Corruption still an issue of concern, transparency and accountability part of the solutions
Skopje, 7 November 2022 (MIA) – Transparency and accountability are the most important elements in minimizing corruption and improving integrity, and to this end the international professional services network PwC together with Bulgaria’s Access to Information Programme implemented the EU-funded project Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration in North Macedonia in the period from November 2019 to November 2022 in the country, through the IPA 2 programme in which the main beneficiaries were the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information.
Head of the project, Dragan Davitkov, told the final conference on Monday that the project has helped build a system of integrity of public administration through hired domestic and international experts. “We made an assessment of the risks of corruption in certain sectors and provided support for the establishment of a monitoring system for the implementation of national strategy to fight corruption,” he said. According to him, the project results have contributed to the anti-corruption commission to be assessed in the latest EC progress report as a proactive institution that gives direction and support to public institutions for prevention against corruption. Marie-Madeleine Kanellopoulou, Head of Operations at the EU Delegation in Skopje, said that transparency and accountability are the most important elements in minimizing corruption and improving integrity. “Transparency is a precondition to good governance. It allows all of us as citizens to closely monitor and evaluate the activities of public authorities and hold them accountable,” she said. Vladimir Georgiev from the anti-corruption commission pointed out that corruption in the country is still an issue of concern.“But this should be a motive and incentive for further effort in this field. It is necessary to strengthen the institutions that are competent over investigations and criminal prosecution through boosting their capacities, as well as greater independence, primarily from the executive, which would lead to an increase in the number of convictions for the perpetrators of corruption, including confiscation,” he said.
According to him, this would clear off the label that there is great impunity in the country. Head of the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information, Plamenka Bojchova, said three main activities were planned for the Agency in line with the project. “Upgrading the capacities and competences of the Agency, support and strengthening of internal, operational and institutional capacities, and support of IT capacities for the implementation of the legislation on free access to public information,” Bojchova noted. The project was aimed at strengthening the capacities of beneficiary institutions and improve their operational performance to contribute to increased integrity and improved ethics of public institutions, as well as improved transparency and accountability of public administration.
