Introduzione
Your Excellences, distinguished participants, I am very pleased to be here with you today at the celebration of the International Anti-Corruption Day, 2020.
As President of the Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority, and also on behalf of the Council of Europe Network of Corruption Prevention Authorities, which recently welcomed the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission among its members, I would like to take this opportunity to thank PACC for the organization of this conference. The presence of so many key actors, colleagues, experts, attests to the importance of the issues we are here to discuss.
I deeply believe that through continuous dialogue we are not only advancing the fight against corruption, but we are also building mutual understanding and trust by learning from each other's experience.
We all know that corruption is a complex problem to solve. Especially in times of crisis, as the world is now living with the COVID-19 pandemic.
We know that collusion between those who control supply chains has led to outrageous costs of much needed goods such as Personal Protective Equipment.
For this reason, ANAC has recently conducted an extensive fact-finding survey on public procurement related to the pandemic.
In order to grasp a detailed picture of public expenditure related to the emergency, through a special questionnaire, ANAC collected the answers from a sample of 182 contracting entities that were awarded contracts during the first wave of coronavirus, selecting the most valuable tenders awarded by each of these authorities.
The investigation revealed critical issues that are currently under the specific supervision of ANAC.
I really think that this can be considered an effective best practice to share with you, as it exposes - with a high degree of transparency - detailed information on public expenditure related to the emergency. Such a system clearly provides a tool for public monitoring of how resources are spent nationally.
The new method for identifying and assessing the corruption schemes described in the survey completes the traditional risk assessment systems. If you are interested, the ANAC Covid-19 fact-finding survey is available on the ANAC website.
The pandemic has led ANAC to re-evaluate the relationship between simplification, digitization and transparency, with a view to promoting innovation and efficiency in the management of public purchasing processes.
In this regard, I would like to underline that ANAC collects, analyses and publishes all relevant information on public procurement.
The Authority has the power to request that contracting authorities as well as companies provide data and information on ongoing contracts, planning and public contracts awarded.
This activity is carried out by the Observatory within the ANAC which electronically acquires data and information in a Data Base (BDNCP) on public procurement, formulates standardized costs and provides statistical as well as economic analyses to support the ANAC activity. It is organized in a Central Unit with regional offices.
It is also important to point out that public procurement data and information can be accessed by anyone with an interest to protect.
I deeply believe that a vibrant civic space and open access to information are essential.
Together, we need to create stronger systems of accountability, transparency and integrity without delay. I therefore look forward to our collective action to implement anti-corruption strategies and remain at the forefront of global efforts in the fight against corruption.
We must not fail.
Thank you.
December 9, 2020
