OSCE concludes anti-corruption assessment missions in South East Europe
A series of assessment missions conducted by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), and the OSCE/ODIHR, focused on anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts in South East Europe, concluded on 10 June 2016.
The missions were held in the framework of a project Money in Politics implemented in partnership among the OCEEA, the OSCE/ODIHR and the OSCE Field Operations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia.
“The project examines the intersections between political party finance regulations, public procurement procedures and declarations of assets and income by political and public officials, in an effort to discuss what the relevant authorities are doing to combat corruption in these areas, what mechanisms could be used to improve their efforts and how the OSCE can develop assistance activities, said Halil Yurdakul Yigitgüden, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.
In the scope of the visits to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, the representatives of the OCEEA and OSCE/ODIHR met relevant authorities from anti-corruption agencies, political party financing oversight authorities, Financial Intelligence Units, public procurement authorities, prosecution and law enforcement agencies and civil society.
“Money in politics is a necessary component of any democratic process, allowing for expression of political support, political participation, as well as vigorous competition in elections,” said Ermelinda Meksi, Deputy Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities during the assessment mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. “However, political financing also represents a concrete risk for any democratic and economic system, threatening the capture of political decision-making processes.”
Meksi noted that public corruption still represents a real problem in the OSCE participating States, and especially in those countries where the rule of law remains a distant goal. “Political and public officials, given their access to state resources and crucial role in decision-making processes, need the protection of a strong system of regulations and integrity mechanisms.”
In September 2016 in Prague, as a side event to the 24th Economic and Environmental Dimension Forum, a panel comprised of anti-corruption officials will present some of the best practices of the region will be organized by the OCEEA and OSCE/ODIHR.
In October 2016 in Warsaw, OCEEA and ODIHR will organize a side event to the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, at which selected NGOs will discuss best practices in co-operating with public sector institutions in the region.
These two events will build up to the final regional conference in Vienna in fall 2016 that will discuss regional good practices in combating this type of corruption and explore what mechanisms could be used by national authorities to improve their efforts, and how the OSCE can better provide support to participating States