan (County State’s Attorney of Zagreb)
Functioning of the judicial system in Croatia with focus on the recent changes regarding the EU membership – Maja Grubisin (Ministry of Justice of Croatia)
Austria’s Anti-corruption Laws – Evolution and International Standards, Status and Evaluation – Mag. Guenther Hauss (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law)
Anti-Corruption Policies and Preventive Measures – Best Practices from Public and Private Sector – Mag. Markus Hoecher (Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law)
Corruption Risk Assessment in regard to the Judicial System – Comparative Study – Daniela Railean (Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption)
Joint Investigation Teams – way of functioning + case studies – Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)
Investigation and Prosecution of Cross-border and Organized Crimes – Mariana Lilova (Eurojust)
EU-SEE: Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters – Virgil Ivan-Cucu (Regional Cooperation Council)
Case OFFSIDE – Diana Pervan (County State’s Attorney of Zagreb)

International workshop ‘Integrity concepts: Approaches and new frontiers’ – July 05-06, 2012 – Bitola, Macedonia
2012-07-05 08:00 - 2012-07-06 17:00
The Macedonian State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC), with the support and assistance of the Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat for South-Eastern Europe, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and UNDP, organized the international workshop on “Integrity Concepts: Approaches and New Frontiers” on July 5-6, 2012, in Bitola, Macedonia, in the framework of Integrity Experts network (IEN).
The event was part of the the project “Strengthening the Integrity System in South-Eastern Europe“.
The overall objective of the workshop was to enhance the cooperation between the IEN member institutions through the exchange of information, experience and knowledge on integrity issues. The specific objective of the event was to present and discuss on the legal framework on integrity: existence, format, application in practice, best practices and challenges. Among the main topics included were: integrity systems, anti-corruption strategies, whistleblowing, balance between transparency and personal data protection.
At the end of the workshop the participants discussed the handing over of the Chairmanship-in-Office of IEN. In the days following the event the National Integrity Agency (ANI) of Romania expressed its interest and took the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Network for the next one year.
For more information, please, have a look at the list of attendants and agenda of the event.
Report on realised activities by the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption during its Chairmanship of the Integrity Experts Network (May 2011 – May 2012)

Conference ‘Establishment of Common Forum for Cooperation between Regional Network for Judicial Training (RNJT) and the South-East European Law School Network (SEELS)’ – June 28–29, 2012 – Budva, Montenegro
2012-07-28 08:00 - 2012-07-29 17:00
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and GIZ Open Regional Fund for SEE – Legal Reform co-organized the conference on “Establishment of Common Forum for Cooperation between Regional Network for Judicial Training (RNJT) and the South-East European Law School Network (SEELS)” in Budva, Montenegro, on June 28- 29, 2012. The event represented the second phase of the project “Establishment of Framework for Integrated Anticorruption Legal Education in SEE“.
For the first time the conference gathered representatives of law faculties and magistrates schools in SEE on regional level. In this regard it had as main goals to identify the priority areas for cooperation and experience exchange in judicial training capacities; to enhance regional cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices regarding anticorruption legal education; to increase the general knowledge and expertise on regional level in the area on focus, and most of all to launch a common forum for cooperation between RNJT and SEELS for setting up the principles and mechanisms for integrated legal education in SEE. The event was closed by signing of Memorandum of Understanding between RNJT and SEELS that will further streamline the partnership among the two networks.
For more details, please have a look at the attached MoU, conference agenda and list of participants.

8th Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South Eastern Europe – June 03-07, 2013 – Novi Sad, Serbia
2013-06-03 08:00 - 2013-06-07 17:00
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat, in cooperation with the Judicial Academy of Republic of Serbia, co-organized the annual Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South Eastern Europe on June 03-07, 2013, in Novi Sad, Serbia. Launched in 2006 as a forum for exchange of ideas and practices among young judges, prosecutors and investigators, the event was organized for 8th consecutive year and was dedicated to the “Anti-corruption Standards in Practical Means“. It consisted of three main training modules:

Application of the international anti-corruption standards in practice and case studies;
Practical impediments in fighting high level corruption and their overpass (system of immunities, political pressure, etc.);
Asset Recovery. Carrying out financial investigations.

In the framework of the event the junior magistrates spent one week in academic environment alongside the Danube River gaining from the knowledge and experience of honorable lecturers coming from public institutions, international organizations and civil society. The young prosecutors and judges were given the opportunity to exchange ideas and experience on the anti-corruption field, to comment the weak and the strong points of their daily work, thus building bridges between the people in South–Eastern Europe.
The framework of the Summer School included presentations by experts from UNODC, Vienna University of Economics and Business, the Prosecutor’s Office in Torino – Italy, EUROPOL, the Serbian State Attorney Office, London Metropolitan Police, etc. During the special outdoor session, the junior magistrates visited the District Court in Novi Sad.
The event was closed with final evaluation test passed successfully by the attendants. It was followed by certificate ceremony lead by Mr. Radu Cotici – Head of RAI Secretariat.

Forum ‘Regional Anti-Corruption Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe: The Way Ahead’ – July 11, 2013 – Zagreb, Croatia
2013-07-11 08:00 - 17:00
The Secretariat of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) and the Ministry of Justice of Croatia organized the Forum REGIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION COOPERATION IN SOUTH – EASTERN EUROPE: THE WAY AHEAD on July 11, 2013, in Zagreb, Croatia.
The event revealed the major achievements of RAI and identified the main challenges that face the Initiative.
The Forum also provided opportunity to RAI member states and partners to share their views on the benefits and future expectations of the cooperation with RAI.
The main part of the event was dedicated to the signing of the Protocol Amending the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation in Fighting against Corruption Through the South Eastern European Anti-Corruption Initiative.
It is initially signed by RAI member countries during the South-East European Cooperation Process Justice and Home Affairs (SEECP JHA) Meeting in Zagreb in April 2007.
By signing the Protocol for the Amendment of the MoU, the signatory countries further ensured their cooperation on anti-corruption as well as the financial sustainability of RAI Secretariat.
It was a manifestation of principle of full regional ownership of the Initiative, thus demonstrating the continuing involvement of SEE countries in the fight against corruption.
Besides delegates of the RAI member countries, the Forum was attended by representatives of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as representatives of Embassies of Austria, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States of America.
Agenda
List of Participants
Protocol Amending the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation in Fighting against Corruption Through the South Eastern European Anti-Corruption Initiative

9th Summer School for Junior Anti-Corruption Practitioners from South Eastern Europe – June 01-07, 2014 – Sibiu, Romania
2014-06-01 08:00 - 2014-06-07 17:00
Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Romania and National Institute for Magistracy of Romania co-organized the annual Summer School for Junior Anti-corruption Practitioners from South Eastern Europe in Paltinis (Sibiu), Romania.
This annual event is an intensive five-day program designed for familiarizing participants with contemporary insights in selected areas of corruption theory and anti-corruption practice and it took place for the 9th consecutive year. It was focused on the need to enhance the capacity of the authorities in charge with Financial Investigations and Asset Recovery. The young practitioners coming from different countries region wide had the opportunity to increase their knowledge on the subject they work on. The participants also had the occasion to establish informal professional links between themselves, since regional cooperation proves to be especially important in the field of asset recovery and financial investigations.
Trainers, coming from such institutions as The Prosecutor’s Office in Torino, Italy, Basel Institute on Governance, National Asset Recovery Office of Romania, London Metropolitan Police, Institute for Austrian and European Economic Criminal Law, lectured on topics related to international instruments for recovering criminal assets, mutual legal assistance for the purpose of seizing and confiscating assets, returning of confiscated assets, as well as offshore jurisdictions and international money movements.
The event was closed with final evaluation test, followed by graduation ceremony.
RAI Secretariat expresses its gratitude to

Mr. Alberto Perduca
Mr. Cornel-Virgiliu Calinescu
Mr. Pedro Gomes Pereira
Dr. Severin Glaser
Mr. Lawrence Day
Mr. John Burrow
Mag. Markus Hoecher

for their invaluable contributions to the event.

Regional Workshop for validation of the “Methodology on Anti-corruption Assessment (Corruption Proofing) of Legislation” and “Methodology on Corruption Risk Assessment” – September 9 and 10, 2014 – Becici, Montenegro
2014-09-09 08:00 - 2014-09-10 17:00
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), in cooperation with the Directorate for Anti-corruption Initiative of Montenegro (DACI), organized the Regional Workshop for validation of the Methodology on Anti-corruption Assessment (Corruption Proofing) of Legislation on September 9, 2014 and the Regional Workshop for validation of the Methodology on Corruption Risk Assessment on September 10, 2014 in Becici, Montenegro.
The purpose of workshops was the review of current situation and experience in countries of the region on corruption risk assessment process and anti-corruption assessment of legislation. The most relevant national experts coming from South Eastern Europe were given an opportunity to share their experiences, know-how, concerns and issues regarding the topics.
The most important goal of both events was to discuss findings of the undertaken researches and the consequent Methodologies, as well as to improve and validate these documents based on expertise and participants’ experience in the related fields.
It was concluded that Anti-corruption Assessment (Corruption Proofing) of Legislation and Corruption Risk Assessment can be recommended as a tool for tackling corruption and boosting integrity in public administration. Based on inputs received during workshops, methodologies are to be updated to further reveal the existing practices within the region and to integrate mechanisms from outside the region as best practices by integrating experts’ inputs.
The countries’ representatives were delegates from National Anti-corruption Agencies/Bodies, Ministries of Justice, Ministries of Internal Affairs and other relevant institutions. The organizers express their gratitude to Dr. Tilman Hoppe, Mr. Goran Klemencic, Dr. Liljana Selinsek, as well as all the participants for their invaluable contributions to both workshops.
For more details, please check the PowerPoint presentations, List of Participants as well as Agendas for both workshops.

Regional Conference on Good Governance and Anti-corruption Policy Challenges, November 13-14, 2014, Tirana, Albania
2014-11-13 08:00 - 2014-11-14 17:00
On 13 – 14 November, 2014, the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Ministry of State on Local Issues of Albania and the Southeast Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI) co-organized the Regional Conference on Good Governance and Anti-corruption Policy Challenges. The two-day forum aimed at fostering civil society – state dialog in identifying effective measures to prevent corruption.
The first day event, Monitoring Corruption and Anti-corruption in Southeast Europe: Policy Challenges and the Role of Civil Society, was dedicated to the findings of the Regional Anti-Corruption Report and the National Corruption Assessment Reports for nine countries in Southeast Europe, as well as on specific ideas for countering corruption on a regional scale. Please download the presentations from the first day event here.
The second day event, Preventing Corruption by Assessing Its Risks, targeted at boosting countries’ efforts for corruption risks identification and mitigation in decision making process. The Conference recommended for use the developed by RAI and RCC Methodology on Anti-corruption Risk Assessment of Laws, adopted the 10 Ten Principles of Effective Corruption Proofing as an international standard in this field and recommended corruption risk assessment as a corruption preventive tool. For more information, please see Recommendations of the Regional Conference Preventing Corruption by Assessing Its Risks.
