Kick-off event of the Twinning project “Prevention and Fight against Corruption”

ASK 11.10.2016.

The European Union has launched today a two-year Twinning project worth 2 million EUR to enable the transfer of the EU best practices, experiences and specialized know-how between the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Serbia, on one side and National Anti-Corruption Authority of the Republic of Italy, as well as other competent institutions of the Republic of Italy and the Kingdom of Spain, on the other side.

Opening ceremony was held on Tuesday, 11^th October at 12.30 including the following speakers: Ms Tatjana Babic, Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Serbia; Mr. Radomir Ilic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice of the Government of the Republic of Serbia; H.E. Mr. Michael Davenport, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia; Mr. Raffaele Cantone, President of the National Anti-Corruption Authority of the Republic of Italy; H.E. Mr. Giuseppe Manzo, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy in the Republic of Serbia; H.E. Mr. Miguel Fuertes Suarez, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain in the Republic of Serbia; Ms Jelena Stojovic, Assistant to the Minister of Finance in the Government of the Republic of Serbia; Mr. Filippo Romano, Member State Project Leader and Mr. Eugenio Turco, Resident Twinning Advisor.

The Twinning project aims at strengthening mechanisms to prevent corruption in the Republic of Serbia and promote an active role of the Anti-Corruption Agency, other competent public authorities, organizations of civil society and media. The project, worth 2 million EUR, is financed under EU pre-accession funds for the Republic of Serbia and has duration of 2 years. In the light of negotiations between the Republic of Serbia and the European Union, the project will contribute to the process of reforms and harmonization of EU objectives and values in regards to more efficient fight against corruption (Chapter 23).

To achieve these objectives, in terms of preventing corruption, a major role is played by the Anti-Corruption Agency as an independent state authority with the role to protect public interest, decrease corruption risks and promote significance of strengthening integrity and liability of public authority institutions and public officials. The project will strengthen capacities of the Anti-Corruption Agency and promote systematic approach in combating corruption.

Implementation of the project is carried out by the National Anti-Corruption Authority, the Ministry of Justice, the Higher School of the Judiciary of the Republic of Italy and the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Kingdom of Spain in close cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting Authority for this project is Sector for Contracting and Financing of EU funded programmes (CFCU, Ministry of Finance), which is responsible for areas of payments, accounting, monitoring and reporting on implementation.

For further information on the project, please contact: Mr. Eugenio Turco, Resident Twinning Advisor, +381 63 1715 247, eugenio.turco@giustizia.it.