ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - Croatia's Government on Thursday adopted a package of anti-corruption acts including a national programme and an action plan in the fight against corruption.
ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - Croatia's Government on Thursday adopted a
package of anti-corruption acts including a national programme and
an action plan in the fight against corruption.#L#
Every kind of abuse of office for personal gain is regarded as
corruption.
According to estimates, this is a huge problem Croatia is still
facing, although in the past two years it improved its ranking
rising from the 75th to 51 place, under CAPI index of the
Transparency International (non-governmental organisation
working to counter corrupt international business and government
practices). This list includes 90 countries.
The government's action plan defines eight groups of measures such
as the establishment of the office for the fight against corruption
and organised crime called "USKOK".
Under a draft act which was forwarded into a parliamentary
procedure, this office will be a separate department within the
State Prosecutor's Office.
The person at the helm of USKOK will be appointed for four-year-long
term of office by the State Prosecutor, with the Government's
consent.
The draft act on USKOK contains provisions on the protection of
witnesses, repentant criminals and on assets ensured through
organised crime. There is an idea that this property should be used
by a fund which will subsequently allocate means to protected
witnesses and repentant people.
To counter the conflict of private and public interest of somebody
who fills the public post, the government proposes an act which will
make it impossible for officials to give priority to their private
interest.
The scope of officials covered by this act is broad ranging from the
President of the Republic to county prefects, their deputies and
the mayor of Zagreb.
Under the act, those officials will have to submit reports on their
assets, income and the assets of their wives or husbands and
children within 30 days after they assume office. It is proposed
that officials cannot receive a salary before they submit the
report.
According to the new acts, officials cannot retain a gift they
receive which is worth more than 500 kuna (approximately 60 US
dollars). More valuable gifts will be treated as presents to the
state.
A seven-member commission should be established which will decide
on this matter. The body will consist of four MPs and three public
figures.
This package includes a new act on the State Prosecutor's Office,
under which its scope of activities will be broadened so that it can
take over some tasks in the protection of Croatia's assets which
have so far been carried out by the State Attorney's Office.
The State Prosecution will remain at three levels - municipal,
county and the state - with separate departments for crime and
administrative-civilian issues.
(hina) sb ms