The Balkan Civil Society Development Network, BCSDN, in its latest report, says civic organisations in Balkan countries are at a critical juncture in their initiatives in key areas such as media freedom, rule of law and anti-corruption. The report urged the European Commission to “continue its support for critical and strategic national and regional civil […]

Local authorities in Sarajevo say they plan to teach primary and high school students what corruption is, and what it does to society. The local Education Ministry said Thursday that a working group will draft a plan for addressing the issue in schools. According to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer, which rates citizens’ perceptions of […]

Tax inspector Murat Mehmeti decided to go public with information on over 300 Kosovar* businesses involved in tax fraud, after futile attempts to bring the matter to court.   When Murat Mehmeti joined the Kosovo* Tax Administration, KTA, as a member of the tax investigation unit, he already had ten years of experience as Kosovo* […]

In accordance with its mission to lead regional cooperation to support anti-corruption efforts by providing a common platform for discussions through sharing knowledge and best practices, RAI has recently applied for the status of observer to EPAC (European Partners Against Corruption). The application was officially filed on 4 May this year, and was discussed and granted at […]

People in Balkan countries see corruption as one of the key problems in society, often view politicians as corrupt as well, and in many cases do not believe their governments are tackling the issue, a new survey by the watchdog organisation Transparency International shows. Among countries surveyed in the Balkans, 65 per cent of people […]

OCCRP’s Miranda Patrucic accepted the 2016 Knight International Journalism Award on Monday for reporting that, along with OCCRP journalism partners, has exposed corruption across Europe and Central Asia. Patrucic, regional editor for OCCRP, accepted the award from the International Center for Journalists at a gala in Washington, DC by thanking OCCRP’s network of investigative reporters, […]

From November 7th to 9th 2016, the Centre for Security Studies organized a training in Mostar: “Integrity in Public Procurements: Values, Rules and Behaviour”. The training was held within the project “Integrity Building and Strenghtening Anti-Corruption Practices in the Security Sector – ACroSS” which is financially supported by the European Union. The project aims to […]

For the first time since its inception, Romania’s National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) has got indictments in more than 90 percent of the cases it built, DNA chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi said in Chisinau, Moldova, on Thursday. “This is far above the European average,” Kovesi told a Moldova-Romania Justice Forum held in Chisinau. “Over the […]

The General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to BIRN that it has launched an investigation into Shkelqim Ganaj, chairman of Albania’s High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets and Conflict of Interest, on suspicion of abuse of power. Officers of the judicial police, equipped with a seizure warrant issued by the Prosecution of Tirana, went to […]

The fight against corruption in the Western Balkans and Turkey is failing, putting European Union accession at risk. Political elites have too much power and there are limited ways to hold the corrupt to account, according to Transparency International, the global anti-corruption movement. The new report National Integrity Systems in the Western Balkans and Turkey: […]