Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative

Sofia: 37th RAI Steering Group Meeting
2022-04-07 - 2022-04-08 | Sofia, Bulgaria
37th Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Steering Group (SG) Meeting took place on April 7-8, 2022 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Interior and organized by the RAI Secretariat. The meeting was opened by Ms. Tanya Raycheva, Deputy Minister of Interior of Bulgaria and Ms. Laura Stefan, RAI Chairperson.
Ms. Raycheva highlighted that the communication, dialogue and cooperation in the region are key to launching beneficial initiatives at bilateral and multilateral level and to coordinate common anti-corruption activities in Southeastern Europe. She particularly pointed out the role of RAI as a generator of innovative ideas, raising the introduction and use of new tools to prevent and fight corruption such as the Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations.
RAI Steering Group is the decision-making body of the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative, composed of representatives of its member countries. The objective of the 37th RAI Steering Group Meeting was to plan the upcoming activities and deliberate on the next RAI planning cycle. A particular focus was given to the activities and events to be held in 2022, especially the endeavors related to the International Treaty for Exchange of Data for Verification of Asset Declaration.
At the session dedicated to partnerships, it was talked about the efforts for strengthening cooperation with RAI’s long-standing partners, as well as about expanding cooperation and forging new partnerships. During the session, the SG had an opportunity to exchange views with the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) on behalf of SELDI Network, Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Civil Society Unit.
Related documents:
Agenda
Summary and Conclusions

Tirana: Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sector on CRA and CPL
2022-05-12 09:00 - 2022-05-13 17:00 UTC | Hotel Plaza, Rruga Abdi Toptani 18, Tirana, Albania
Agenda May 12 and 13_Tirana

Skopje: International Whistleblower Day
2022-05-12 09:45 - 2022-05-13 18:00 UTC | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia
The next national youth event promoting whistleblowing is scheduled to take place in Skopje, North Macedonia (12-13 May, 2022) as part of the Whistleblower Day celebration event. To maximize the advocacy impact of the event, RAI partnered with SEE Coalition on Whistleblower Protection and its Macedonian member organization SCOOP, as well as Youth Education Forum. On Day 1, the event will gather together representatives of public institutions, academia, CSOs, media and international community to celebrate whistleblowing and whistleblowers through discussion of whistleblower protection challenges, and ways to overcome them. On the first day, an award ceremony for journalists will be organized as well. On Day 2, youth will celebrate whistleblowers through a series of Ted-like talks and presentations to be delivered by RAI Secretariat experts and an international expert (Gerard Ryle), a Macedonian journalist and a whistleblower. During the reporting period, RAI Project Team worked with CSO partners on the concept and agenda of the event, securing speakers for the event, inviting participants and similar.
Draft agenda DAY 1
Draft Agenda DAY 2

Rakitje: Regional Workshop on Promoting Integrity in the Security Sector: Whistleblowing
2022-05-18 - 2022-05-19 | Rakitje, Croatia, Rakitje, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
A two-day Regional Workshop on Promoting Integrity in the Security Sector: Whistleblowing is taking place in Rakitje, Croatia on 18-19 May 2022. The workshop is organized in partnership with the RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation. The overall objective of the Workshop is to equip relevant parties in the Security Sector with practical knowledge in implementation of safe disclosure channels and effective protection of the persons reporting corruption through comparative case-law.
The Workshop was opened by MG (ret.) Jeronim Bazo, Director of RACVIAC and Ms. Desislava Gotskova, Head of Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat. Director Bazo, in his introductory speech stated: “This Workshop is an excellent opportunity for the further development of regional cooperation on institutional integrity and fighting corruption through exchange of information and sharing of best practices. He also complimented and thanked RAI for the outstanding #cooperation as well as excellent topics and speakers.
Ms. Desislava Gotskova, Head of RAI Secretariat, looked back on the longstanding and excellent cooperation with RACVIAC. “Together we have been organizing many conferences, and Annual Regional Workshops on the specific anti-corruption and integrity topics, applying a multidisciplinary approach with special focus on leadership commitment as a prerequisite for promoting public confidence and trust in the security sector. “ She wished the participants a very successful workshop, productive and open discussions, and a nice stay in Croatia. Ms. Gotskova concluded her remarks by stating that RAI is looking forward to reinforcing the cooperation with RACVIAC in specific thematic fields where we could work together for strengthening regional cooperation on security sector governance, building integrity and fighting corruption.
The Workshop gathered more than 30 professionals from the region who manage whistleblowing cases and implement whistleblowing policies at the national level. Participants are expected to be proactive in delivering and deliberating on case studies.

