11.12.2024.
To mark International Anti-Corruption Day, the Agency held a ceremonial academy on December 9 at the Military Hall in Belgrade. The following day, December 10, it hosted an international conference titled „Empowering the Fight Against Corruption: The Crucial Role of Institutional Framework", at the Hotel Metropol in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Serbia.
The Director of the Agency, Dejan Damnjanović, addressed the gathering of numerous distinguished guests and dignitaries at the academy. The event also featured an artistic performance by the Ensemble of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia, "Stanislav Binički," accompanied by guest soloists.
The conference focused on two main themes: "The Judicial Framework in the Fight Against Corruption" and " Financial Controls in Corruption Prevention”.
Prominent speakers at the conference included H.E. Jan Bratu, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia, Bojana Šćepanović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Saša Stevanović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and Dejan Damnjanović, Director of the Agency.
The thematic discussion on the "Judicial Framework in the Fight Against Corruption" featured panelists such as Olivera Ristanović, President of the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade, Jelena Milutinović Ziljkić, the Public Prosecutor of the Specialized Anticorruption Units of the Higher Courts from the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Offices, Nenad Vujić, Director of the Judicial Academy, Marina Dražić, Acting Director of the National Academy for Public Administration, Constantine Palicarsky, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer at the Economic Crime and Corruption Department of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and Ph. D Dejan Milić, Head of the Analytics Division at the Agency.
The panel on "Financial Controls in Corruption Prevention“ included Dragana Marković, Director of the Tax Administration, Željko Radovanović, Acting Director of the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering, Borko Drašković, Director of the Republic Geodetic Authority, Dejan Dević, General Manager of the Legal Department at the National Bank of Serbia, Fabio Seragusa, Guardia di Finanzia Attaché at the Embassy of Italy, and Dušan Jeličić, Assistant Director in the Sector for Control of Political Activities and Campaign Financing.
In his remarks, Director Dejan Damnjanović stressed that implementing the Agency's mandate is a moral imperative in fostering a stable society. He noted that a robust institutional framework for preventing corruption relies on strong and effective institutions, professional personnel of integrity, and collaborative efforts among institutions. Damnjanović emphasized that corruption is a global phenomenon that transcends borders, making the comparative experiences of other countries invaluable. He outlined the Agency's efforts to address corruption, including developing mechanisms for assessing corruption risks in legislative acts, monitoring lobbying activities in Serbia, and conducting research to tackle this societal issue more effectively.
The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Ambassador Braathu stated that corruption weakens and undermines the very foundations of the state, permeating all levels of society and leaving profound, far-reaching consequences. He emphasized that the recent adoption of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2024–2028 is a noteworthy milestone, providing a clear and comprehensive roadmap to tackle this complex issue. Emphasizing the importance of the accompanying Action Plan, he expressed the expectation that its adoption will follow soon, strengthening practical efforts to combat corruption effectively.”
Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, emphasized that the fight against corruption is deeply rooted in Europe's legal and democratic traditions. "This fight represents our shared vision for a better future," she stated, underscoring that the rule of law is a core EU value. Halacheva also highlighted that eradicating corruption is vital for fostering a well-functioning internal market built on trust between citizens and businesses.
In his address, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dačić said that one of the priority tasks of the Serbian police is the fight against corruption and that there are no and must not be any protected persons in this fight. "The position of our state's leadership on this issue is very clear, and that is that a strong and decisive response is necessary to all individuals who, with their corrupt behaviour, disrupt the development of our country, and therefore the better life of all citizens and the reputation of the Republic of Serbia," Dačić emphasized. He added that institutionally, the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Ministry of the Interior are the main pillars on which the suppression of corruption in Serbia is based, given that they represent a preventive and repressive body against corruption.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Bojana Šćepanović, said that Serbia is ready to systematically and responsibly face all the challenges that corruption poses to society, primarily through commitment to the implementation of anti-corruption measures, through strengthening institutional capacities and building a transparent system that will protect the interests of all citizens.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Saša Stevanović, stated that the ministry sees the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption as an important partner in the fight for the rule of law and that, in accordance with its legal authorities, it provides full support to the Agency in ensuring conditions for its regular functioning and constant capacity building.
