Perović: Certain structures are still trying to obstruct the work of ASK

We resisted the pressures and thus set an example for other institutions on how to preserve independence and integrity in the mission of protecting the public interest and promoting the rule of law, said the director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK), Jelena Perović.

"Although even now certain interest structures are trying to influence us and obstruct our work, we want to believe that this practice is slowly becoming a thing of the past," said Perović at the working breakfast.

She also said that with the support of the Council of Europe, they completed the first of the planned three phases of analysis of the Law on Prevention of Corruption.

The remaining two will be completed by the end of the year, after which it will be decided whether to draft a new law or amend the existing one.

In cooperation with the UNDP Program, KAS is working on the development of the Methodology for the analysis of regulations in order to determine risk areas from the origin of corruption, especially the part related to the list of risks, for the purpose of easy and more objective identification of future regulations that would be the subject of analysis by this institution.

In the first half of 2022, the KAS gave its opinion on a total of 17 regulations, which is an increase of 70% compared to the whole of 2021, and equal to the performance of the previous four years collectively.

"It was on the basis of the Agency's opinion that the 43rd Government announced the cancellation of the Decision on the method and criteria for solving the housing needs of officials. After our reaction, the Public Invitation to take the bankruptcy administrator's knowledge test was renewed, while several public companies adopted new regulations which, unlike the previous ones, it does not contain corruption risks. We are dedicated to achieving at least one small victory every day. Each of these victories is a step forward in strengthening the environment of the rule of law and adopting rules of conduct and standards that will contribute to the path of our society towards the ultimate strategic goal, joining the EU," said Perović.

Due to violations of the provisions of the Law on Prevention of Corruption, the Agency submitted 1 requests for the initiation of misdemeanor proceedings from January 20 to June 690.

In the first half of 2022, acting on all requests received, the Agency gave 108 opinions on the existence of conflicts of interest and restrictions on the performance of public functions.

"The number of initiated administrative procedures in the six-month period is 401, the highest since the Agency was founded," said Perović at the working breakfast.