The statement was prompted by the government's decision on Friday to allocate an additional 1.8 million kuna (approximately EUR245,000) to USKOK to conduct a scientific survey of corruption in cooperation with the Zagreb Law School and by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's announcement that this year the government would take tougher action against bribery and corruption.
"If tough action means giving money for research and leaving major cases of political corruption unresolved, then it is another attempt to deceive the public and the European Commission as well," the DC leader said.
As a former justice minister, Skare-Ozbolt said that the government should not squander away taxpayers' money by giving it to USKOK for projects that are not part of its job description.
"USKOK's duty is to prosecute crime and corruption and not to survey it. The money should be directed for more active efforts that will enable the judiciary to finally start combating specific cases of corruption and crime," the statement said.