Ms. Eridana Çano, Director of Cabinet, Ministry of State on Local Issues, Albania, opened the event by underlining that the Office of the National Coordinator on Anti-Corruption is working with international partners and will use the best practices to tackle the corruption in the country. She expressed her support to the preventive measures, as well as her hope that the corruption proofing and corruption risk assessment becomes a systematically applied effort in all institutions.
Mr. Sokol Gjoka, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albania, underlined that CACP is the most important anti-corruption initiative in Albania. In its framework, the Ministry will become a coordination point for more than forty activities. Mr. Gjoka concluded his speech by noting the importance of the conference for providing forum for exchange of ideas on tackling the problem.
Mr. Gazmend Turdiu, Deputy Secretary General, Regional Cooperation Council, highlighted the efforts that the Council has undertaken and their positive effects, but warned that the situation in SEE has been worsened by the economic crisis. These developments made RCC update and finalise its Strategy with a focus on job creation, unemployment, and sustainable growth, similar to the SEE 2020 Strategy. Mr. Turdiu underlined that the fight against corruption has a center place in their Strategy, as it is essential for the economic growth and development. According to him, although the legal framework is important, a key prerequisite for the success of any anti-corruption policy consists of the closer collaboration between government, agencies, law enforcement and the civil society.
Mr. Davor Dubravica, Chairperson of the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) recalled the Joint declaration of the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the SEECP participating states from Bucharest, May 2014, in particular the pledge to foster the stronger regional frameworks for tackling corruption , as well as to allocate adequate resources for implementing efficient preventive mechanisms and programs, as well as proactive measures to enhance institutional transparency and good governance. He warned that laws can also be a source of corruption, and advised all countries to use the Methodology presented by RAI at the event, which was endorsed also at the Workshop in Becici, Montenegro.
Panel 1: Anti-corruption Assessment of Laws
Moderator: Mr. Davor Dubravica, RAI Chairperson
Mr. Radu Cotici, Head of Secretariat, Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) presented the concept of corruption proofing of laws and how effective it could be to prevent corruption. He provided examples on how inconsistent, unclear or contradictory texts of legislation may breed corruption. He expressed interest in learning more about the experience of Lithuania and Moldova, where the corruption proofing tool has been used for almost a decade. He underlined that the Methodology will work only when properly set up as a mechanism, when authorities take a serious approach in carrying it out and civil society stakeholders are involved and enabled to contribute to the review. For that reason RAI has developed its Methodology, as well as the ten principles of effective corruption proofing, that RAI calls to be approved as an international standard in this field. Please download the presentation here.
Dr. Tilman Hoppe, anti-corruption expert, presented a comparative analysis of the anti-corruption assessment of laws in different countries. He noted that little literature and information is available on the subject, which points out to the need of the further development and adaptation of the Methodology. Some of the countries that apply similar methodology include Russia, South Korea, Lithuania, Moldova, and Albania. Mongolia, Poland, Serbia and Turkmenistan are expected to adopt the corruption proofing soon. Dr. Hoppe underlined that although corruption proofing takes resources, it is still necessary. It should be done not only formally, but with the aim of increasing the impact of the law and its compliance. Please download the presentation here.
Mr. Ruslan Stefanov, SELDI Coordinator, noted that the corruption proofing of legislation is an instrument that allows civil society an additional venue to influence policy. This is of particular importance since the civil society has as key mission to be a watchdog and monitor the public policies. He underlined that more attention should be paid to the capacity of the bodies that should implement corruption proofing. According to him, the countries in the region need to achieve impact on the highest corruption levels and tackle the issue of state capture, which is in essence use of the legislative process to serve personal interests. Mr. Stefanov prompted the countries to apply these principles first to the existing legislation, and then proceed with the new ones. He advised that similar Methodology can also be used to enhance the regulatory impact assessment.
Panel 2: Anti-corruption Assessment of Laws: best practices
Moderator: Ms. Eridana Çano, Director of Cabinet, Ministry of State on Local Issues, Albania
Ms. Solėja Karalienė, Chief Specialist, Special Investigation Service, Republic of Lithuania (STT) shared her experience with anti-corruption assessment of legislation in Lithuania, implemented by a team of five people. She explained that though parliamentary group, Commission, parliamentary committee or the President, Chairman of the Seimas or Prime Minister or STT itself can initiate anti-corruption assessment of legal acts, this could leave some important legislation without a corruption evaluation. She warned that despite all good practices, one cannot believe that an assessment will eliminate all corruption factors. Please download the presentation here.
Ms. Cristina Tarna, Deputy Director, National Anti-Corruption Center, Republic of Moldova, stressed that there is a need of stronger corruption proofing mechanisms when an official can use interpretation of the law for own interest or gain. She explained that the corruption proofing process in Moldova was inspired and launched by CSOs in June 2006, and it was later adopted as government decision. It covers all laws and draft laws, except policy and singular use documents. The National Anti-corruption Center is in charge of the proofing implementation, starting from the moment a draft law is finalized. A law can be remedied even after it has been passed. Among the corruption risks assessed are: legal wording, legal coherence, transparency and access to information, exercising individual rights, etc. Currently there are 600 corruption proofing reports produced per year in Moldova, which rely on the help from all stakeholders, including CSOs. Ms Tarna noted that according to her experience there are two key specifics of approving draft laws promoting private interests – urgency for adoption and lack of transparency. In that respect the corruption proofing is the key in securing quality law drafting in the public interest. Please download the presentation here.
Dr. Tilman Hoppe, anti-corruption expert presented RAI’s Regional Methodology on Anti-corruption Assessment of Laws. His speech focused on what are the risks and how to identify them in a legislative text. He made a distinction between corruption of the legislative process and the involuntary discrepancies made in the text that present corruption risk. He expressed hope that the ten principles and the corruption proofing methodology will be adopted in all SEE countries. Please download the Methodology here.
Panel 3. Corruption risk assessment
Moderator: Ms. Cristina Tarna, Deputy Director, National Anti-corruption Centre, Republic of Moldova
Mr. Quentin Reed, anti-corruption expert noted that international standards for an ideal corruption risk assessment methodology are good for inspiration, but still not sufficient. He warned that the same solutions cannot work in the same way everywhere. In that respect, he recommended that the countries look at local problems, find local reasons and find local solutions. Rudeness, arbitrary treatment, obstruction are also factors that go hand in hand with corruption and should be taken into account in any corruption assessment methodology. Among the risk assessment methods that Mr. Reed presented were: use of existing materials, law and regulations, direct observation, proxies, surveys, interviews. Please download the presentation here.
Mr. Mihai Barlici, Head of Anti-corruption Studies and Prognosis Unit, Anti-corruption General Directorate, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania presented the methodology, results and efficiency of the self-assessment used by government bodies. As main vulnerabilities he listed the sectors with frequent contact with the public, financial management, public procurement. He presented the good practices in Romania, including formation of corruption prevention working groups, trained in recognising corruption risks. The Unit is trying to evaluate what the potential impact of certain corruption risk would be, including financial impact, public image impact, human resources impact, etc. A new activity for the Romanian Ministry of Interior was the deterrence of the risk, in which it is currently involved. Please download the presentation here.
Mr. Matjaž Mešnjak, Adviser on Prevention and Public Integrity, Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, Republic of Slovenia underlined that Slovenia performs corruption risk assessment almost every day as part of the existing integrity plans, sectoral analyses, and corruption investigations. The key instrument, the Integrity plans, include a matrix of risk factors, existing measures, as well as foreseen measures. The information is stored in a register, which soon will present all current corruption risk and measures in real time, and will allow for statistical and qualitative analysis. Results will be shared among the concerned entities, so that counter-measures can be undertaken. The Commission educated several thousand public sector employees in the last four years, built the e-register, revised integrity plans. It faced as challenges the constantly changing list of public institutions, and the hardships of convincing public sector managers that corruption risk assessment is important issue and that integrity plans should be used. Please download the presentation here.
Ms. Marijana Obradović, Assistant Director of Prevention Sector, Anti-corruption Agency, Republic of Serbia presented Serbia’s experience on the topic. The Law of the Anti-corruption Agency stipulates that all government bodies should develop anti-corruption plans and report on the implementation of these plans to the Agency. The Agency published guidelines for the implementation of the integrity plans in October 2010. These guidelines however proved to be insufficient, and task groups specific for each institution were formed, in parallel with the development of special software. Since there were no sanctions for not adopting the plans, many institutions decided not to do so. In that context the policies applied and the quality of the integrity plans depended on the understanding of the problem by the management of the government institution, as well as on the existence of external assistance provided by CSOs.
Mr. Milos Mojsilovic, Senior Adviser within the Research and Development Unit, Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency complemented the review of the Serbian experience. He explained that the Agency’s staff went and spent some time in each institution to see how it works and if the integrity plan reflects objectively how the institution is functioning. Another issue besides the efficient implementation of the integrity plans is the fact that in Serbia there is no law on whistle-blower protection, and the Agency is trying to provide internal solutions. In 2015 the Agency will monitor the implementation of the integrity plans and further promote the good practices and solutions. Please download their presentation here.
Panel 4. Corruption risk assessment – continuation
Moderator: Mr. Radu Cotici, Head of RAI Secretariat
Mr. Vasilica-Cristi Danilet, Member of Superior Council of Magistracy, Romania presented the history of corruption investigation in Romania. Until 2006 the Ministry of Justice had its own secret service, used to obtain information even of the private life of the judges, information that could be misused. Before the accession, the EU built pressure on the country for achieving results in fighting corruption. As result, Romania changed its Constitution, built special unit of young and clean prosecutors, trained to fight corruption. It formed the National Anti-corruption Directorate – an independent body. For many years after accession the pressure continued under the CVM. In that context Romania expanded its anti-corruption efforts and introduced objective criteria for appointment of judges, including an exam without influence by any political party. The country also introduced IT system in the courts and currently publishes online various kind of data to increase transparency. They try to maintain dialogue and be close to the citizens in order to raise the corruption awareness. The relevant authorities participate in TV shows, and talk with people through the social media. Romania has 1496 offenders convicted of corruption in the period 2005-2014, including 1 former prime minister and 6 ministers, as well as many judges and prosecutors. Consequently, trust in judiciary increased from 22% in 2005 to 44% in 2014. Please download the presentation here.
Mr. Quentin Reed, ACFA Team Leader talked about corruption risk assessment in Albania and presented the preliminary findings of the ACFA Project. The project mainly focuses on assessment of the anti-corruption framework, including asset declarations, conflict of interest, and providing assistance to the Anti-corruption Action Plan. Mr. Reed noted the problems with data exchange between institutions in Albania that obstruct the efficiency of the applied measures. Their analysis also focused on political party and election campaign, noting the insufficient capacity of the authorities to oversee the issue. Please download the presentation here.
Ms. Liljana Selinšek, anti-corruption expert, presented the different models and approached to corruption risk assessment (CRA). She confirmed the statement that no model can work everywhere, but the existing knowledge of corruption risk assessment is enough to identify a common goal. She stressed that the assessment should target not just corruption, but also integrity risks, and the countries need clear measures to eliminate the sources and the risks of ambiguity behaviours. She noted that freedom of information is essential for preventing corruption. Ms. Selinšek presented the integrity plan, the sectoral CRA, and the ad hoc CRA as three key promising approaches that can complement each other and efficiently decrease the corruption risks. According to her, a mixed system including these approached would be best suited for the region. Thus the mixed system can identify which factors drive corruption in each country and institutions, and assess the effectiveness of existing laws. Please download the presentation here.
