We, experts of the Reanimation Package of Reforms, welcome the newly elected head and deputy head of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention and wish them persistency, professional competency, and effective work in their positions. Election of the leadership is another crucial step towards a full-fledged activity of the agency whose goal is not only to implement the electronic asset disclosure system of public officials, but also to control party finances, facilitate protection of whistle-blowers, supervise compliance with conflict of interests requirements, and to perform a number of other important functions.

To fully launch the new anti-corruption agency, it is necessary to elect the last, fifth, member of the NACP as soon as possible, without any undue delay. Selection is already in progress. We recommend considering, first of all, those candidates who had support of the majority of members of the selection committee during the previous selection round. The winner should be a candidate who fits the best the requirements of the law, namely the one who has the best professional experience, expertise, and personal qualities to fulfill the responsibilities of a member of the National Agency.

We also call on the NACP to ensure that its meetings are open and accessible to the media and the public, are held based on the agenda published in advance, and broadcasted online in real time. We call for having the protocols of the meetings and adopted decisions quickly published and that the requirements of the Law “On Access to Public Information” concerning publication of drafts legal acts are observed. The open and transparent activity of the anti-corruption agency will improve public trust in the leadership of the NAPC and the institution as a whole, while activity behind closed doors would lead to unnecessary suspicions of the backroom dealings. The National Agency should become a model of integrity and openness is an important part of it.

Civic Coalition “Reanimation Package of Reforms