Action plans to combat corruption are complicated, horizontal, and include a large number of institutions that need to be linked. They will not be implemented on their own, but need to be implemented jointly by all of us, in unison, said today Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković on the occasion of opening the first meeting of the Coordination Body for the Implementation of the Action Plan to administer the National Anti-corruption Strategy in the Republic of Serbia, held at the Palace of Serbia.
Selaković expressed his firm belief that all planned anti-corruption objectives specified in the Action Plan will be achieved through coordination of all ministries and competent bodies. He also underlined that he is not fully satisfied with the results of implementation of the Action Plan that came into force a year ago, but that the Government of Serbia has shown strong political commitment to deal with the problem by setting up the anti-corruption Coordination Body chaired by the Serbian Prime Minister himself.
„By enactment of strategies, action plans, and drafting the Action Plan for Chapter 23, we show firm political commitment to become a country that will be able, by the level of legal order, regulation of institutions and incorporated democratic values, to stand hand in hand with EU countries that will, in turn, recognize this and take us into their union, their family of nations and peoples “, said Minister Selaković.
Discussing the specific tasks that the Ministry of Justice has to implement in the oncoming period on the basis of the Action Plan, he highlighted that regulations relating to crimes against economy and in financial operations have to be reviewed, analysis of all anti-corruption legislation in Serbia initiated and eventually harmonized with European and international standards. He also added that the Ministry of Justice in cooperation with the European commission will conduct comprehensive analyses relating to the Law on Anti-corruption Agency and on the basis of these analyses commence activities on drafting the new law.
„The first major task of the Judiciary Academy will be to train judges in administering the Law on Protection of Whistleblowers, and then train the prosecutors in concert with the new provisions contained in the Penal Code“, Selaković pointed out adding that organization of training planned in the Financial Investigations Strategy will also be a huge undertaking.
Listing the measures that other ministries included in the implementation of the anti-corruption action plan will also be administering in the oncoming period, Selaković reminded the audience that by setting up the Coordination Body, the Government of the Republic of Serbia has elevated the coordination on the supreme level, and expressed his expectation that already at the following meeting the output of the body will be visible.