Sarajevo: Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sector on CRA and CPL
2022-05-26 09:00 - 2022-05-27 17:00 UTC

Sarajevo: Masterclass - From silence to action!
2022-06-07 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat is pleased to announce its upcoming Masterclass – From silence to action!, a workshop on how to run successful public awareness campaigns, that will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 in Sarajevo.

Belgrade: Masterclass - From silence to action!
2022-06-09 | Belgrade, Serbia
The Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat is pleased to announce its upcoming Masterclass – From silence to action!, a workshop on how to run successful public awareness campaigns, that will take place on Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Belgrade.

Online seminar on the ECtHR jurisprudence in the matters of confiscation of property acquired by criminal activity
2022-06-09 14:30 - 16:30 UTC
Online Seminar on the ECtHR jurisprudence in the matters of confiscation of property acquired by criminal activity will be held on June 9, 2022, from 14.30-16.30. The seminar is intended for judges, prosecutors, and trainees of the Judicial Academies and Judicial Training Institutes in the Western Balkans jurisdictions.
The seminar will be delivered by Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska, Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of North Macedonia, former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, and by Radmila Dragicevic Dicic, Judge of Supreme Court of Cassation of the Republic of Serbia.
Simultaneous interpretation in Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian, Macedonian and English will be provided at the online seminar.
The seminar is organised under the regional project “Combating corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery”, implemented by the AIRE Centre in partnership with the RAI Secretariat, and funded by the UK Government.

Meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive and standard recording of asset recovery statistics
2022-06-13 - 2022-06-14 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) Centre in partnership with the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat have organized the Meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive and standard recording of asset recovery statistics in cooperation with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 13 and 14 June 2022.
The regional Meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive and standard recording of asset recovery statistics was held in Sarajevo today. The meeting brought together directors of asset management agencies, judges and prosecutors from Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on presenting good practices in accessing adequate data monitoring and recording information on this issue.
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative and the AIRE Centre Western Balkans Program, as part of a regional cooperation project aiming to achieve more efficient confiscation and management of criminal assets, supported by the UK Government, brought together experts in more efficient recording and statistics of confiscated assets. “Recognizing what we can do together in the region, how to connect practitioners from the North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, and what the Bosnia and Herzegovina as a host country can present and offer as examples of good practice”, said Nevena Kostic, AIRE Centre’s project manager.
Representatives of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH presented the legislative model governing the generation, collection and distribution of statistics on confiscation of illegally acquired property in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and IT solutions in the judiciary that facilitate the collection and distribution of statistics.
Read more here.

Podgorica: Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sector on CRA and CPL
2022-06-23 09:00 - 2022-06-24 17:00 UTC

The 3rd Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination Meeting
2022-06-29 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Belgrade, Serbia
“Without confiscation of property, there is no fight against crime” was a clear message of the 3rd Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination Meeting held in Belgrade today, which gathered representatives of EUROPOL, OSCE, EU Delegations in the region, UNODC, UNDP as well as technical assistance providers involved in the asset recovery reform in the region.
The meeting is a part of the regional coordination initiative undertaken under the framework of the Regional Project: Combating Corruption in the Western Balkans: Strengthening regional cooperation in the field of asset recovery implemented by the AIRE Centre and the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, with the support of the United Kingdom Government.
The meeting had several objectives, including fostering coordination between the existing and the new asset recovery projects in the region with the view of avoiding duplication of efforts, as well as determining potential areas for collaboration amongst the existing and future endeavors.
Participants shared information about their current and future projects in the Western Balkans, jointly identified gaps in assistance through discussion, and shared lessons learned aiming to pinpoint the most common obstacles for the effective provision of technical assistance as well as ideas how to mitigate them.
Read more about Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination meetings:
Regional Donor Coordination Meeting organised by AIRE Centre and RAI Secretariat
2nd Regional Coordination Meeting of Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers in the Western Balkans
The 3rd Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination Meeting held in Belgrade

