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How to Infuse Momentum in Anti-Corruption
Reforms
Round Table
May 27, 2003
Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan
The aim of round table discussion organized by Coalition 2000 was to outline the different forms
and manifestations of crime, as well as relevant means and
resources to limit it.
In his speech Dr. Ognian Shentov,
CSD Chairman, pointed out the dynamics of the major spheres of
“grayness” in the economy and the public-private partnership as a
main factor for success in countering the “gray-black” economy.
"Our surveys and data support the thesis of a shrinking gray
sector, although it is still too early to make categorical
assessments how sustainable this trend is.", Dr. Shentov
underlined. He mentioned privatization, import and customs among
the main sources of “grey-black” relations and corruption.
The Minister of Economy Nikolay
Vassilev said that corruption could not be defeated by one
institution alone. A large public support and consensus are needed
to make the fight against corruption a priority. Minister Vassilev
suggested several measures to combat corruption – appointment of
qualified people, legislation to prevent corruption in the grey
sector, restricted state intervention in the economy, reduced taxes
and reform in the customs.
According to Dr. Vassil Kirov,
Director of Financial Investigation Agency, organized crime leads
to degradation of the economy, the administration and the social
relations. Organized criminal groups are buying off state officials
and judges, while only part of the money is redirected to the legal
economy.
Ms. Karen Kramer, Resident Legal
Adviser at the US Embassy, stressed on the need to create a
legislative framework to abolish the bank and tax secret in order
for the prosecution and the investigation to collect enough
evidence to charge persons involved in contraband activities.
According to data, cited by Tihomir Bezlov,
program coordinator at the CSD, only 2-3 % of the businessmen
settle their business problems in court.
General Boyko Borissov, Secretary
General of MoI, drew the discussion to another important point
related to the preconditions for effective fight against corruption
and crime. People who are directly involved in countering
corruption and crime are motivated when they feel the support of
the state and when they are not afraid of dismissal by the next
government coming into power. However, the reality in the Ministry
of Interior is quite different. "We are left with no protection
from the state; directors of services and all officials of the
Ministry are the most unprotected people in the country. They are
not motivated to work", General Borissov stated.
The following measures for the successful fight
against the criminal economy were outlined:
- Improving the legal environment for business, and
particularly the implementation of the laws. A very important
priority in this direction is the improvement of the legislation,
specifically commercial law, including insolvency, as well as the
tax, customs, bank and financial legislation.
- Extending the powers and increasing the efficiency
of the work of the Financial Intelligence Agency, the Customs
Agency, the tax authorities, the National Audit Office and other
control agencies in their fight against corruption and crime.
- Broadening the partnership between the
government and the civil society in countering corruption, in
particular with the law-enforcement institutions, and
implementation of civil monitoring of the fight against organized
crime and of the measures against the new economic crime in
particular.
Agenda
Economy of Crime and
Anticorruption Reforms - Discussion
topics
Media coverage
See also:International Conference: Economy of Crime: Grey
Sector, Trafficking, Corruption, 29 and 30
November, 2002, Sofia
Corruption, Contraband and Cross-Border Crime Resource
Center
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