Ms Daniela Mineva, Center for the Study of Democracy, SELDI Secretariat concluded with listing ten recommendations and conclusions from the conference, inviting the countries to consider introducing the presented corruption proofing tool and methodology.
During the closing statements Mr. Predrag Vujicic, Expert on Justice and Home Affairs, RCC underlined that the Council is trying to make the region a better place for living through joining efforts of all stakeholders. He wished the participants success in their efforts in fighting corruption.
For more details, please check the List of Participants, as well as the final Agenda of the event.

Regional Conference on Trends and Challenges in Implementing Anti-corruption Strategies, November 25, 2014, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
2014-11-25 08:00 - 17:00
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) and RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Macedonia, organized on November 25, 2014, the Regional Conference on Trends and Challenges in Implementing Anti-corruption Strategies which was held in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
The event aimed at recognizing the priorities and needs of the South-East European countries in terms of efficient implementation of the Anti-corruption Strategies and Action Plans, with an emphasis on the monitoring mechanism. In the context of the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative Work Plan 2014 – 2015, its essential goal was to identify the key success determining ingredients and factors of a monitoring and evaluation mechanism. For more information, please see Recommendations and conclusions of the Conference.
Mr. Adnan Jashari, Minister of Justice, Republic of Macedonia, opened the event highlighting that the anti-corruption strategies and plans are more than a declarative expression of the will to fight corruption. They are effective tools to strengthen the national inter-institutional cooperation and international and regional cooperation in combating corruption. He stressed out that he fight against corruption remains a strategic priority and anti-corruption activities do not stop in Republic of Macedonia. Finally he extended his gratitude to RACVIAC and RAI for the actions taken to promote regional cooperation and to support the implementation of anti-corruption events and activities in the member countries, as well as for organization of this event in the Republic of Macedonia.
Mr. Gjorgi Slamkov, President of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Republic of Macedonia, stated that by carrying out its mission, the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption in December 2011 developed the current National Program for Prevention and Repression of Corruption and State Program for Prevention and Reduction of Conflict of Interests with Action Plan for 2011-2015. Through this strategic document, the SCPC created and directed the social action as a clearly defined continuous process, based on improving and strengthening the legal and institutional capacities, creating a public, collective, and individual awareness of the damaging effects of corruption, the necessity of its recognition and detection, as well as promoting all forms of preventive action along with effective sanctions. Mr. Slamkov finished his speech by highlighting that in the Action Plan of the State Program there are 51 problem/risk factors established and 156 actions to overcome the problems and risks, and for a period of two years 70% of planned activities have been realized or being under implementation.
Ambassador Branimir Mandic, Director of RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, welcomed the participants to this event by stressing the opportunity for states from the region and all parties dealing with challenges of putting efficient Anti-corruption Strategies and Action Plans in place, to use this event for exchange of ideas on issues of mutual concern and by having a comparative approach to share the lessons learned so far. He pointed out that the lessons drawn out from the experiences of implementing National Anti-corruption Strategies and Action Plans worldwide indicate that key features for a successful anti-corruption policy making include national ownership, knowledge base design, stakeholder participation, strategic priority planning, effective coordination, and monitoring and evaluation. Ambassador Mandic finished by saying that all of these key factors will be discussed during the event, with a special emphasis on monitoring and evaluation.
Mr. Davor Dubravica, Chairperson of the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), welcomed the audience by highlighting the efforts that countries in the region of SEE are undertaking by implementing the activities from their respective national strategies and action plans, and also emphasized the implementation as main problem in the region and beyond. He stressed the importance of the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms as key dimensions of anti-corruption interventions in general, and reminded the participants about the special attention that should be given to the development of a comprehensive monitoring mechanisms that can allow for civil society’s input not just as a corrector, but also as an active participant in the monitoring and evaluation process.
Morning Session: Anti-corruption Strategies Development and Fulfillment
Moderator: Mr. Davor Dubravica, Chairperson, Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI)
Mr. Kiro Cvetkov, Anti-corruption Expert, Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), presented the current status of the national Anti-corruption Strategies and Action Plans in RAI member countries. Mr. Cvetkov noted that there is no one-size–fits-all solution when it comes to the design and implementation of anti-corruption strategies. He stated that the experience has shown that the effectiveness of a national anti-corruption strategy will depend to a great extent on whether it has been designed taking into consideration the country’s context and main corruption challenges. Furthermore, political will and coordination with other on-going efforts to fight corruption and improve governance in the country is instrumental. He finished his presentation by concluding that anti-corruption strategies should include a strong and manageable monitoring and evaluation system that provides for participation of civil society organizations and that implementation and evaluation reports should be made public and available on-line.
Ms. Edlira Nasi, Unit on Internal Administrative Control and Anti-Corruption, Prime Minister’s Office, Albania, presented the Albanian experience by explaining the organizational structure of the national anti-corruption network in Albania – as of November 2014. Ms. Nasi also presented the main policy tools: the National Strategy against Corruption 2014-2017 (that was completed by end of March 2014 and is based on three-fold approach: prevention, repression and education), and National Action Plan against Corruption 2014-2017 (that was finalized by October 2014). Both, the Strategy and Action Plan will be adopted in December 2014. She finished the presentation stating the main goals (such as ensuring transparency and accountability through public scrutiny, modernization of procedures, with special focus on improving the quality of service delivery, strengthening inter-agency cooperation by further enhancing proactive investigation, assessing the risks in most vulnerable sectors: health and education and enhancing prevention of corruption in public administration), but also giving examples of the bottle-necks such as limited interest from business sector, and lack of vision on concrete AC measures in long term. Please download presentation of Ms. Nasi here.
Mr. Emir Basic, Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mr. Zoran Jacev, Team Leader, PAK – Support to anti-corruption, Bosnia and Herzegovina, spoke about the Bosnian experience and the challenges of developing new AC Strategy and action plan. Mr. Basic explained the scope and the status of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption, as well as the general purpose and objectives of the Strategy for the Fight against Corruption (2009-2014) and Action Plan to implement the Strategy adopted by the Council of Ministers on 24 September 2009. Mr. Jacev focused his speech on the complexity of the new strategy which contains five pillars and between 150 and 200 activities. Yet, he concluded by stating that the aim of the new strategy is to be implementable and effective, not just as a list of wishes. Please download presentation of Mr. Basic here.
Mr. Rosen Kukushev, Ministry of Interior, Bulgaria, gave a presentation about the role of the Center for Prevention and Countering Corruption and Organized Crime, and the main activities and results of the Bulgarian mechanism for countering corruption. Mr. Kukushev explained the organization and partners of CPCCoC, its matrix organization and role as environment for creating, updating and implementation of intervention systems. In his further elaboration Mr. Kukushev talked about the detailed analysis and preparation of packages of measures for corruption risk areas, including preliminary analyzes of risk areas, analysis of specific laws and others legislation on the issue and proposals for changes in other regulations. Finally, he explained the intervention system, the development of measures, the vulnerabilities (weak spots) and factors of corruption, as well as the effectiveness of the measures depending on the depth of the impact i.e. the causality (Causa finalis). Please download presentation of Mr. Kukushev here.
Ms. Mirela Bakalbasic, Senior Advisor, Directorate for Anti-corruption Initiative, Montenegro, shared the Montenegrin experience by presenting the Strategy for the fight against corruption and organized crime (2010 – 2014) with Action Plan 2010 – 2012, revised in July 2011 – harmonized with the AP for implementation of recommendations provided in the Opinion of the European Commission, and Action Plan 2012 – 2014, harmonized with AP for Chapters 23 and 24 (July 2013). Upon its expiry national anti-corruption objectives and measures in Montenegro will be solely contained in the APs for Chapters 23 and 24. Ms. Bakalbasic stated that APs for Chapters 23 and 24 were adopted in June 2013 and revised in November 2014, with objectives defined in accordance with the recommendations from the Screening Report, and those given in the course of the screening process on the compatibility of Montenegrin legal system with the EU’s Acquis. She also emphasized that regular monitoring process is in place, as a means of identifying, preventing and taking account of non-compliance, making periodic assessments of the overall document and of specific elements so that adjustments can be made. Please download presentation of Ms. Bakalbasic here.
Ms. Maja Baricevic, Ministry of Justice, Croatia, highlighted that Croatian experience is still equally challenging after the EU accession as it was before it. She gave an overview of the development of Croatian national strategic documents in the period 2002-2008, the package of anti-corruption laws and multilateral conventions ratified by Croatia. In the second half of her presentation Ms. Baricevic spoke about the recommendations from the EU anti-corruption report for 2014, such as „to implement a comprehensive strategic approach to prevent and reduce corruption risks in public procurement“ and „to implement effective protection mechanisms and raising awareness for whistleblowers“. Finally she gave her comments on the new anti-corruption strategy which is based on sectorial approach (sectoral working groups), risk assessment, public consultation with interesting parties and action plan development. Please download presentation of Ms. Baricevic here.
Ms. Jelena Deretic, Ministry of Justice, Serbia, pictured the Serbian experience by emphasizing the need for comprehpensive approach in the fight against corruption as an internationally accepted standard. She said that corruption is a major obstacle to social development and state progress in general, and that corruption is marked as one of the key destabilizing factor for the process of European integration. Further she presented the the new National Anti-Corruption Strategy in the Republic of Serbia adopted for the period from 2013 to 2018, which is, inter alia, based on the principles of the rule of law and “zero tolerance” for corruption. Ms. Deretic gave an overview of the roles of each body involved in the implementation and the monitoring system of the new strategy, underlying that the Ministry of Justice is the coordinator in the implementation process, the Council collects information on the experience and obstacles to the efficient implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan and submits a report on this to the Government of the RS, while Monitoring of implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan is under the competence of the Anti-Corruption Agency. She highlighted that coordination is seen as the key factor for better implementation and that is why new organizational unit is formed, which is responsible for coordination of the implementation of the Strategy, and it also serves as a focal point for cooperation with other holders of public powers and with international organizations.Please download presentation of Ms. Deretic here.
Mr. Borjan Gjuzelov, Macedonian Center for International Cooperation, NGO; as a civil sector representative Mr. Gjuzelov spoke about his experience in monitoring the AC Strategies implementation in Republic of Macedonia. He explained the State program for Prevention and Repression of Corruption and Prevention and Reduction of Conflict of Interest 2011-2015 and the 11 different sectors it covers. Also, he presented the SCPC as a coordinative body as well as the Action plan with its 51 problems/risk areas, 156 activities, 220 implementation monitoring indicators, and 156 effectiveness monitoring indicators. He spoke about the web application for collection of data and ideas for future improvement, such as Output vs. Impact indicators, prioritization of certain sectors and risk areas, the need for independent ‘third party’ monitoring, the CSOs as partners in research and expertise, and CSOs as watchdogs or independent evaluators. Please download presentation of Mr. Gjuzelov here.
