Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative

Summer School for Junior Magistrates from South Eastern Europe, June 9 – 15, 2008, Kotor, Montenegro
2008-06-09 08:00 - 2008-12-15 17:00 UTC
RAI Secretariat, in cooperation with the hosting Montenegrin Directorate for Anti-corruption Initiative, co-organized the annual Summer School for Junior Magistrates on June 9 – 15, 2008, in Kotor, Montenegro. The event was organized for a third consecutive time 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;
Anti-corruption policies and preventive measures – available tools and best practices;
EU experience regarding the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters stressing on the activity of structures like OLAF, EUROPOL, INTERPOL and EUROJUST;
Reform of the judiciary and anti-corruption, as challenges of the EU accession process.

The Summer School for Junior Magistrates was opened by Mr. Miras Radovic – Minister of Justice of Montenegro. The junior magistrates spent one week in academic environment in the beautiful Bay of Kotor gaining from the knowledge and experience of honorable lecturers from relevant state anti-corruption bodies, 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, Council of Europe, Slovenian Anti-corruption Commission, Vienna University of Economics and Business, EULEX mission in Kosovo, Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office and Romanian Ministry of Justice. During the special outdoor session, the junior magistrates visited the Basic Court and the municipality of Kotor, holding meetings with Mr. Branko Vuckovic – president of the court and Mrs. Marija Maja ?atovi? – president of the municipality.
The event was closed with a certificate ceremony lead by Mrs. Vesna Ratkovic – RAI Chairperson and Director of the hosting Directorate for Anti-corruption Initiative and Mr. Edmond Dunga – Head of RAI Secretariat, following the final written evaluation of the attendants.
Additional information:
Agenda
List of Participants
Presentations:
Summer School for Junior Magistrates – Stanislav Aleksandrov,
Framework for Cooperation and Sharing Best Practices in Fighting Corruption in SEE – Stanislav Aleksandrov,
International Cooperation Provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption – Demostenes Chryssikos,
Anti-Corruption Policies and Preventive Measures – Roman Prah,
Anti-Corruption Policies and Preventive Measures – Dimitar Hadzhiyski,
The Fight against Corruption and Criminal Law in Austria – Mag. Florian Singer,
How is Romania Fighting Corruption – Lavinia Daciana Miclea

South-East European Regional Conference ‘Suppression of Corruption in Public Procurement Systems’, November 12–13, 2008 – Cavtat, Croatia
2008-11-12 08:00 - 2008-11-13 17:00
The Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat organized South-East European (SEE) Regional Conference on ‘Suppression of Corruption in Public Procurement Systems‘ on November 12 – 13, 2008, in Cavtat, Croatia. The event was financially supported by USAID through ABA – ROLI. It was attended by more than 30 participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and UNMIK/Kosovo, as well as by experts representing OLAF, OECD and SIGMA.
The Conference consisted of two main components. The first one was dedicated to the European standards in the area of Public Procurement (PP). The experts from OECD, SIGMA and OLAF intervened in topics related to assessment of the existing PP systems and tools to detect and investigate corruption in PP. New issues in the area such as the application of “red flags” and OECD Recommendation on enhancing integrity in PP were introduced and attracted the interest of the participants. The second component gave floor to the national representatives to present and discuss the strong and the weak points of the respective national PP systems, as well as some current issues like e-procurement, implementation of new PP laws, etc. Finally, all the participants agreed on the benefits of the Conference providing them with a more detailed view of the status of the PP systems, gaining from the experience of experts coming from OECD, SIGMA and OLAF, and enriching them with more ideas applicable in the area of PP. The national representatives also stated, they would continue with their efforts in setting up transparent and efficient PP systems in SEE towards the main goal – EU accession.
For additional information, please check the agenda, the list of participants and the presentations delivered at the Conference attached below.
Agenda
List of participants
Presentations:
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
“Detection and investigation of fraud and corruption in public procurement procedures within European institutions” – Mr. Borut Markosek
“European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)” – Mr. Borut Markosek
OECD
“Red-flags: indicators that may help prevent, detect and investigate malpractices” – Mrs. Nicola Ehlermann-Cache
“OECD Recommendation on Enhancing Integrity in Public Procurement” – Ms. Elodie Beth
SIGMA
“Suppression of corruption in Public Procurement Systems” – Mr. Peter Bennett
“Assessment of developments in public procurement in South-Eastern Europe in the light of EU requirements” – Mr. Peter Bennett
SEE Experiences:
ALBANIA – Ms. Etleva Kondi
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – Ms. Djinita Foco
BULGARIA – Ms. Polya Stefanova Petrova-Ognyanova
CROATIA – Ms. Stana Dolenac
MACEDONIA – Mr. Aleksandar Argirovski
ROMANIA – Mr. Cicerone Stan
SERBIA – Mr. Borisav Knezevic

South – East European Regional Workshop on ‘Challenges of Preventing and Prosecuting VAT Fraud in the Enlarging EU Market’
2008-11-27 08:00 - 2008-11-28 17:00
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) supported the organization of an anti-fraud regional workshop hosted by the Governance Monitoring Association and the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency on November 27-28, 2008, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The event brought together business managers and tax experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey, directly involved in the fight against VAT fraud in South – Eastern Europe.
The general purpose of the workshop was to educate and to support the revenue and law – enforcement officers from the region in risk management and prevention, investigation and prosecution of cross – border VAT fraud. The event pursued the following specific objectives: review of the effect of various prevention and risk – management instruments; exchange of the best practices and lessons learned in the area; monitoring and evaluation of the impact of anti – fraud policies with an emphasis on measuring the losses; studying the feasibility of launching an anti – fraud exchange of information network in South – Eastern Europe tailored towards data on companies already suspected or involved in VAT fraud in some countries in the region.
Mr. Stanislav Aleksandrov – Anti-corruption Expert – attended the workshop on behalf of RAI Secretariat.
Agenda, Presentations

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
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.
