Centre for Civic Education (CCE) submitted, yesterday, for the second time, to the Council of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (APC) a request for providing transparency of the 17th session of the Council of the APC scheduled for Monday, 30/03/2020, as well as for the efficiency in deciding on the election of a new director.
The CCE had previously submitted the same request to the Council for the session that was supposed to be held on 24 March 2020, but it was postponed. According to the available information, even then this request was not taken into consideration.
The CCE assesses that the Council of APC has the option of providing a live video and audio streaming of the session on Internet and thus to ensure the transparency of its work, using numerous and easily accessible means of modern technology, and all within the measures prescribed by the National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases due to the situation caused by the Covid-19 epidemic.
It is very important that institutions do not abuse the prescribed protective measures against COVID-19 in order to reduce the transparency of their work, particularly when it comes to key issues within their legally prescribed competencies. Article 3 Paragraph 1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the APC prescribes the transparency of the work of this body. A potential future director of the APC will be interviewed at that session. The CCE also believes that none of the candidates wants to, if elected, start with the mandate under the burden of the fact that s/he was elected at the ‘secret’ session of the Council of the APC.
Furthermore, the CCE proposed for the second time to the Council of the Agency, to make a decision on the election of the Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption at the same session, upon interviewing the candidates. In these circumstances, there is no need for the Council to meet repeatedly on the same issue, given the rigorous but necessary measures of the National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases. This would contribute to the necessary efficiency of the procedure.
Based on the information posted on the website of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, it is clear that the Council did not approve our requests. If the Council continues to insist on this aspect of the non-transparent and inefficient approach, we urge the members of the Council to explain to the public individually the reasons for such a decision.
Snezana Kaludjerovic, Senior Legal Advisor