EU Special Representative Peter Sorensen addressed the conference of the BiH Institutional Anti-Corruption Network to mark the end of the EU-funded project “Strengthening capacities of BiH institutions to combat and prevent corruption” this week. In his remarks, Mr. Sorensen noted the progress BiH and entity agencies have made since the beginning of the project.
Eighteen months ago we gathered here, starting this project and declaring our intentions for the future. At that time the Anti-corruption Agency existed only on paper; there were no anti-corruption coordination bodies and only a few strategic policy documents at Entity and none at Cantonal level; there was no coordination mechanism for implementing the Anti-corruption strategy.
This has changed. The Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption is here. It appointed its core staff, it has its offices and it has started working on its mandate. At Entities level, special bodies are being designated to coordinate the anti-corruption activities and anti-corruption policies have been developed. It is good to see that our EU support played a role in the improvements that happened in the last year.
While he commended officials for this progress, Mr. Sorensen also warned that the process of bringing BiH up to EU standards in the area of anti-corruption measures was taking too long. He urged those present to prioritize their mission and to continue to strengthen BiH’s institutional capacity.
