International Anti-Corruption Day

International Anti-Corruption Day has traditionally been observed on 9 December since the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Merida in 2003

Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries, undermines democratic institutions, slows down economic development and contributes to the instability of the entire system of public administration.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which has contributed in many ways to the commitment of the signatory countries to the continuous development of prevention and fight against corruption.

The Republic of Croatia was one of the first signatories of the Convention, but also one of the first countries to ratify it.

The Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation cooperates with a number of public authorities to translate anti-corruption policies into strategic documents, regulations and activities, and to raise awareness of the harmfulness of corruption and the prevention of all its forms.

"The fight against corruption requires a comprehensive approach that includes cooperation between state bodies, the private sector, scientific and educational institutions, the media, civil society organisations, but also citizens, whose active participation can help create an environment in which integrity, transparency and accountability prevail . Fight against corruption at all levels which does not recognise any ‘untouchables’ is a priority for this government ", said Minister Habijan.

A number of measures have been taken and implemented to prevent corruption and create a quality anti-corruption legislative framework. All of the efforts, from the Anti-Corruption Strategy 2021-2030, as a basis for further strengthening of anti-corruption mechanisms, legislative framework and effective impact on corruption risks, to the implementation of a campaign aimed at raising awareness and strengthening society's resilience to corruption, are aimed at building a responsible and stable society and institutions. 

Protection of whistleblowers

Among the most important laws adopted in this area is the Act on the Protection of Reporters of Irregularities, which entered into force in April 2022. It strengthened the system of protection of reporters of regularities i.e. whistleblowers, with the most important aim of raising public awareness of the need to report corruption. 

The role of whistleblowers is extremely important in society and in the protection of the public interest. This law primarily provides protection to whistleblowers, but protection is also extended to connected persons - facilitators, relatives, colleagues and all other persons related to the whistleblower who may suffer retaliation in the work environment, legal entities owned by whistleblowers, employing whistleblowers or otherwise connected with whistleblowers in the work environment, and confidential persons and their deputies.

Reporters of irregularities are granted the right to protection including judicial redress, compensation, identity and confidentiality protection, emotional support and free primary legal aid.

Strengthening preventive action by improving the normative framework

Following the defined path, anti-corruption policy is being implemented through appropriate amendments to relevant legislation and related acts. 

To this end, a new Act on the Prevention of Conflict of Interest was adopted, which strengthened the Commission normatively, institutionally and in terms of personnel, the Act on the Government was amended to abolish immunity for members of the Government for corruption offences, and a Code of Conduct for members of the executive was adopted, which is an added value to the entire anti-corruption framework. The Code establishes clear rules of conduct for state officials with regard to declaration of interests and assets, prohibition on receiving gifts, contacts with third parties, rewards and recognitions, etc.

In the context of implementation of Article 4 of the Act on the Prevention of Conflict of Interest, codes of conduct have been adopted for members of representative bodies of local and regional self-government units. The codes of conduct contain, inter alia, provisions on the prevention of conflicts of interest, the bodies responsible for overseeing the application of the codes of conduct and for deciding on breaches thereof.

First legislative framework for lobbying

An important element of the preventive anti-corruption policy is the Lobbying Act, which entered into force on 1 October this year. It regulates lobbying activities for the first time in Croatia, lays down obligations for lobbyists and lobbied persons, principles of lobbying and sanctions for violations of the Act, and establishes a Register of Lobbyists. 

This law regulates lobbying as a legal and legitimate activity with clear principles, rights, obligations and sanctions in accordance with international standards, guidelines and recommendations of GRECO and the OECD.

The Commission for the Resolution of Conflicts of Interest is in charge of keeping the Register of Lobbyists, which further strengthens the role of the Commission as an independent anti-corruption body.

Accession to OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions

One of the strategic objectives of the Government of the Republic of Croatia is full membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). One of the steps along this path was the accession to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the Working Group monitoring its implementation. Croatia officially became a member of the Working Group on 30 October 2023, thus achieving a significant strategic objective. This was preceded by accession to the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, to which the Republic of Croatia became a party on 22 November 2022. The Convention entered into force in Croatia in January 2024.

The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention is a key international instrument for combating corruption, especially in the business sector. Its implementation requires us not only to adapt the legislative framework, but also to have systematic cooperation between the public administration and the private sector.

Campaign to raise awareness and strengthen society’s resilience to corruption

The Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, aware of the challenges imposed by the fight against corruption, seeks to raise awareness and strengthen society's resilience to corruption through other available forms as well.

In order to strengthen the awareness of the general public, public officials and civil servants of the harmfulness of corruption, the necessity of preventing and combating it, and about the existing reporting channels and mechanisms for the protection of whistleblowers, i.e. to encourage citizens to report irregularities, the national educational and informational campaign ‘Encouraging citizens to actively participate in the fight against corruption’ was launched in early 2023.

One of the target groups of the campaign were young people, for whom trainings on corruption prevention were organised. The trainings, attended by around 600 students, were held in secondary schools in cities across Croatia, where young people learned how to recognise corruption and corrupt activities, but also about the importance of their own actions in creating a more just society. 

During the campaign, roundtables were organized in Zagreb, Varaždin, Split, Rijeka and Osijek, attended by experts from different sectors. The roundtables served as a platform for discussing the work and powers of independent bodies operating in different areas of corruption prevention, with an emphasis on experiences and challenges in their work. A special focus was on topics related to the protection of whistleblowers and lobbying.

The most important part of the campaign relates to the implementation of a wider media promotion campaign launched in July this year. The campaign with the motto ‘Initiate change, report corruption’ is aimed at raising awareness of the harmfulness of corruption, its recognition and reporting, and the importance of protecting whistleblowers. The campaign runs until the end of 2024.

Through participation in creating and implementing strong and effective strategic and legislative acts, The Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation will continue striving to achieve progress in the prevention and suppression of corruption. With comprehensive cooperation, education and tools enabled by digitalisation and new technologies, new opportunities are opening up in these efforts, which will certainly contribute to creating a more transparent and responsible environment and create a society in which integrity prevails. 

Read more about the activities of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation in combating corruption here.   
 

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