ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - The Croatian government at Thursday's session adopted a draft national programme for combating corruption, with a proposed action plan. The strategy of the struggle against corruption envisages recognising the
evil of corruption, formulating plans and activities for combating it, legal changes, and mobilising all social and political forces, said Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic-Marinovic. She considers the political authorities crucial in this struggle. The action plan consists of eight items important for combating corruption, for example the rule-of-law and its effectiveness, the strengthening of USKOK (Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime) as a special body for effectively preventing corruption, stepping up the effectiveness of criminal prosecution, financial liability, and encouraging political and civic responsibility. According to Interior Ministe
ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - The Croatian government at Thursday's
session adopted a draft national programme for combating
corruption, with a proposed action plan.
The strategy of the struggle against corruption envisages
recognising the evil of corruption, formulating plans and
activities for combating it, legal changes, and mobilising all
social and political forces, said Justice Minister Ingrid
Anticevic-Marinovic. She considers the political authorities
crucial in this struggle.
The action plan consists of eight items important for combating
corruption, for example the rule-of-law and its effectiveness, the
strengthening of USKOK (Office for the Prevention of Corruption and
Organised Crime) as a special body for effectively preventing
corruption, stepping up the effectiveness of criminal prosecution,
financial liability, and encouraging political and civic
responsibility.
According to Interior Minister Sime Lucin, the ministers should set
stricter criteria among themselves and among their staff, which he
says is crucial for publicly condemning corruption.
The government's members point out that data on a person's earnings
and his/her income scale are the best indicators of corruption.
How can a person in authority afford to buy a DM100,000 car or a
house worth several hundred German marks from his/her salary, Prime
Minister Ivica Racan wondered.
The government decided today to pay legal fees for pensioners who
lost an Administrative Court lawsuit against the Pension Fund,
which was sued for non-compliance with a Constitutional Court
decision on the harmonisation of pensions. These are pensioners who
are not exempt from paying a 900 kuna legal fee due to a higher
property qualification. The state will pay the fees for pensioners
who filed with the Administrative Court a request, which was
overruled, to be exempt from paying them.
Also today, the government okayed the signing of an agreement on a
Global Environment Fund deed of donation for a Karst eco-system
preservation project. The project is worth US$8.37 million. The
World Bank will assist with a US$5 million deed of donation.
(hina) ha sb