Minister Habijan attends OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum

The OECD Global Forum, taking place from 23 to 27 March in Paris, is looking at topics such as anti-corruption measures, which have mostly been seen as protective, but can also become a powerful boost to efficiency, resilience and innovation

A panel discussion entitled Stronger Partnerships: A whole-of-society approach to growth and integrity was held at the Forum today, where Minister Damir Habijan participated as the opening speaker.

The Minister highlighted the importance of integrity at the level of society as a whole.

'Corruption cannot be addressed by governments alone. It requires cooperation, trust and shared responsibility among public institutions, businesses, civil society, academia, the media and citizens. Such partnerships are essential because corruption undermines the foundations of our societies. It weakens trust, distorts competition and slows down development. Addressing these challenges therefore requires a coordinated effort involving public institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society, the media and citizens', he pointed out.

Participation in this dialogue is extremely valuable for Croatia, especially as Croatia is approaching the final stages of the OECD accession process.

Since the start of this process in 2022, Croatia has invested significant efforts in aligning its legal and institutional framework with OECD standards, especially in areas related to the rule of law, integrity and the fight against corruption.

'The Government of Croatia has placed strong emphasis on transparency, integrity and ethical conduct in the public sector, as well as on cooperation with the private sector in promoting these principles', the Minister said.

He highlighted the importance of ensuring clear rules, transparent institutions and effective oversight, but also the role of businesses in promoting ethical behaviour and strong compliance systems, and of civil society and media in raising awareness and holding institutions to account.

'For Croatia, strengthening partnerships between government, business and civil society remains a central priority as we continue to develop oure public integrity framework and move forward in ourcooperation with the OECD', concluded Minister Habijan.

The panellists from major multinationals and corruption prevention authorities discussed how companies could work together proactively with officials at the centre of government to improve the business environment. Consultation with companies on national anti-corruption and integrity strategies was also discussed as an important mechanism, as well as the impact of practical interventions, such as public-private peer-to-peer learning.

Bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand

On the sidelines of the Forum, Minister Habijan held a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Borwornsak Uwanno.

The topic of the meeting was the OECD accession process and experiences related to this process were exchanged.

News