17th RAI Summer School for junior practitioners
2022-07-04 08:00 - 2022-07-08 17:00 UTC | Sofia, Bulgaria
Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative Summer School for Junior Anti-Corruption Professionals in South East Europe was originally initiated in 2005 as a way to build and strengthen capacities in the region and to provide a platform for young practitioners to learn new practices and to exchange experiences. It is a ground for developing and fostering relationships among peers.
The 17th Edition of the Summer School will enable the participants to obtain advanced knowledge on the latest developments and practice in the field of judicial integrity and for identifying the mechanisms for prevention of corruption and promoting a transparent and reasoned decision-making process.
17th Summer School Agenda

Nis: 15th National Selection Conference of the European Youth Parliament of Serbia
2022-07-13 11:00 - 2022-07-17 19:30 UTC | Nis, Serbia
The 15th National Selection Conference of EYP Serbia will gather 150 participants from Serbia and Europe. The event is organized by the EYP Serbia with RAI Secretariat support, in the framework of the EU-funded project ‘Breaking the Silence: Enhancing the Whistleblowing Policies and Culture in Western Balkans and Moldova’.

Prizren: Annual Conference of the EYPKI
2022-08-01 08:00 - 2022-08-05 17:00 UTC | Prizren
Prizren 2022 is being organized from August 1 to August 5 with the aim to create a unique forum for young Europeans, where they can experience an inspiring environment for cultural understanding and civil awareness. The format of the event followed the classic EYP events’ format, with officials leading the organisational and educational processes that will be offered to the participants and delegates. RAI’s and KLI’s experts will deliver the expert talks and presentations on the role, importance and protection of whistleblowers, on day 2 of the event (August 2nd).

Podgorica: Masterclass – From silence to action!
2022-09-26 09:30 - 14:30 UTC | Podgorica, Montenegro
The Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat continues the regional tour of workshops Masterclass – From silence to action!, on how to run successful public awareness campaigns. The Masterclass in Podgorica, Montenegro will take place on Monday, September 26, 2022.

UNODC Multi-Stakeholder Workshop
2022-09-27 09:00 - 2022-09-29 17:00 UTC | Kumbor, Montenegro, Montenegro

Tirana: Masterclass – From silence to action!
2022-09-28 09:30 - 14:30 UTC | Tirana, Albania
The Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat continues the regional tour of workshops Masterclass – From silence to action!, on how to run successful public awareness campaigns. The Masterclass in Tirana, Albania will take place on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.

Skopje: Masterclass – From silence to action!
2022-09-30 09:30 - 14:30 UTC | Podgorica, Montenegro
The Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat continues the regional tour of workshops Masterclass – From silence to action!, on how to run successful public awareness campaigns. The Masterclass in Skopje, North Macedonia will take place on Friday, September 30, 2022.

Conference on Effective Asset Recovery in accordance with European Standards
2022-10-14 09:00 - 16:30 UTC | Montenegro, Montenegro

Skopje: CRA and CPL Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises
2022-10-17 09:00 - 2022-10-18 14:00 UTC | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia
After the summer break, RAI Secretariat continued with a tour through the region delivering Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises on Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Corruption Proofing of Legislation (CPL).
Training organized in Skopje on October 17th and 18th gathered representatives of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Ministry of Justice, Agency for Quality of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Science and Ministry of Finance Ministry of Information Society and Administration and two CSOs, Institute for Human Rights and Transparency International.
The first day was dedicated to CRA, while the topic of CPL was covered during the second day.
Mr. Vladimir Georgiev, from the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC) in his opening statement, commentated on cooperation with RAI Secretariat and gave special significance to the recently developed Guidance with Checklist for these two sectors. These documents are developed with significant contributions from the SCPC to the process.
Ms. Aneta Arnaudovska, Senior Anti-corruption Advisor at RAI Secretariat in her opening remarks touched upon the importance of sectoral corruption risk assessment and corruption proofing of legislation in curbing corruption and reducing harmful effects that corruption has on society.
The first two sessions dealt with the introduction of the terms “corruption risk assessments” and “corruption proofing of legislation” and different approaches when applying these two mechanisms. During the second session, participants had the opportunity to get better acquainted with the newly-developed CRA and CPL Guidance with Checklists for these sectors.
Last session was oriented towards applying the aforementioned guidance in concrete examples, where participants supported by experts were engaged in the risk identification and mitigation measures in the existing local laws and procedures. Concrete suggestions and ideas were exchanged and participants provided different approaches in dealing with everyday situations.
Training provided an innovative method for participants in their everyday issues when dealing with corruption.
CRA and CPL training in Skopje was the fourth in a series of training that the RAI Secretariat will organize this year, as part of the project Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC), jointly implemented by RAI and UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – Civil Society Unit and funded by Austrian Development Cooperation.

