A policy proposal entitled “Road Map for Fighting Corruption and Increasing Transparency” in six municipalities with a Serbian majority, North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavić/Lleposaviq, Zvečan/Zveçan, Gračanica/Graçanicë, Štrpce/Shterpcë, was presented on July 27, at a conference in Pristina organized by NGO Aktiv.
This Report is part of the project “Enhancing Transparency and Rule of Law in Serb Majority Municipalities in Kosovo”, implemented by NGO AKTIV in partnership with the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture (ACDC), financed by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
In addition to the analysis of the legislative framework, the presentation of the current situation regarding corruption, and the challenges of anti-corruption mechanisms, this document outlines proposals for the fight against corruption for municipalities in Kosovo.
Based on the fact that, according to numerous reports issued by international organizations, corruption is widespread in Kosovo and that small and symbolic advances have been made in terms of the systemic fight against corruption, it is noted that the fight against corruption is key at the local level, because municipalities provide citizens with services that should enhance their quality of life in the area where they live and work.
The Road Map also refers to research (NGO Aktiv and ACDC), done in the second half of 2021, on citizens’ attitudes regarding corruption and its impact on their communities North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavić/Lleposaviq, Zvečan/Zveçan, Gračanica/Graçanicë, Štrpce/Shterpcë. The results showed that there is dissatisfaction among the citizens of these six municipalities regarding transparency and corruption.
The report indicates that the Strategy for the fight against corruption 2021-2023, which was adopted in 2020 by the Anti-corruption Agency addresses corruption only very generally, without issuing guidelines for municipalities.
In discussions with the representatives of the partner municipalities, it was concluded that there is a need not only for a road map, but also for a concrete document that all municipalities could use in the process of developing their anti-corruption plan.
“That is why it is necessary that precisely at local administrative level there is a clear, unambiguous and realistic plan that would enable the fight against any form of corruption”, the Report says.
Roadmap stressed that the Anti-Corruption Agency in Kosovo, or another public institution in accordance with its mandate, did not provide the municipalities in Kosovo with the opportunity to develop their own plan. It has been pointed that there is a need for this, therefore this Roadmap proposes that the first step in the fight against corruption should be the adoption of an Action Plan in the fight against corruption in the municipality.
“Such plan should contain a clear analysis of the municipal context, preventive anti-corruption mechanisms, indicators based on which corruption is measured, as well as ways to manage risks and eliminate them”, the Report suggests.
In addition, this ROADMAP offers more than 40 practical recommendations for fighting corruption and increasing transparency in municipalities, such as reorganization of existing and establishment of new mechanisms, risk assessment, control and monitoring, publication of contracts, lists, education, etc.
For all comments and additional questions regarding the report, you can write to us at office@ngoaktiv.org.
