In the ever-evolving landscape of governance, the effective implementation of anti-corruption policies stands as a critical imperative. This riveting discussion delved into innovative strategies and instruments designed to enhance engagement and amplify the impact of anti-corruption measures. Exploring emerging tools and approaches, the discourse aimed to shed light on the dynamic and evolving methods employed in the ongoing battle against corruption, with a focus on fostering tangible, lasting impact in diverse societal contexts. 

CSD presented its annual Good Governance report, produced in partnership with the largest regional anti-corruption network SELDI.net and the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, Bridges to Nowhere: State Capture and Corruption Risks in Fiscal Transfers and Public Procurement at the Local Level in Southeast Europe as well as its latest policy brief with recommendations, The State of Capture: The Risks to Distributive Politics in Southeast Europe. Both documents outline how shadow networks of clientelism compromise the integrity of public finances in Southeast Europe and hinder the capacity of the region to cope with a number of converging domestic and international challenges. The experts recommended the systematic and continuous use of corruption risk assessment tools to identify and counter the most prevalent and damaging corruption and conflict of interest schemes at institutional, sector and local levels.

Highlights from the discussion

Alexander Gerganov, Director, Sociological Program, Center for the Study of Democracy 
“Corruption was like an elephant in the room that everyone is denying to see. There is this old saying: How do we eat an elephant? The answer is: one bite at the time. This is what our instruments help the policy makers and public administration do. Eat the elephant one bite at the time.”

Mihaly Fazekas, Director, Government Transparency Institute, Budapest 
“We should separate political parties for taxpayers’ money from government money. When the politician is going out, he is saying this is the reason you will vote for me and then we see the systematic evidence that we are in trouble.”

Angelos Binis, Governance and Public Administration Unit, Directorate for Support to Member State Reforms, Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support, European Commission 
“Every country must have strong institutions, providing guidance and training in a continuous basis. Corruption risk management is not mandatory, so whoever is doing it is in a voluntary basis, most for political reasons.”

Misha Popovikj, Head, Center for Good Governance, Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis, Skopje
“At some point, corruption risk assessment and integrity policies have conflicted. And somehow integrity policies became more about the integrity of human resources rather than structural integrity, integrity of institutions. CRA can be an important advocacy tool particularly in cases when there is controversy in the society and the particular institutions become involved in the controversy.”