Government adopts anti-corruption strategy

BELGRADE The Serbian government adopted on Thursday a national strategy for the fight against corruption in the period from 2013 to 2018. It was drafted by the Ministry of Justice and State Administration, in cooperation with other relevant ministries. Government adopts anti-corruption strategy The Serbian parliament is to consider the strategy in the coming days. After months-long debate, the ministry proposed the strategy which will facilitate strategic planning and create an efficient anti-corruption system in Serbia in the next five years, the document reads. The most important novelties in the document, which contains recommendations by members of the European Commission and other EU experts, refer to political parties, whose financing should be controlled by the State Audit Institution. Serbia's experts and representatives of civil organizations also took part in drawing up this strategy. The document defines six strategic principles in the fight against corruption - the principle of the rule of law, the principle of zero tolerance toward corruption, accountability, comprehensive implementation of measures, cooperation at all levels, and the principle of efficiency and transparency. According to the document, the Justice Ministry should analyze the implementation of the strategy every three months. The strategy also grants broader powers to the Anti-Corruption Agency, and the Anti-Corruption Council, who will monitor the implementation of the strategy and a series of other measures that should contribute to a more efficient cooperation and exchange of information between police, prosecution, courts, regulatory and supervisory bodies and other parts of the society that are combating corruption. The authorities should also set up a joint database for corruption cases. The document places a special emphasis on political corruption, graft in the sector of public finances, judiciary, police, privatization, health-care, education, sports, urban planning, construction and the media. Ivica Dacic presides over Tuesday's session of his cabinet (Tanjug) Tanjug

Government adopts anti-corruption strategy

The Serbian parliament is to consider the strategy in the coming days.

After months-long debate, the ministry proposed the strategy which will facilitate strategic planning and create an efficient anti-corruption system in Serbia in the next five years, the document reads.

The most important novelties in the document, which contains recommendations by members of the European Commission and other EU experts, refer to political parties, whose financing should be controlled by the State Audit Institution.

Serbia's experts and representatives of civil organizations also took part in drawing up this strategy.

The document defines six strategic principles in the fight against corruption - the principle of the rule of law, the principle of zero tolerance toward corruption, accountability, comprehensive implementation of measures, cooperation at all levels, and the principle of efficiency and transparency.

According to the document, the Justice Ministry should analyze the implementation of the strategy every three months.

The strategy also grants broader powers to the Anti-Corruption Agency, and the Anti-Corruption Council, who will monitor the implementation of the strategy and a series of other measures that should contribute to a more efficient cooperation and exchange of information between police, prosecution, courts, regulatory and supervisory bodies and other parts of the society that are combating corruption.

The authorities should also set up a joint database for corruption cases.

The document places a special emphasis on political corruption, graft in the sector of public finances, judiciary, police, privatization, health-care, education, sports, urban planning, construction and the media.