Afternoon Session: Anti-corruption Strategies Monitoring and Evaluation
Moderator: Ms. Marija Zuzek, Programme Manager, RACVIAC
Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Gençkaya, Turkey, presented the Turkish experience from an academic standpoint. He talked about the “Strategy for Enhancing Transparency and Strengthening the Fight against Corruption”, which was issued by the Prime Ministry on December 5, 2009 as a decree (2009/19) and put into the force in February 2010. The professor explained the structure of the strategy, the different type of measures, and gave an overview of similar documents such as National Strategy for Fight against Organized Crime 2010-2015, Action Plan of Strategy for Fight against the Informal Economy 2011-2013, and the Action Plan for 2013-2015 with 10 different guiding principles and 21 strategic objectives with 51 activities. Talking about the compliance with the International Standards, prof. Gençkaya emphasized GRECO’s Third Round Evaluation and Compliance Reports, Review of Implementation of the OECD Convention and Recommendations, Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Public Statements, European Commission Progress Reports, UNCAC Review of Implementation (to be conducted soon in Turkey). He also mentioned the priorities of the AC strategy in Turkey to be: participatory approach, transparency, accountability and public awareness. Please download presentation of Mr. Gençkaya here.
Mr. Vladimir Georgiev, State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Republic of Macedonia, explained that after consulting with the NGO representatives from Macedonia present at the conference, he will adjust his presentation and focus it on the process of adoption of the Strategy, since the monitoring was already described in the earlier presentation by Mr. Borjan Gjuzelov. Therefore, Mr. Georgiev explained the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC) competences, structure and main goals. He explained that the strategic documents, developed under the SCPC, aim at achieving more efficient application of the normative framework for prevention and repression of corruption and conflict of interest in practice, strengthening the institutional capacities through overcoming the specific risks for corruption and conflict of interest, improving the integrity of public administration and ensuring efficient and effective inter-institutional cooperation at national and international level, as well as at raising institutional transparency and the public awareness about the harmfulness of corruption and conflict of interest. Please download presentation of Mr. Georgiev here.
Mr. Valeriu Cupcea, National Anti-corruption Center, Republic of Moldova, presented the situation in Moldova in terms of implementation of national strategies and action plans on anti-corruption. He described the Authorities and institutions responsible for implementation of the Action Plans, the monitoring and evaluation procedures including external and internal monitoring, as well as monitoring and evaluation principles: responsibility, transparency, cooperation and efficiency, and the performance and progress indicators. Mr. Cupcea indicated that adequate and timely implementation of activities, support in implementation of positive practice and elimination of the risk factors, together with Informing about the achieved results and shortcomings that were detected and areas which need attention, are the main purposes of monitoring. Please dowload presentation of Mr. Cupcea here.
Mr. Ruslan Stefanov, Coordinator, Southeast European Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI); in his speech, Mr. Stefanov noted that South Eastern Europe as region is constantly under systemic corruption pressure. He said that CSOs are among the most important stakeholders in anti-corruption. However, there is a lack of effectively established formal mechanisms for engaging civil society on the part of the national governments, lack of administrative capacity and clear vision and understanding of the potential of CSOs. According to Mr. Stefanov there is a risk of capturing of CSOs by special interests and corruption systems by absence of mandatory procedures for transparency in the sector, ineffective control of compliance with financial regulations, lack of auditing culture and low level of self-regulation.
Ms. Marijana Obradovic and Ms. Ana Jerosimic, Anti-corruption Agency, Serbia, presented the role of the Anti-corruption Agency in monitoring of the national AC strategy. They explained that the new Anti-Corruption Strategy was adopted by the National Assembly in July 2013, and the Action Plan on Implementation of the Strategy was adopted by the Government in September 2013. The Agency’s mandate is to monitor the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan and to issue advisory opinions regarding their implementation. Ms. Obradovic and Jerosimic also explained the main features of the new monitoring process and the challenges in the monitoring process such as: Action Plan is not clear in all its parts; the reports of the implementing entities are often not submitted on time; the reports of the implementing entities are of uneven quality and do not provide enough information as well as they may be one-sided and biased. On the end they explained the benefits from the alternative reporting and the alternative reporting pilot program. Please download presentation of Ms. Obradovic and Ms. Jerosimic here.
Mr. Ronan O’Laoire, UNODC, presented the international context in relation to UNCAC’s 2nd Review Cycle, the key considerations in monitoring and evaluating AC Strategies and what are the possible recommendations. He also pointed out about Art. 5 from UNCAC titled- Preventive AC Policies and Practices, which requires the states to adopt effective, coordinated anticorruption policies, aimed at the prevention of corruption, and which should be periodically evaluated. Mr. O’Laoire shared the lessons learned, such as: the development of an anti-corruption strategy should be an indigenous, inclusive and participatory process; adequate resources must be provided; the Strategy should be based on sound research; it must possess an effective policy coordination mechanism; the focus must be on implementation; and the participation of the society is a must. Please dowload presentation of Mr. O’Laoire here.
Mr. Tilman Hoppe, anti-corruption expert, presented the Draft structure of the Regional Methodology on Monitoring and Evaluation of implementing National Anti-corruption Strategies and Action Plans, which he will prepare for the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI).
Mr. Ruslan Stefanov, Coordinator, Southeast European Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI), concluded with listing the recommendations and conclusions of the Conference, stipulating to the countries on the importance of setting in place effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism of the national anti-corruption strategy and action plan.
During the closing statements, Mr. Radu Cotici, Head of RAI Secretariat, underlined that the Conference was successful and that the recommendations and conclusions that were brought up will be further uphold. Mr. Cotici thanked the hosts and the co-organizers by giving them as well, recognition for the successful event. Ambassador Branimir Mandic, Director of RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, gave his final words of gratitude towards the participants for their constructive approach towards the subject of the conference.
For more details, please check the List of Participants, as well as the final Agenda of the event.

International meeting on Effectiveness of Corruption Prevention Measures, May 18-19, 2015, Zagreb, Croatia
2015-05-18 08:00 - 2015-05-19 17:00
OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (OECD ACN), the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), and RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, in cooperation with the host of the conference – Ministry of Justice of Republic of Croatia, organized International Meeting on Effectiveness of Corruption Prevention Measures on May 18-19, 2015, in Zagreb, Croatia.
This meeting was organized around four important anti-corruption themes: (i) the effectiveness of measures to prevent corruption; (ii) monitoring and evaluation of national anti-corruption policies; (iii) corruption risk assessments and action plans in public institutions and sectors; and (iv) – anti-corruption assessment of legislation. The event combined high level keynote speeches, expert presentations and round-table discussions, being practice-oriented and interactive. For more information, please see the event Agenda.
Day 1:
Welcoming remarks
Mr. Davor Dubravica, Chairperson of the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), opened the meeting by stressing out that the cooperation between RAI, OECD, and RACVIAC, proved to be fruitful and brought together in the same room more than 90 representatives coming from 25 counries, 8 International Organizations and 6 NGOs. Mr. Dubravica presented RAI in its historical context, its member countries and focused on the current activities and objectives of the organization. He said that RAI would keep growing and keep promoting partnerships that will contribute towards effective fight against corruption in the region of SEE and beyond, emphasizing this international meeting as an example of successful cooperation in the field of corruption prevention.
Ms. Olga Savran, ACN Manager, OECD Anti-Corruption Division, stated that by carrying out its mission, OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN) acts a regional anti-corruption programme of the OECD Working Group on Bribery. ACN supports anti-corruption reforms and promotes exchange of experience and good practice among the ACN countries, in cooperation with OECD countries and other partners and organizations. She highlighted that the ACN organizes regional expert seminars and conducts thematic cross-country reviews on various issues related to prevention, investigation and prosecution of corruption. Among others, Ms Savran said that this event was especially important due to collaboration with RAI and RACVIAC and thus bringing together countries that not always have the opportunity to exchange views among each other. She invited the participants to use the opportunity this meeting is offering and to engage themselves in active discussions and participation.
Ambassador Branimir Mandic, Director of RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, welcomed the participants to this event by stressing the opportunity for states from the region and all parties to OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), to use this event for exchange of ideas on issues of mutual concern and to share the lessons learned so far. He pointed out that this meeting was a continuation of what was announced during the Conference held in Skopje on 25 November 2014. He reminded the participants that last year in Skopje RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation and the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Macedonia organized the Conference: “Trends and Challenges in Implementing Anti-corruption Strategies”. He said that the event had recognized the priorities and needs of the SEE countries in terms of efficient implementation of the Anti-corruption Strategies and Action Plans, with an emphasis on the monitoring mechanisms.
In the context of the conclusions of the last year’s Conference, the key ingredients of a monitoring and evaluation mechanism were determined and would be presented in the publication: “Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of National Anti-Corruption Strategies and Action Plans – Methodology”, shown for the first time in public during this event.
High Level Session: Main Achievements and Challenges in Preventing Corruption
Moderator: Ambassador Branimir Mandic, Director of Centre for Security Cooperation – RACVIAC
Mr. Ivan Crncec, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Justice of Croatia, Welcomed the participants on behalf of the host country and the Ministry of Justice of Croatia. Mr. Crncec praised the role of OECD, RAI and RACVIAC in organizing this international meeting expressing his satisfaction as a representative of the host country to welcome such a big number of relevant professionals dealing with anti-corruption. He presented the latest efforts of the Croatian government in terms of reforms aimed at improving the effectiveness of the anti-corruption measures. Stressing the importance of regional and international cooperation, Mr. Crncec presented the most important measures under the new Anti-Corruption Strategy 2015 – 2020 in Croatia. He stated that for the purpose of creation of the new strategy, a sectoral approach to strategy development had been implemented and sectoral working groups were established for more efficient strategy development and implementation. Mr. Crncec explained the structure of the system of strategic planning by giving an insight into the Strategy’s horizontal objectives, such as: integrity within the political system and administration, local and regional governments, public procurement, trading companies in majority state ownership, prevention of conflict of interest, the right to access to information and the role of civil society organizations, citizens, and the media in fighting corruption. Assistant Minister Crncec finally expressed his gratitude to the participants and organizers and invited all to use this event to learn from each other.
Minister Pawel Wojtunik, Head of the Central Anti-corruption Bureau (CAB), Poland, presented the Polish experience by explaining the organizational structure of the Bureau as a special service which combats corruption in the public and private sector, especially in the state and local government agencies, as well as fights against any activity which might endanger the State’s economic interests. Mr. Wojtunik presented the organization, its structure and historical background. He focused on the links between crime and corruption as two correlated phenomena that cannot be tackled independently. Mr. Wojtunik explained that the CBA is a special service with pre-trial police powers, entitled to conduct: operational activities, investigational activities, control activities, analytical and informative activities (including corruption prevention and information on anti-corruption). In criminal investigation, the CBA officers are entitled to use police powers which may be supported by special measures, such as: operational control, e.g. wiretapping, undercover operations, and technical surveillance. He finished his speech by stating that the CBA informs the Prime Minister, the President of the Republic of Poland and the Parliament about corruption-related matters and any activities which may endanger the State’s economic interests. A special obligation of the CBA is to provide the Parliament with the information on the results of the activities conducted by the CBA as well as to provide the performance report to the Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Special Services Committee until 31 March of each year at the latest.
