TIRANA, Feb 28 /ATA/ Introduction of Electronic System of Declaration of Assets and Conflict of Interest, from January 1, 2022, provides an effective mechanism to counter corruption and increase transparency in the declaration and publication of assets of elected persons and public officials.
This was one of the conclusions of the roundtable organized on Monday by the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Control of Assets and Conflict of Interest with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe – Action against Economic Crime in Albania.
The meeting brought together high-level representatives of the key public authorities responsible for preventing and combating corruption, international partners and key actors in the field.
The highlight of the meeting was introduction of the new Electronic System of Declaration of Assets and Conflict of Interest, the added value that this system brings, as a facilitating and strengthening instrument of monitoring and verification capacities of HIDAACI in this field, but also as a restraint mechanism, which the authorities must fully use.
HIDAACI Inspector General, Evgjeni Bashari stressed the importance of the new electronic system in the fight against corruption. “The system was established to fulfill the legal obligations and deliver on commitments made as part of the Cross-cutting Anti-Corruption Strategy, the recommendations issued by the Progress Report of the European Union and GRECO.
This mechanism aims to strengthen the regime of declaration and control of assets, cases of conflict of interest, as well as to increase the transparency of public institutions, ” said Bashari.
Parliament Speaker, Lindita Nikolla, underlined the importance of the recently revised procedures for the declaration of assets and conflict of interest that have just entered into force. She stressed that the establishment of an electronic system of declaration of assets and conflict of interest at HIDAACI, which will be accessed on the official website of the Inspectorate, is a step forward not only to increase transparency, but also to reduce the gap regarding avoidance of legal obligations.
The Head of the European Union Delegation in Albania, Luigi Soreca stressed that, “the new electronic system of declaration of assets and conflict of interest presented today is an important tool to prevent and fight corruption between politicians and senior public officials.”
“The new system will provide more transparency and accountability. “‘Money tracking’ will now be more effective, along with monitoring by civil society and the media,” Soreca said.
In her remarks, GRECO Executive Secretary and Head of the Council of Europe’s Aniti-Crime Action Department, Hanne Juncher welcomed the functioning of the Electronic Asset Declaration and Conflict of Interest System and recalled GRECO’s recommendations when it comes to preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central government and law enforcement.
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