Preventing and countering corruption at border in focus of OSCE-supported Regional Anti-corruption Platform annual meeting

Recent developments, challenges and achievements in preventing and countering corruption at the border were in focus of the two-day annual meeting of the OSCE-supported Regional Anti-corruption Platform, which concluded on 3 November 2021 in Vienna.

The event brought together officers from the internal control departments of border and law enforcement agencies from OSCE participating States in South-Eastern Europe, Moldova and Ukraine. Participants exchanged their views on the best practices related to assets’ declaration, and conflict of interest of law enforcement officers presented by experts from Romania with a view of assessing the applicability of those practices in their agencies/services.

Interagency co-operation between border police and customs services in preventing and countering corruption at the border was another major topic addressed at the meeting. The delegates looked into Customs – Police Cooperation Handbook developed by Interpol and World Customs Organization (WCO) and reflected on the possible ways the agencies can better coordinate their efforts to prevent and counter corruption.

Participants also discussed the findings of the 'Gap Analysis of Whistleblowers’ Protection Laws in Western Balkans and Moldova' presented by the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI).

The impact of gender mainstreaming in building integrity and preventing corruption in border and law enforcement agencies was also on the agenda.

The Regional Anti-Corruption Platform is part of the multi-year project aimed to build capacity and enhance the capacity of border security agencies in countering and prevention of corruption at the border. This event was organized with the financial support of Germany.