Ms. Elena A. Panfilova, Chair of the Center for Anti-corruption Research and Initiative Transparency International – Russian Federation; and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, Transparency International, spoke about the role of TI in general. She emphasized the importance of public – private cooperation, highlighting that events such as this international meeting, which are offering both governmental and civil society representatives to share their views, are very important for the future of the fight against corruption 2.0 (“two point O”.), as she defined the new sector specific approach. Ms. Panfilova underlined that, unlike years ago, when all the measures against corruption used to be the same – from country to country, from neighbor to neighbor, today we have specific programs built for the specific needs of a country, a city, or a sector. With this approach of tailor-made programs, the fight against corruption is taken to a new level and the effectiveness of the new anti-corruption strategies and action plans must prove to be much higher.
Mr. Marin Mrcela, GRECO President, gave a presentation about the Corruption Prevention measures through GRECO’s Experience. Mr. Mrcela started his presentation by stating the objectives of GRECO – to monitor compliance with the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption standards, identify deficiencies and prompt reforms and promote and share good practices.
He said that today there are 49 member States to GRECO (awaiting EU soon to join). Further in his presentation, Mr. Mrcela explained more on GRECO’s Four Evaluation Rounds done so far and provided some practical real-case examples from recommendations given to states during the different rounds of evaluation. In his concluding remarks, GRECO’s President put a special focus on the role of the media stating that the fight against corruption without public is impossible. Mr. Mrcela finished his presentation by raising the question of the importance of education in building new culture in the fight against corruption, asking the participants to think about the issue of when this new culture should start. Please download presentation of Mr. Mrcela here.
Roundtable Discussion:
This session was dedicated to countries’ high level representatives who gave their own national experiences on: What are the key measures taken to prevent corruption in your countries? What are the key priorities of anti-corruption policies for the coming years? And how to better assess the outcomes and impact of anti-corruption strategies?
Mr. Mevludin Dzindo, Assistant Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and the Coordination of the Fight Against Corruption (APIK), Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), shared the BiH experience by presenting the novelties introduced by the Anti-corruption Strategy and accompanying Action plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period of 2015-2019. He highlighted that the Agency faced challenges in the implementation of policies and measures of the 2009-2014 anti-corruption strategy (ACS) and Action Plan (AP).
New approach in preparing the 2015-2015 strategy aims to overcome the identified challenges by being deductive, meaning to go from the general to the specific. First, all obligations from the anticorruption conventions that BiH has ratified, EU standards and best practices in the region in this scope, were identified and enumerated. Second, situation analyses were prepared as a “snap-shot” of the current anti-corruption situation, with major issues that had to be addressed. On the basis of these findings, specific general policies that BiH needs to implement in order to increase the efficiency in the fight against corruption were formulated and specific activities in the AP are created, with defined carriers of obligations and deadlines, indicators for success and financial indicators for their implementation.
Ms. Tatjana Babic, Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency of Republic of Serbia highlighted that Serbian experience is still equally rich and challenging after the new Strategy as it was before it. She gave an overview of the development of Serbian national strategic documents in the past period with the package of anti-corruption laws harmonized with the multilateral conventions ratified by Serbia. Ms. Babic noted that the new anti-corruption Strategy obligates state authorities and other institutions to take a “zero tolerance” approach, and formulates goals to halt corrupt activities in politics, public finance, privatization, the judiciary, police, spatial planning and construction, health care and media. The ACA was established as an institution with a strong preventive role that had been lacking in any authority which had theretofore dealt with corruption. Its main objective is improving the situation regarding this area, in cooperation with other public authorities, the civil sector, the media, and the public in general. Among other things, the ACA is authorized to work on development of integrity plans for, and in cooperation with, state authorities in preventive sense. These plans are aimed at reducing and eliminating risks of the emergence and development of corruption. While the Ministry of Justice is the coordinator in the implementation process, the Agency collects information on the experience and obstacles to the efficient implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan and submits a report on this to the Government of the RS. She emphasized that that the monitoring of implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan is under the competence of the Anti-Corruption Agency.
Mr. Idilir Peci, Deputy Minister of Justice of Albania, pictured the Albanian experience by emphasizing the need for comprehensive approach in the fight against corruption as an internationally accepted standard. He pointed out that corruption is a major obstacle to social development and state progress in general, and that corruption is marked as one of the key destabilizing factors for the process of European integration. Further, the new Albanian Anti-Corruption Strategy was explained highlighting the multi-dimensional interventions of the Government of Albania in the fight against corruption. New international cooperation projects are supporting the implementation of the comprehensive national Anti-corruption Strategy and the related Action Plan with a three-fold objective. Firstly, to improve the capacity of public administration, secondly, to increase private sector engagement, and thirdly, to contribute to changing perceptions of corruption, particularly among civil society with a special focus on youth. The monitoring of the ACS and its AP is done on quarterly basis, performed by the National Coordinator against Corruption – NCAC Secretariat based on the feedback from contact point’s network. Main goals of the new strategy are: ensuring transparency and accountability through public scrutiny; modernization of procedures, with special focus on improving the quality of service delivery; strengthening inter-agency cooperation by further enhancing proactive investigation; assessing the risks in most vulnerable sectors: health and education; and enhancing prevention of corruption in public administration.
Mr. Driton Lajci, Advisor to the Minister of Justice of Kosovo*, spoke about Kosovo*’s experience in monitoring the AC Strategies implementation. He explained the structure of the latest Strategy 2012-2016 which is composed of seven priority areas: Political Sector; Local Government; Central Administration; Law Enforcement, Prosecution and Judiciary; Public Finances and their management; Public Procurement; Private Sector and Business Environment; and Civil Society and Media. As far as monitoring goes, in accordance with the general and specific objectives established for each priority sector in the Strategy, including both horizontal and vertical priorities of the Strategy, the Action Plan was designed to implement these objectives through specific and concrete anticorruption measures. It consists of specific action-plan objectives and measures, together with tangible success indicators and clear and realistic timelines. When the timelines are indicated as „ongoing“, it implies that the progress in such measures is supposed to be reviewed annually, in co-operation with corresponding institutions. Besides the Agency, vital part of Kosovo*’s anti-corruption framework are the Office for good governance, each of the ministries with their own web sites, the public procurement agency, as well as media – press council of Kosovo*.
Mr. Yavor Siderov, Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for European Policy Coordination and Institutional Affairs, Bulgaria shared the Bulgarian experience by presenting the current situation in Bulgaria in the area of anti-corruption as overhaul in anti-corruption policies. The many changes introduced simultaneously are all aiming at improving the fight against corruption making it efficient and transparent process. The new five-year national Strategy contains 33 specific measures in six primary areas, with the fight against corruption at the highest governmental levels a top priority. The other five target areas include establishing an effective anti-corruption system; combating political corruption; preventing corruption in the judiciary, ministry of the interior and supervisory authorities; eliminating “petty” corruption in everyday life; and creating an environment of public intolerance to corruption. Setting up a special body that will look into assets acquired by senior state officials and possible conflict of interests in their decisions is also part of the Bulgarian Government anti-corruption programme. Legislation defining the powers of the new anti-corruption body, which should resemble the Romanian AC agency, should be approved by parliament by the middle of 2015 and It should start operating at the beginning of next year. According to the strategy, by 2020, Bulgaria hopes to be a country where petty corruption is at European Union average levels, high-level corruption does not remain unpunished, anti-corruption institutions work efficiently and have a real deterrent effect, and perceptions and experiences of individuals and companies regarding the level of corruption in Bulgaria are significantly reduced.
Mr. Goran Milenkov, President of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption of Republic of Macedonia, highlighted that the Commission is autonomous and independent in performing the duties prescribed by law and it has a status of a legal person. Responsibilities of the State Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Prevention of Corruption are: Adopting the National Programme for Prevention and Repression of Corruption and Action Plan for its implementation; Adoption of annual programs and plans for the work of the State Commission; giving opinions on draft laws of importance for the prevention of corruption; Presents proposals to the competent authorities to control the financial and material operations of political parties, unions and civic associations and foundations; On the other hand, responsibilities of the State Commission under the provisions of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest are: Adoption of the State Program and Action Plan for the prevention and reduction of conflict of interest; give opinions on draft laws important to prevent conflicts of interest and checking declarations of interest; review of cases of conflict of public and private interests determined by law; Submitting a report on its work and on the measures and activities undertaken to fight corruption to the Assembly, and to the Government and the media, cooperation with other state bodies in the prevention of conflict of interests. Other responsibilities of the State Commission are: in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Lobbying and in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Code. Having in mind the setup of the Macedonian legal system for fighting corruption the SCPC is the main body that implements and monitors the AC Strategy and its Action plans on both state and local level.
Mr. Jaroslavs Strelcenoks, Director of Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, Latvia, spoke about Latvia’s experience in Monitoring and evaluation of AC Strategies and Action plans. The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau of Republic of Latvia (KNAB) is the coordinating body for implementing the national programme. KNAB’s strategy for 2013-15 focuses on institutions in charge of significant assets and resources, healthcare, the judiciary, law enforcement, and political party finance. KNAB works in cooperation with the Finance Police, State Border Guard and other institutions. Appropriate standards for the accountability and integrity of elected officials set an example for others, and are a crucial element in preventing high-level corruption. Apart from the Law on Prevention of the Conflict of Interest, MPs in Latvia are also subject to Parliament’s Code of Ethics. The code contains provisions against actual and apparent conflicts of interest, attempts to illegally influence decisions of state and municipal authorities, and use of confidential information for private purposes. Operational since 2003, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau has established a positive reputation. KNAB combines tasks related to prevention, investigation and education, including the control of party financing. KNAB also acts as a pre-trial investigatory body with traditional police powers and access to bank and tax databases.
Mr. Talgar Serikbayev, deputy head of the Preliminary Investigation Department at the Civil Service and Anti-Corruption Agency of Kazakhstan shared Kazakhstan experience by explaining the role of the Agency in Fighting with Economic and Corruption Crimes as the key body responsible for preventing, detecting and investigating different types of economic, financial and corruption crimes. The Agency is obliged to participate in the development of the government’s anti-corruption policy and to monitor its implementation and is responsible for organizing anti-corruption awareness-raising campaigns and anti-corruption education, in addition to ensuring cooperation with international organizations and civil society in the area of fighting corruption. The anti-corruption strategy for 2015-2025 mainly concentrates on measures preventing the conditions that foster corruption rather than fighting the consequences of corruption. It calls for an “eradication of legal nihilism in society.”According to strategy, the leading role should be given to a package of preventive measures aimed at radically reducing the level of corruption by eradicating the causes and conditions that give rise to it in the state and society. The emphasis is placed on eliminating corruption preconditions and not on fighting its consequences. The document also aims at increasing cooperation with various target groups within the civil sector and the business community, as there is a need to develop new relations between the government, citizens and businesses based on an equal and responsible partnership. An anti-corruption road map and specific action plans will be developed for each five-year period. The key goals of the strategy are: forming an anti-corruption culture; fighting corruption in the public, quasi-public and private sectors; introducing the institute of public control; preventing corruption in judiciary and law enforcement bodies; developing international cooperation in fighting corruption; and monitoring the progress of the programme.
