International Cooperation
International cooperation plays a very important part in preventing and combating corruption due to the fact that corruption is related to organized and commercial crime, including money laundering, and poses a serious threat to sustainable democratic and economic development and the institutional stability of every country. Combating corruption is the responsibility of all countries, making international cooperation (reflected in the efficient exchange of information and experiences, advancement of good practices, and establishment of coordinated strategies, standards and criteria aimed at fighting corruption) even more crucial. Within its competencies, the Sector for External Affairs and Strategic Development develops and promotes cooperation with competent state authorities, as well as with relevant foreign institutions, international organizations, European and regional organizations and initiatives in the field of preventing and combating corruption.
Priority of the Sector for External Affairs and Strategic Development is monitoring international legislation in the anti-corruption area, above all Conventions and international treaties ratified by the state, as well as initiating amendments to domestic legislation with the purpose of aligning them with internationally accepted legal regulations and standards. For this reason, it is important to maintain regular and direct cooperation with the Council of Europe, Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), attending GRECO plenary sessions in Strasbourg, cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and attending Conference meetings of member states (signatories of the UN Convention against Corruption), as well as with the Anti-Corruption Network within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
An important role of the Sector for External Affairs and Strategic Development includes representing the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and taking part at domestic and international meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops related to the fight against corruption.
GRECO Reports
The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) was established in 1999 by the Council of Europe to monitor the implementation of Council of Europe conventions, i.e. States’ compliance with the organisation’s anti-corruption standards.
The main concept of GRECO is to improve the capacity of its Member States to fight corruption through a dynamic process of mutual evaluation and peer pressure, identify deficiencies in national anti-corruption policies and prompt the necessary reforms.
Evaluation is followed by recommendations to the Member States aimed at improving legislation as well as institutional and practical reforms and compliance review, i.e. assessment of measures taken by the Member States as to fulfill the respective recommendations.
GRECO also provides a platform for sharing of best practice in the prevention and detection of corruption.
Currently, GRECO comprises 50 member States (48 European States, Kazakhstan and the United States of America). The Republic of Serbia* is a Member of GRECO as of April 1, 2003.
*The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro became a member of the Council of Europe in April 2003. After the referendum organized in Montenegro on May 21, 2006, the Republic of Serbia became the legal successor of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
GRECO Evaluation and Compliance reports:
https://www.coe.int/en/web/greco/evaluations
Reports on implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
Implementation of the UNCAC is monitored by the Conference of State Parties established with the aim of improving capacities (and cooperation) of State Parties, i.e. promoting standards and revision of UNCAC implementation. The first phase is a self-evaluation of the UNCAC implementation done by the State Party itself followed by the visit of expert teams who are tasked to clarify potential outstanding issues and evaluate UNCAC implementation.
In addition to submission of regular reports on the implementation of the UNCAC, the Agency for Prevention of Corruption regularly attends meetings of the Working Group on Corruption Prevention, established with the aim to assist the Conference of State Parties in its work related to corruption prevention.
Anti-Corruption Network of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (ACN/OECD)
Anti-Corruption Network has been established within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development as a regional programme open for Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries. Key stakeholders involved are representatives of national governments and independent anti-corruption institutions.
The Agency for Prevention of Corruption is actively involved in the work of the pertinent body and also participates in the drafting of thematic studies in the area of curbing corruption.
Resources for the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia:
https://www.oecd.org/corruption/acn/resources/
European Partners against Corruption/European contact-point network against corruption (EPAC/EACN)
European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and European contact-point network against corruption (EACN) are independent forums consisting of operational bodies for police oversight and independent institutions dealing with prevention and combating corruption. They were established with the aim of exchanging experience and cross-border cooperation in developing joint strategies and promoting high professional standards in the area of prevention and combating corruption.
EPAC/EACN comprises more than 80 institutions from the Council of Europe and European Union Member States, including the Agency for Prevention of Corruption.
Link:
Network of Corruption Prevention Authorities
The Agency for Prevention of Corruption confirmed its commitment to the work of the Network of Corruption Prevention Authorities (NCPA), of which it was one of the founders in 2018 at the invitation of the Italian National Anti-Corruption Agency. At the end of 2020, it was elected president of the Network for 2021, and before the election for president, for two years in a row, it was one of the vice presidents.
Link:
https://www.coe.int/en/web/corruption/ncpa-network
