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This Regional Thematic Seminar, jointly organised by the OECD and the Council of Europe/PACO Impact, addressed the future operational and implementation role of anti-corruption services in determining and measuring the public perception on anti-corruption reform, and reviewed the effectiveness of current conflict-of-interest policies, legal frameworks and implementation practices in countries that participate in the Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative (SPAI) for South-Eastern Europe. Click here for the final agenda of the Seminar.
Context
The Seminar brought together the main actors involved in anti-corruption and prevention of conflict-of-interest measures in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Montenegro (including Kosovo), Republic of Moldova, Republic of Macedonia and Romania.
It was part of a broader effort to develop and implement conflict-of-interest policies in the SPAI members: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Serbia and Romania. Click here for further information on the project Managing Conflict of Interest in Government and the Public Sector - from Policy to Practice.
Outcomes
The seminar reviewed available methodologies, tools and mechanisms for measurement of the impact of anti-corruption policies and assessed conflict-of-interest laws and policies in SPAI countries. It provided participants with an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of conflict-of-interest measures in their country, put them in perspective with the experience of other SPAI and OECD countries, and gain a better understanding of the conditions for effectively implementing them. Participants also identified the need to develop specific conflict-of interest standards for the political level - members of Government and Parliament as well as local elected authorities - as well as for public officials who work in risk areas at the public-private interface such as public procurement.
Assessing conflict-of-interest laws and policies: Background documents
The OECD has developed the “Guidelines for Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Service” as well as a “Management Toolkit” that represent the first international benchmark against which policy makers and managers can review, compare, assess and further develop a comprehensive conflict-of-interest policy. The Policy Brief on "Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Service" highlights the main findings of the OECD Report on “Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Service: OECD Guidelines and Country Experiences”.
A review process of conflict-of-interest laws and policies in SPAI countries was undertaken prior to the meeting, combining self-assessment by country representatives on the basis of a cross-country questionnaire developed by the OECD and external assessment by representatives from other SPAI countries and OECD experts. The elements and results of the review were presented at the seminar and can be found in the background documents below for the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Montenegro, Romania and the Republic of Serbia. In addition, representatives from other SPAI countries provided background documents for the seminar on efforts in their countries to develop conflict-of-interest laws and policies.
Also available: background information by country:
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