Session 2: Trends and Challenges in Monitoring and Evaluation of National Anti-Corruption Strategies
Moderator: Mr. Davor Dubravica, Chairperson of Regional Anti-corruption Initiative
Dr. Tilman Hoppe, anti-corruption expert, presented the Methodology on Monitoring and Evaluation of implementing National Anti-corruption Strategies and Action Plans, published by the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI).
He also presented the “Ten Principles of Effective Monitoring and Evaluation” which were endorsed by the conference as Regional Standards for effective monitoring and evaluation of ACS & APs. Further on, Mr. Hoppe’s presentation focused around three main questions/messages: Message 1: Forget about fancy indicators. Where he explained why there is no perfect indicator and the whole issue over measuring complex social phenomena such as corruption. Message 2: The methodology of monitoring is very easy. And here Mr. Hoppe explained that everything that states should do is easily explained in the ten principles of effective monitoring and evaluation. Yet the human factor and political will are much more complex phenomena that cannot be summarized in a set of principles. And the third message comes as a consequence of what is already said – Message 3: “In monitoring, the methodology is not the main problem, but how it is implemented”. With this Mr. Hoppe sent a clear statement for the states in the region and beyond, that the regional platform can do only that much as showing the best comparative approach, but it remains to the will of the individual states to bring any methodology to life by strictly following its principles. Please download the presentation of Mr. Hoppe here.
Mr. Ronan O’Laoire, Associate Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, UNODC, explained the monitoring impact of anti-corruption strategies. He started his presentation by presenting the status of UNCAC in terms of number of parties to the Convention, which is currently raised to 173 states. Also, chapters of the Convention were explained: Chapter II Preventive measures; Chapter III Criminalization & Law Enforcement; Chapter IV International Cooperation; and Chapter V Asset Recovery. Further on, Mr. O’Laoire gave the key elements of an Anti-Corruption Strategy: Starting with the drafting process, trough preliminary analysis and diagnosis to actual anticorruption policy plan, and then focusing on effective implementation in order to finish with monitoring, evaluating and reporting. He finished his presentation by putting emphasis on the education, promotion of the implementation and increase in public support. Please download the presentation of Mr. O’Laoire here.
Next on the Agenda were different National experiences in measuring effectiveness of public policies
Ms. Anneli Sihver, Advisor at the Public Administration and Civil Service Department of the Ministry of Finance of Republic of Estonia spoke about design of integrity measures based on indicators. Ms. Sihver explained the system of Coordination of Civil Service Ethics and the Coordination role of the Ministry of Finance which consists of: organizing work of Council of Ethics for Officials; developing civil service ethics infrastructure; organizing horizontal and organization-specific training courses; elaboration of central guidelines on ethical issues; advising organizations and officials on individual cases; and monitoring state of affairs of ethics via surveys. She also presented the results of the integrity survey “Roles and Attitudes in Civil Service” which was conducted among 1000 state and local government officials in an interval of 4 years, based on electronic questionnaire (19 questions + background data: age, position, type of institution, location, salary level, length of experience etc). Please download the presentation of Ms. Sihver here.
Ms. Kätlin-Chris Kruusmaa, Advisor at the Ministry of Justice of Estonia gave a presentation on Estonia experience in monitoring anti-corruption strategy and its impact. She explained that the Ministry of Justice is responsible for development and implementation of the AC Strategy, guided by the Anti-Corruption Act. The AC strategy for 2013-2020 has three broader objectives: promotion of corruption awareness; improvement of transparency of decisions and actions; and development of investigative capabilities of investigative bodies and prevention of corruption that could jeopardize national security. Speaking of assessment of the Strategy effectiveness, Ms. Kruusmaa explained that the Strategy results will be assessed on the basis of surveys – primarily the questionnaire survey “Corruption in Estonia: A survey of three target groups”; and international assessments and recommendations to Estonia – GRECO, OECD, UN, Transparency International. Please download the presentation of Ms. Kruusmaa here.
Mr. Ruslan Stefanov, director of the Center for the Study of Democracy from Bulgaria, gave a presentation titled: Monitoring Anti-corruption Reforms: experience from Bulgaria and the EU Anti-Corruption Report. Speaking of EU AC Report, he stated that while some states have Strategy and AC agency, others do not. Also, he pointed that some European states see themselves as above the corruption problems that others are facing. On the other hand, when the SEE Regional Anticorruption Report on AC Strategies is in question, groups of sample indicators for particular objectives of the anticorruption strategy/programme are emerging. Group 1 includes indicators for assessment of the implementation progress of specific measures, included in the anticorruption Strategy/Programme. Group 2 focuses on monitoring and assessing anti-corruption effects of strategies/programmes; and Group 3 pays particular attention on monitoring and assessing the ultimate impact of the Strategy/Programme on public service delivery. Finally, Mr. Stefanov gave examples of proposed indicators, including measures in the public sphere: prevention and counteraction of corruption in the high ranks of power; measures in the economic sphere: public procurement and concessions; civic control and cooperation with civil society: assessment of the spread of corruption and the effectiveness of anticorruption policies. Please download the presentation of Mr. Stefanov here.
Mr. Zurab Sanikidze, Director of Analytical Department at the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Council of Georgia presented the monitoring and evaluation Methodology of anti-corruption strategic documents through the Georgian experience. Mr. Sanikidze gave an overview of the institutions for preventing and combating corruption in the Georgian legal system. He also presented the structure of the new Anti-Corruption Strategy & Action Plan 2015-2016 and gave overview of their strategic priorities. Speaking of the monitoring process and the monitoring Methodology, Mr. Sanikidze explained it is accomplished in three stages: 1st stage: progress report and monitoring tool; 2nd stage: focused around the monitoring report; and 3rd stage: the evaluation report, aimed at assessing achieved results and their effectiveness/efficiency as well as analysis of existing situation, identification of gaps and challenges in the Action Plan implementation process. Please download the presentation of Mr. Sanikidze here.
Mr. Tilek Saiakbaev, Chief of the Corruption prevention policy department at the Ministry of Economy in Kyrgyzstan gave a presentation on measuring effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in Kyrgyzstan. He presented the role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) as a component of the anti-corruption policy, and a key analytical tool. Mr. Saiakbaev noted that M&E allows the government to specifically measure the success in achieving the ultimate goals in the field of combating corruption and it strengthens the credibility of the state in front of the public by a clear awareness of the results of the implementation of anti-corruption measures. Mr. Saiakbaev also explained the procedure for assessment of the ACS and its stages. Please download the presentation (in Russian) of Mr. Saiakbaev here.
Day 2
Presentation of the OECD Study “Prevention of Corruption in the Public Sector in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”
Mr. Valts Kalniņš, researcher at the Centre for Public Policy “Providus”, Latvia, presented Commentaries from countries, representatives of partner organizations on the OECD ACN Thematic Study “Prevention of Corruption in the Public Sector in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”. Mr. Kalniņš presented the objectives of the Study and the questionnaires received from governmental and non-governmental parties from 20 different countries. Many common measures and practices can be derived as commonalities and trends, and among them Mr. Kalniņš mentioned: Mandatory or optional screening of (draft) laws; some new sophisticated risk assessment methodologies; usually what is monitored is the output, but not the outcome/impact. Also, institutionalized NGO involvement and monitoring of ACS by NGOs, a lot of training and awareness-raising campaigns whose impact is often unclear, as well as fragmented and limited whistleblowers protection, are commonly found as characteristics of the fight against corruption across countries. Mr. Kalniņš also gave few examples of innovative measures, such as Verification of the implementation of integrity plans with the help of client surveys, and web-based platforms for the elaboration of AC plans in Serbia, as well as thematic evaluation missions on the ACS measures by expert teams which are conducted in Romania. Mr. Kalniņš finished his presentation by presenting examples of well-designed measures such as Single “space” to render public services in Azerbaijan and Georgia, and also by providing a list of selected policy recommendations, which among others included the recommendation to publish budget data online in such detail and form that is relevant and useful for the citizens. Please download the presentation of Mr. Kalniņš here.
Session 3: Corruption risk assessments and institutional and sectorial action plans.
Moderator: Mr. Roel Janssens, Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities/ OSCE Secretariat
Ms. Nadja Kammerzell, Customs Attaché, Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Union, presented the share of revenues collected by Customs as a percentage of total revenues across countries, implicating why customs administrations are therefore particularly exposed to corruption. Ms. Kammerzell presented Legal framework for preventing and combating corruption, as well as the criteria for establishing the corruption risk. Ms. Kammerzell showed example from the so called „Risk atlas“ in Germany, as well as the main elements of the internal and external audit. In the end, she concluded that risk mapping is a valuable tool in the fight against corruption. It helps already by preventing corruption instead of being limited to the prosecution of cases. The purpose of risk assessment is to analyze the different working areas with regard to their abstract and concrete risk for corruption, which safeguards are already in place, if these are sufficient or further safeguards need to be installed. Also, often it led to the successful defense and prosecution of attempts of bribery through economic operators. Please download the presentation of Ms. Kammerzell here.
Ms. Inese Rīta, Senior Investigator at the Financial Police department of State Revenues Service in Latvia gave a presentation about the Latvian experience in Corruption prevention measures in tax service and the results achieved. She explained the main tasks of the State Revenue Service, principles of good governance in the State Revenue Service, and the process of managing corruption risks from Identification of the risk of corruption, through risk analysis and assessment of corruption risk and prioritization, to specific actions and assessment. She also listed the nine different Measures to address the opportunities for corruption, and finished her presentation by listing the Internal rules for the prevention of conflict of interest, such as the “Guidelines for the heads of structural units to prevent opportunities for corruption” and the “Guidelines on the Application of staff rotation in the structural units of the State Customs Revenue Service”. Please download the presentation (in Russian) of Ms. Rīta here.
Mr. Valentin Topoloiu, Preventing corruption officer at the Anti-corruption General Directorate of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania, had a presentation on Corruption risk assessment in the Ministry of Interior of Romania. He explained the role of the Anticorruption General Directorate and systematically elaborated the scheme of the organizational structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Mr. Topoloiu further explained the role of the Anti-corruption Studies and Prognosis Unit, and noted the difference between Risk – The probability of a crime being committed and the harm it may cause; and Vulnerability – weakness in the regulatory and control system of specific activities and the intention to commit a corruption crime. The Identification and description of risks as well as estimating the probability of risks materializing, assessing the impact, evaluating the efficiency of the measures in place for preventing / controlling corruption risks, assessment of risk exposure and classification and ranking of the risks according to the priority of intervention, were part of Mr. Topoloiu’s presentation. He finished the presentation by explaining the types of control measures they employ. Please download the presentation of Mr. Topoloiu here.
