Anac in Sarajevo: support for Bosnia Herzegovina in preventing and fighting corruption

Anac in Sarajevo: support for Bosnia Herzegovina in preventing and fighting corruption

The Anac Twinning project was officially launched in Sarajevo on Tuesday 17 September 2024 in support of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Agency for the prevention and coordination of the fight against corruption (APIK).
The President of the Authority Giuseppe Busia and the Secretary General Filippo Romano, assisted by the Italian Embassy in Bosnia Herzegovina, attended the launch event which marks the official start of the project. The event was attended by the top leaders of the European Union Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, starting with the new Head of the Delegation, the Italian Luigi Soreca; by the Director of the Special Investigation Service (STT) of Lithuania, Linas Pernavas; by the Director of APIK, Elvis Kondžić; and several representatives of Bosnian-Herzegovinian civil society.

Twinning (administrative twinning) are "capacity building" tools financed by the European budget, by virtue of which officials from the public administrations of Eu member states are transferred - at the expense of the European Union - to third countries, with the aim to support the transmission of "know-how" and the alignment of local regulations with those of the Union. The selection of member states takes place following a truly competitive procedure, with the aim of identifying the best proposal in the interest of the beneficiary country. In this case, the project was assigned to the Italian Anac, assisted by the Lithuanian Investigation Service, confirming the recognized expertise of the two institutions.
As part of this twinning, Anac will support the institutional development and management capabilities of APIK, with the aim of promoting its role as an unavoidable point of reference for the prevention of corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The adoption of decisive steps to strengthen the prevention and fight against corruption and organized crime is one of the necessary conditions for the Balkan country to start negotiations to join the Eu.

“Our presence here demonstrates the strength of our common commitment in the fight against corruption and in promoting a culture of integrity at a national and international level,” said the President of Anac Busia. “All this in the full spirit of the guiding principles of the European Union and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (Uncac)”. 
“Anac is actively involved in international forums and organizations such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We see multilateral and bilateral cooperation as a fundamental tool so that institutions like ours can learn from each other and also strengthen our position at the national level."

“This project” – declared the Italian Ambassador, Marco Di Ruzza – “confirms that Italy's support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path is not limited to high Brussels diplomacy, but also includes a silent and operational activity daily. Corruption not only represents a limit to the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a perverse incentive to the emigration of its young population, but it can also become a real cause of delegitimization of the country's authorities. With this Twinning, Italy - thanks to Anac - places itself at the forefront in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in this sector, which will be crucial for its European future".