State Commission for Prevention of Corruption head Biljana Ivanovska briefed members of Parliament’s Committee on Political System and Community Relations on activities undertaken by the SCPS in the past year, underlining that the corruption situation in North Macedonia is very serious.
“Regarding corruption, the situation is serious and requires additional measures for strengthening the material, technical and human capacities of relevant institutions, their independence and proactivity,” Ivanovska said, quoting reports issued by the European Commission, GRECO and Transparency International.
Corruption risks underlined in these reports, she added, have also been listed in the revised National Strategy for Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interest. Appropriate measures and activities for overcoming them have been proposed in the 2021-2025 Action Plan.
According to Ivanovska, the new law on the prevention of corruption and conflict of interest, adopted in January 2019, strengthened the competences of the anti-corruption commission, thus increasing expectations regarding more efficient fight against corruption.
She stressed that although 2020 will be remembered on global level as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Macedonia will remember it for the state of emergency that lasted four months, the period of eight months with a caretaker government and the 2020 early parliamentary election.
“Citizens’ increased awareness and courage to report irregularities has resulted in the SCPC receiving in 2020 a total of 550 reports regarding suspicion of corruptive behavior, abuse of office and conflict of interest and has launched 102 cases on its own initiative,” Ivanovska noted.
In the past year, the SCPC also revised the National Strategy for Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interest, carried out an anti-corruption inspection of seven laws, launched multiple projects supported by national and international organizations and online sessions.
“Issues regarding unsuitable office space, lack of employees and limited funds for procuring the necessary software affected SCPS activities in 2020,” Ivanovska said.
During the presentation of the commission’s annual report, she stressed that in 2020, same as 2019, most reported cases involved corruption of office holders.
The judiciary, the executive branch, institutions with authorities in the area of urbanization, as well as municipalities, have been perceived as sectors with highest risk of corruption, abuse of office and conflict of interest.
Most reports, Ivanovska briefed, involved abuse of power regarding employment and issuing building permits, as well as conflict of interest in making court decisions.
The SCPC has also launched investigations into office holders’ assets, illegal construction, financing of election campaigns, etc.
MPs noted during the committee session the need for changes to anti-corruption legislation. Moreover, they highlighted the issue that the fight against corruption isn’t a priority for the government, stressing that the only way for the SCPC to draw public support is by undertaking transparent activities and cooperation with the media.