Mr. Audrius Bereišis, Head of Anti-Corruption Assessment Division, Special Investigation Service, Lithuania, presented to the audience the Corruption risk assessment system and achievements in Lithuania by focusing the presentation on aspects of: the corruption risk assessment system, suggestions for eliminating corruption, results of corruption prevention, and as conclusion: what Lithuania has done and what must be done in the future. Firstly, Mr. Bereišis explained the corruption risks and corruption risk factors, followed by the main causes of corruption and eventually he presented the corruption risk assessment structure i.e. its elements and results. In the second part of his presentation the main risk factors suggestions and results of eliminating corruption, in public procurement, supervision of businesses, and land management and construction, were explained. Mr. Bereišis gave a list of completed anti-corruption measures such as: one-stop shop, restrictions on the funding of political parties, the criminalization of illicit enrichment, media owners register, participants of joint stock companies register, quality management system, and anti-corruption education. He concluded by elaborating on the general trends in corruption prevention including increased opportunities for public scrutiny, reduced burden on business, publicize income and expenditure and reduction of conflict of interests. Please download the presentation of Mr. Bereišis here.
Session 4: Anti-Corruption Assessment of Draft Laws and Legal Acts
Moderator: Mr. Radu Cotici, Head of RAI Secretariat
Dr. Tilman Hoppe, Anti-Corruption Expert presented the RAI/RCC Methodology on anti-corruption assessment of laws. He started by showing the map of countries that have corruption proofing in their anti-corruption systems. Next, Mr. Hoppe showcased the cycle of anti-corruption assessment of legislation explaining the key elements of the process of proofing, such as the scope of the legislation that is/will be proofed for corruption risks, prioritizing laws, timing i.e. when or at which moment of the legislative process the proofing is done, entity in charge or which governmental body to undertake the assessment, the structure of the report produced, how to ensure compliance with the report findings, and finally online publicity – which is giving additional power of the report. In continuation of his presentation Mr. Hoppe provided examples of corruption risks including: regulatory gaps, lack of or unclear administrative procedures, or lack of procurement procedures.
Additionally he discussed the risk categories such as ambiguity – which can be ambiguity in language or ambiguity in legal coherence. He finished by explaining the “Ten Principles of Effective Corruption Proofing”. Please download the presentation of Mr. Hoppe here.
Ms. Yeongmi Kim, Assistant Director of Corruption Impact Assessment Division at Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Korea, had a presentation on the Corruption impact assessment system of Korea. Ms. Kim focused her presentation on the meanings and functions of the corruption impact assessment – CIA in Korea, explained the background of the CIA Division, and how to work with CIA, provided examples on the process of selection of the laws to be assessed, listed the corruption-causing factors and finally presented the achievements of the Corruption impact assessment system of Korea. Ms. Kim explained that the intent behind the legal analysis is to find out and remove corruption-causing factors (CCFs) starting from the beginning of the legislation process. She also highlighted that the adequacy of the burden of compliance is related to the level of costs/efforts which comply with the legal obligations and should be appropriate or else, people would bribe officials. Also, the same applies to the adequacy of the level of sanctions. The level of sanctions should be appropriate, as if it is too lenient, then people do not stop violating, while if it is too severe, people are prone to buying off officials. Ms. Kim closed her presentation by stating the achievements of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of Korea that can proudly state the fact that the corruption impact assessment is easy to start and cheap to operate. Most officials can do it, if trained and they can always get help from experts/professionals of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of Korea. Please download the presentation of Ms. Kim here.
Ms. Maria Popescu, Head of the Legislation and Anti-corruption Expertise Division at National Anti-corruption Center of the Republic of Moldova presented the effects of anti-corruption assessment of laws on legislative process in Moldova. She started by stating that the National Anti-corruption Centre is a specialized body of the Republic of Moldova on prevention and combating corruption. Talking about the success rate of the Centre, Ms. Popescu stated that within four months of 2015, 203 files were transferred to the Centre for processing representing 76% of all legislation. In these 203 cases, 448 corruption factors have been found, of which 290 were excluded by the authors which is 65% efficiency. This figure is too low compared to results in 2014, because it was election year and very small number of laws and regulations has been approved and the efficiency is determined only after their publication. Here, too, Ms. Popescu noted that the Government in 87% of cases eliminates the corruption risks that we have discovered in the course of the anticorruption expertise and the Parliament only in 49% of cases, in other cases, neglecting the conclusions of the Centre. Ms. Popescu concluded by stating that that to a certain extent, the success of the National Anti-corruption Centre is much influenced by the fact that the division for anti-corruption assessment of legislation is working with the Office of the prosecution, on operational and investigative activities, with the Service for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism and the Intelligence Unit. An important factor is that one institution is involved in the prevention of and the fight against corruption. This cooperation gives positive results. Please download the presentation of Ms. Popescu here.
Prof. Mykola Khavroniuk, Centre for Political and Legal Reforms, Ukraine, addressed the attendees explaining the anti-corruption assessment of legislation done by the civil society in Ukraine. Prof. Khavroniuk stated that the purpose of the examinations of the normative-legal acts and draft legal acts is the identification of the factors that contribute to corruption offenses. Examination under the Act may be mandatory or public. Mandatory anti-corruption examination in Ukraine is carried out by the Ministry of Justice, and by the relevant committee of the Supreme Office of Ukraine, as well as by the National Agency for prevention of corruption. Public anti-corruption expertise on the other hand needs the initiative of individuals, associations, legal entities and is carried out by any means other than the budget. The results are subject to mandatory review by the originator of the relevant act. Talking on the results achieved, Prof. Khavroniuk noted that from November 2014 to date total 102 trained expert opinions were given. In 87% of the bills corruption risks were detected, a total of 670 found. The most common corruption-factors are collisions, latitude of discretionary powers, and Gaps in the rules of substantive law. The civil society organizations in Ukraine have developed a detailed methodology of the public anti-corruption expertise which can be downloaded from the following link: http://pravo.org.ua/protydiia-koruptsii/metodolohiia-antykoruptsiinoi-ekspertyzy.html. Please download the presentation (in Russian) of Mr. Khavroniuk here.
As next agenda item a discussion on the subjects – Which are the elements that make anti-corruption assessment of laws a successful preventive measure and why it doesn’t work in certain cases; and which could be the benefits of an effective anti-corruption assessment of laws?, emerged among the participants, preceded by Commentaries from OSCE Office in Tajikistan.
Ms. Munira Shoinbekova, from OSCE’s Office in Tajikistan, gave a speech focused on the issue how to integrate anti-corruption assessment of legislation into the deeper policy of the state. She also presented a Methodology on anti-corruption assessment of laws produced for OSCE by TI experts joint with governmental representatives and independent researchers. Questioners were used for the creation of the Methodology which is making it to be grass-roots material but still remains a challenge how to implement the Methodology and to actually integrate the anti-corruption assessment in the curriculum of the government institutions. Ms. Shoinbekova noted that supporting the integration of anti-corruption assessments into the legal policy of Tajikistan through methodologies for public servants, and through the creation of an inter-institutional working group, will remain one of the priorities of the Office over the next two years in its efforts to assist Tajikistan in fighting corruption.
Wrap-up session
Moderators: Ms. Olga Savran, Manager, OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Mr. Davor Dubravica, Chairman, Regional Anti-corruption Initiative
During the wrap-up session, all countries and NGOs representatives, speaking in one voice for one entity, answered two main questions asked by the moderators: 1. what is the one thing that they learned, or what left most impressions on them from the conference; and 2. what is the one thing that they think should be in focus for next year’s big event on anti-corruption.
The International Meeting on Effectiveness of Corruption Prevention Measures ended with the moderators of the final session listing the outcomes of the event and possible next steps, accompanied by big thanks for the host country for the great welcoming and gratitude to the participants for their active involvement in the fruitful discussions during the two days fulfilled with questions, discussions, speeches and presentations.
For more information, please see the event Agenda and List of Participants.

Corruption Risk Assessment, Public Procurement, and Open Contracting in South Eastern Europe Regional Conference, May 26-27, 2015, Istanbul, Turkey
2015-05-26 08:00 - 2015-05-27 17:00
The regional conference on Corruption Risk Assessment, Public Procurement, and Open Contracting in South Eastern Europe, took place on 26 – 27 May, 2015 in Istanbul, Turkey. The event was organized by United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in cooperation with Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) and co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The conference was an opportunity to discuss the following topics: (i) development and implementation of corruption risk assessments and integrity plans in the region; (ii) public procurement: costs that we pay for corruption; and iii) public contracting initiatives. In addition, the conference will be utilized to explore potential regional initiatives in the SEE. For more information, please see the event Agenda as well as the 10 Principles on Effective Corruption Risk Assessment in Public Administration that were endorsed at the conference.
Day 1
OPENING REMARKS
Ms. Shelley Inglis – UNDP Istanbul Hub, Governance and Peace Building Proactive Leader, welcomed all the participants to Istanbul. She thanked the co-organizers of the event and highlighted the strategic direction of UNDP in addressing Corruption in the SEE.
Mr. Radu Cotici – Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, Head of Secretariat, stated the importance of collaborative efforts in dealing with corruption and welcomed all the participants with expectations of fruitful discussions and presentations from the panelists.
Ms. Alessandra Roccasalvo – UNDP Kosovo Deputy Resident Representative welcomed all the participants and raised the point that the Conference represents an important effort to have organizations work together on a joint front.
Mr. Predrag Vujicic – RCC Justice and Home Affairs Expert, in his opening remarks welcomed all the participants and stressed the importance of addressing corruption in the context of poverty reduction.
PANEL 1: Corruption Risk Assessment and Development of Integrity Plans
Moderator Mr. Radu Cotici – in his opening remarks for the first panel Mr. Cotici welcomed all the panelists and stressed the importance of having strong preventive measures and mechanisms in the institutions.
Mr. Hasan Preteni- Anti-Corruption Agency, Kosovo*
Mr. Preteni thanked the organizers for ensuring the translation because very often his organization is facing with the issue of language barrier. Anti-Corruption Agency of Kosovo* is operational from 2002 and since this is a young organization, it is very much interested in regional cooperation and sharing of the best practices. Agency is in charge of implementation of the Anti Corruption Plan for 2014-2017. In 2014, the Plan specified 270 measures and almost all have already been implemented. Progress reports are made available to the public. Risk Assessment is one of the actions that is being implemented in public sector. Review of the AC Plan is underway to revise and better define upcoming activities. Mr. Preteni urged all present organizations to plan but also to deliver.
Ms. Olga Tiju – National Anti-Corruption Center, Moldova
Ms. Tiju informed the participants that Moldova has been carrying out Corruption Risk Assessment since 2008 starting with self-assessment of the Center. The Center collects information of risk assessments performed in the entire public sector. What is clear from the experiences that the organization gained in the last 7 years is that people working in public sector must be educated about the potential risks. Ms. Tiju concluded her presentation by stating that introducing adequate legislation is important, but implementation and close monitoring is as equally important. For more information, please download Ms. Tiju’s presentation here.
Ms. Dragana Krunic – Anti-Corruption Agency, Serbia
Ms. Krunic focused her presentation on sharing the experiences of Serbia in risk assessment. Serbia started with development of integrity plans in 2005. In the years that followed, approximately 2500 public institutions developed their integrity plans and Agency analyzed the received information. One of the key areas that were recognized as especially prone to corruption is Ethics and Personal Integrity. Implementation reports are produced every three years. Ms. Krunic concluded by stating that the Agency will continue to play a key role in identifying and mitigating the corruption risks in public sector through its consultative and corrective role and competencies, and that risk assessment is a continues and dynamic process. For more information please download Ms. Krunic’s presentation here.