Pristina: CPL Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises
2022-10-19 09:00 - 14:00 UTC | Pristina, Pristina
RAI Secretariat organized last in a row of Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Corruption Proofing of Legislation (CPL) on October 19th in Pristina.
Training gathered representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Anti-Corruption Agency and Law Institute.
The first session was introductory where participants were discussing the term “corruption proofing of legislation” and different paths in applying this mechanism in practice. During this session, participants had the opportunity to get better acquainted with the newly-developed CPL Guidance with Checklists for two sectors.
Last session was oriented towards applying the aforementioned guidance in concrete examples, where participants supported by experts were engaged in the risk identification and mitigation measures in the existing local laws and procedures. Presentations and practical exercises opened the way to a very fruitful discussion and experience sharing! The delivery of this training tend to be at a right time for Anti-Corruption Agency, since they are currently at the process of establishing department for corruption proofing of legislation.
Training provided an innovative method for participants in their everyday issues when dealing with corruption and drafting the new laws.
CPL training in Pristina was the last in a series of training that the RAI Secretariat organized this year, as part of the project Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC), jointly implemented by RAI and UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – Civil Society Unit and funded by Austrian Development Cooperation.

Online Seminar: Case study, practice and implementation of the legislation on confiscation of assets resulting from criminal activity
2022-10-26 13:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Sarajevo) | Online

Regional Anti-corruption and Illicit Finance Roadmap
2022-11-07 08:00 - 2022-11-08 17:00 UTC

“Prevention and Sanctioning the Corruption- the perspectives of France and South East Europe"
2022-11-09 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia

Webinar on the topic of Importance and Useful Examples about Good Practice Sharing
2022-11-16 14:00 - 15:00 UTC | Online
The aim of the webinar is to introduce examples of good practice sharing and encourage the implementation of such practices in each country. This is the second webinar for the EPAC/EACN community organised by the Task force on Training and Transfer of Knowledge (TTK).
The webinar speakers are as follows:

Mr Edvinas Chorostinas, representative of Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania (STT),
Ms Aneta Arnaudovska, representative of Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI)

38th Steering Group Meeting
2022-11-21 09:00 - 2022-11-22 17:00 UTC | Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

Chisinau: Masterclass – From silence to action!
2022-11-24 09:30 - 14:30 UTC | Chișinău, Europe Square, Central Park, Chișinău, Moldova, Republic of
The Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat continues the regional tour of workshops Masterclass – From silence to action!, on how to run successful public awareness campaigns. The Masterclass in Chisinau, Moldova will take place on Thursday, November 24, 2022.

Chisinau: Break the Silence - Lead By Example To Reduce Corruption (local youth event in Moldova)
2022-11-25 | Chișinău, Europe Square, Central Park, Chișinău, Moldova, Republic of

Tirana: Contribution to the Week of Integrity Conference ‘Promoting Integrity: The Individual, the Organization and Beyond’
2022-12-07 | Tirana, Albania
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat will contribute to the delivery of the Week of Integrity Conference titled ‘Promoting Integrity: The Individual, the Organization and Beyond’, to be organized in partnership with ICC Albania and HIDAACI. RAI Secretariat contribution will include participation in the plenary panel discussion “Integrity: a valuable proposition” and facilitation of the group breakout Session 1. on Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection. This event is organized in the framework of the Week of Integrity, to be held during 1 and 10 December 2022, organized by the International Chamber of Commerce in Albania, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Budapest: International Conference 'Theoretical and practical aspects of corruption prevention' - RAI contribution to the topic of whistleblowing
2022-12-07 | Budapest, Hungary
The Hungarian Protective Service Department for Prevention of Corruption is organizing the international conference “Theoretical and practical aspects of corruption prevention”, as part of a European Union project “Anti-corruption training with special focus on international bribery”. The conference is planned to be held on 07 December 2022, in view of the World Anti-Corruption Day. The conference will gather police officers, prosecutors and public administration servants, working in the field of prevention of corruption.
