The first round-table regarding the public debate on the new Corruption Prevention Act was held today in Belgrade. State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice Radomir Ilić stressed that the Draft Act prescribed greater authority for the Anti-Corruption Agency Director.
Ilić said that Serbia needed a strong Anti-Corruption Agency, i.e. Corruption Prevention Agency as it would be called from then on, and that bad legislation would not bring that Agency down. “We are turning towards the profession, professionalism and meritocracy. Anyone wishing to become a Board member or the Director will first have to take a three-part test: a) on the Agency, its purview, corruption prevention and anti-corruption; b) of integrity, and c) on the programme“, the State Secretary stressed, explaining that the test would significantly lower the chances of anyone exerting political influence.
The State Secretary said the Act was one of the most important preventive pieces of legislation and reflected on its adoption process: “Unfortunately, the adoption has been on-going for years, with many disrupting the process and denying the Act. This Act is being put forward while the Ministry of Justice is facing different kinds of political pressure.” He pointed out that there were no representatives of the civil society present at today’s round table but explained that another would be held for them since the Ministry cared very much about allowing everyone to state their opinions about the Act which had been generating great interest with the public.
Agency Director Dragan Sikimić said that the Agency required funding, human resources and authority for good governance. Sikimić added that moving forward should not entail going below the standards set by the current statute.
The round-table was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Matters, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Interior, the Tax Administration, the Republic Prosecutor’s Office, the appellate and the misdemeanour courts, the Judges’ Association and the Association of Public Prosecutors, the US Embassy, and the OSCE Mission to Serbia.