Ms. Rebeca Angela Hagea – Anti Corruption General Directorate, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Romania
Ms. Hagea focused her presentation on IT solutions for assessing and managing corruption risks. She presented the experiences of Romania in application and benefits of the introduced system. The introduced IT system has enabled better communication, strengthened analytical and monitoring capacities and enabled more comprehensive reporting. For more information please download Ms. Hagea’s presentation here.
Mr. Bojan Bajic – Net Consulting, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mr. Bajic opened his presentation by presenting his Company and explaining how it is possible for a private company to perform risk assessment in public institutions. Net Consulting implements ethics methodologies in private and public sector in line with the recently published ISO Standard ISO19600. The methodology has 7 steps: corruption risk assessment, defining ethical rules, setting up compliance procedures, educating staff, testing of the staff, introducing hot-line for whistleblowers, and introduction of other preventive measures. The Company offers a combination of IT solutions, whistleblowing experts and ethic-line system producing innovative tailor-made solutions for organizations. Speaking of their clients clients, Net Consulting is looking for preconditions in order to proceed with implementation of methodology: clear commitment from the top management, dedication to raise ethical and compliance culture among employees, and clear will and inclusion of all-levels of employees. Mr. Bajic finished his presentation by pointing out that it is crucial to include all levels of management, putting a special emphasis on middle-management in order for an institution to have their self-assessment credible.
SESSION 2: Corruption Risk Assessment Methodology for South Eastern Europe
Moderator Mr. Radu Cotici – in his opening remarks Mr. Cotici introduced the process of development of Regional Risk Assessment Methodology and gave an overview of the key challenges. He introduced Ms. Liljana Selinsek, Anti Corruption Expert from Slovenia who developed Regional Risk Assessment Methodology with RAI and RCC.
Ms. Selinsek commenced her presentation by reflecting on value of Corruption Risk Assessment as a preventive tool and how prevention is notoriously difficult to be measured. Developed Methodology reflects on CRA but on Sector RA and targeted ad-hoc RA. She reflected on the fact that some countries have a more developed risk assessment than others such as Moldova and Serbia. However conducted analysis has indicated that even in the same country system is not equally effective and successful in different institutions.
Q&A
Franchesco Checchi UNDP Regional Office raised a question: how is audit linked to risk assessment? Ms. Selisnek emphasized the importance of extending the classical scope of audit to include not only establishing the as-is status but to have audit reports expanded to analyze and evaluate deeper presented information and data.
Following open discussion, the 10 Principles on Effective Corruption Risk Assessment in Public Administration were endorsed.
PANEL 3: Public Procurement – Costs we pay for corruption
Moderator Alessandra Roccasalvo, UNDP Kosovo
Ms. Roccasalvo opened the session by stressing out that countries in the region need effective tools and systems that are realistic and that can be monitored. Public contracts are not awarded fairly and procurement is an area especially prone to corruption in any country.
Mr. Tomo Miljic – State Commission for the Control of Public Procurement Procedure, Montenegro, gave an overview of the current legislative framework in Montenegro regarding Public Procurement. For more information please download Mr. Miljic’s presentation (in Montenegrin) here.
Mr. Faik Ispahiu – Internews Kosova
Mr. Ispahiu presented the work of his organization and key projects. Most prominent activity is the media platform in Kosovo* www.kallxo.com started 10 years ago with the mission to provide 360° approach to corruption that will allow citizens to report cases of corruption that are than taken on by the organization who then reviews the cases, and reports them to authorities. Organization also developed online portal www.gazetajnk.com known as the leader of investigative reporting in Kosovo*. For more information please download presentation here.
Ms. Lorena Sander – UNDP HQ Head of Bureau of Management
Ms. Sander focused her presentation on the efforts UN is undertaking to address corruption risks in the organization. She opened her address by quoting UN Secretary General “vulnerable suffer first and suffer worst”. Bureau is determined to go beyond the plans and pacts and make real change. In the efforts to prevent corruption in procurement UN established Vendor Review Committee and introduced new strict and fair policies. For more information please download presentation here.
Mr. Vlatko Naumovski – Regional School of Public administration (ReSPA)
Mr. Naumovski presented the work of ReSPA in the region. In 2014 organization established public procurement working group focusing on collection and distribution of experiences and good practices. For more information please download presentation here.
Mr. Munir Podumljak – Partnership for Social Development, Croatia
Mr. Podumljak opened his presentation by reflecting on the definition of corruption, more specifically on the lack of adequate and generally accepted definition. First part of the presentation focused on Croatian experiences in curbing corruption in public procurement. There have been many attempts made by the Government and respective authorities that failed or seemed successful but when analyzed showed little impact. In the second part of the presentation, Mr. Podumljak elaborated on the newly introduced system of monitoring public procurement contracts on all levels of Government in Croatia. It is digitalized database where all information is generated in electronic form and there are no papers produced in the process. For more information please download presentation here.
Q&A
Ms. Dzinita Foco – Head of Public Procurement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, commented the presentations stressing that it seems that all public procurement is corrupt. She stated that no system will be good enough if there are no trained professionals and if service lacks moral and ethics. Discussion followed after her comments whereas panelists concurred with Ms. Foco’s comments and shared similar examples from their countries and organizations.
PANEL 4: Open Contracting
Moderator Mr. Franchesco Checchi– UNDP Regional Centre Istanbul
Mr. Checchi moderated the last session of the day by giving a short introduction to open contracting in terms of process and procedures.
Mr. Felipe Estefan – Open Contracting World Bank
Mr. Estefan presented the work that World Bank is doing on open contracting. He opened his presentation by stating that 9.5 trillion dollars in lost annually to procurement fraud and corruption. If only one percent could be saved, it would have an enormous impact. World Bank has established Open Contracting Partnership – initiative that established 10 Open Contracting Principles setting the Open Contracting Data Standards. Mr. Estefan presented examples from Mexico, Georgia, Philippines and Nepal. For more information please download presentation here.
Ms. Eva Vorozova – Fair Play Alliance Slovakia
Ms. Vorozova opened the presentation with an overview of the latest changes in Slovakian public procurement legislation. All public contracts must be published within 90 days of signing or they are considered not viable. Also other stages of contracting must be available to the public. Ms. Vorozova stressed that after 4 years of implementation of the Law, 1/5 municipalities still fails to publish compulsory information and 1/10 do not publish invoices. For more information please download presentation here.
Ms. Mimoza Kusari Lila – Mayor of Gjakova/Đakovica
Ms. Kusari Lila opened her presentation by saying few words about herself and her municipality. She is the first female mayor elected in Kosovo*, two terms of office. Upon her arrival to the office, municipality issued an integrity plan, first of its kind in Kosovo*. In 2011, Municipality opened its data to public. The objectives are to become fist digital municipality in Kosovo*.
Ms. Dorina Cinari – Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Albania
Ms. Cinari presented her organization as a global coalition in which governments, companies and civil society work together for transparency and accountability in management of revenues from natural resources. Member states supply reports annually. For more information please download presentation here.
Brief Q&A session followed where all panelists participated.
Day 2
PANEL 5: Possibilities for Regional Initiatives in the South Eastern Europe
Moderator: Mr. Predrag Vujicic, Regional Cooperation Council
Mr. Vujicic opened the second day of the conference stressing the importance of strengthening regional collaboration between anti-corruption actors; this session explored the potential initiatives in South Eastern Europe. He invited International organizations and donors to briefly present their work up to date.
Mr. Francesco Checchi from the UNDP Regional Hub Istanbul presented the work on anti-corruption that Regional Centre is doing. He also invited colleagues from national offices in the region to present state of affairs in their respective countries.
Mr. Thomas Dedeurwaerdere, UNDP Brussels
Mr. Dedeurwaerdere started his presentation by stating that EU is an external driver of anti-corruption efforts in South East Europe. He made a clear link between economic growth and anti-corruption schemes. However countries in the South East Europe all have very negative annual progress reports produced by the Commission. Numerous recommendations presented in the reports are usually not complied with or partly complied with. Region as a whole is seen as especially prone to corruption.
Ms. Jasna Panjeta, Program and Outreach Officer, RAI
Ms. Panjeta presented the key work performed by Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative in the last two years as well as plans for the future and activities that are already in the pipeline. In terms of possibilities for cooperation she stressed that RAI is looking to network with other organizations, and is looking for partners, experts and funding. For more information please download presentation here.
Ms. Zorana Markovic, Regional Advisor on Anti-corruption, UNODC
Ms. Markovic presented the work of UNODC in the region. She focused her presentation on UNCAC and its role in eradicating corruption in the South East Europe. Ms. Markovic was discouraged by the fact that in the day 1 of the conference no one mentioned UNCAC although all the countries ratified the Convention. She concluded her presentation by inviting participants of the Conference to take a more active role in monitoring and evaluation of UNCAC Declaration.
Ms. Cornelia Abel, Transparency International, Regional Office for SEE
Ms. Abel opened her presentation by stating the mission of TI “all persons to live in fair societies”. She then proceeded with presenting the work of TI in the region. She also explained the legal status of the main office and TI national chapters in the region. TI is the biggest nongovernmental organization fighting corruption in the world. In the region, there are numerous activities that TI works on and all partners are welcomed. For more information please download presentation here.
Mr. Stefan Karaboev, SEE Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI)
Mr. Karaboev opened his presentation by presenting the SELDI network its structure and members. The focus of his presentation was the study SELDI produced titled Corruption and Anti-corruption Dynamics 2002 – 2014. The participants of the Conference were presented with some interesting findings and trends from the SELDI Regional Anti-Corruption Study. For more information please download presentation here.
Mr. Edmond Dunga, Administrator/Project Advisor at Council of Europe
Mr. Dunga focused his presentation on the Council of Europe technical assistance and cooperation against economic crime related activities in beneficiary regions and countries including South Eastern Europe. He presented organizational structure and mechanisms of project implementation focusing on the methods as well as monitoring data collected. For more information please download presentation here.
CLOSING SESSION
Mr. Rastislav Vrbensky, Manager, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub
Thanked all the participants for coming to Istanbul. Regional Hub was honored to host such a big event. Mr. Vrbensky stressed that cooperation with national governments and cooperation on regional level is extremely powerful tool in anti-corruption and must be on the agenda in the future. He also invited present organizations to count on Regional Hub support and partnership.
Ms. Alessandra Roccasalvo, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Kosovo
Ms. Roccasalvo thanked everyone for their participation and inputs. She also pointed out that good information and quality data is the key to setting the targets correctly “what you cannot track, you cannot measure”.
Mr. Gazmend Turdiu, Deputy Secretary General, RCC
Mr. Turdiu greeted all the participants and used the opportunity to present the tool Regional Cooperation Council developed called SEE Development Score Board. The tool is interactive web platform that can be utilized for analysis and better understanding of different development trends. One of the points Mr. Turdiu raised is that all organizations and society in general needs to work more on making people aware of the risks of corruption.
Mr. Radu Cotici, Head of the Secretariat, RAI
Thanked all the participants for active participation and encouraging work whishing everyone success with their anti-corruption efforts. Mr. Radu invited all the representatives to explore further opportunities for cooperation and partnerships with peers in the region.
For more information, please see the event Agenda and List of Participants.
