Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina organised today a presentation of the final results of the evaluation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy 2009-2014, conducted in the framework of the EU funded project “Strengthening integrity and good governance for better implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy from local to national level”.
The results of the evaluation conclude that the Anticorruption Strategy 2009-2014 has not achieved the set goals and that the effects of the Anticorruption Strategy and their visibility are very weak. Key challenges in the implementation of the Anticorruption Strategy are lack of political will, which was directly reflected in delays in the implementation of the planned measures, mainly delays in appointing the management of the Anticorruption Agency and ensuring financial resources for its functioning. Moreover, insufficient coordination, lack of involvement of all the relevant stakeholders in its implementation, as well as lack of “local ownership” of the processes of preparation of the strategic document and implementation of its measures are also found to have affected the implementation of the Anticorruption Strategy.
This event was opened by welcome remarks by Natalia Dianiskova, Head of the Operations Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross Border Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Srdjan Blagovčanin, Executive Director of theTransparency International BiH.
“Fighting corruption also means having a proper legislative framework in place, including bold strategy adopted and implemented by all. The new Anti-corruption strategy needs to be in accordance with the requirements of the EU, aligned with adopted and ratified conventions and applicable in the local context, covering all necessary aspects of fight against corruption. This strategy needs to be inclusive, to take into account needs, concerns and opinions of all relevant stakeholders, including civil society organisations.”, said Natalia Dianiskova.
„The new Anticorruption Strategy must be grounded in lessons learned from previous Strategies. BiH lost lot of time of time and can no longer afford itself a luxury that the new anticorruption strategy remains again a dead letter that does not oblige anybody to anything. Therefore, Transparency International BiH, by working with institutions, civil society and international organisations, actively contributes to this process”, stated Srđan Blagovčanin in his opening remarks.
Besides presentation of the final results of the evaluation of the Anticorruption Strategy and impact of its implementation, detailed methodological approach for the preparation of the anti-corruption Strategy and Action plan for the period 2015-2019 was also presented. Furthermore, participants discussed the challenges in elaboration and adoption of the new anticorruption Strategy.
The European Union is funding project “Strengthening integrity and good governance for better implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy from local to national level” in the amount of 178.700 EUR from IPA 2010.
The project’s goal is to contribute to the fight against corruption and corruption prevention in BiH by strengthening integrity, improving standards of governance and levels of transparency in the work of public institutions. Specific objective is to promote evidence-based and effective anti-corruption policy at both the local and the national level.
The project has duration of 24 months and it is implemented by the Transparency International BiH.
