European Union

The side event at the 21st Session of the CCPCJ on 'Measuring corruption and crime affecting the population and business in the Western Balkans (2010-2013)" was organized by the Permanent Mission of Montenegro and the UNODC Policy Analysis and Research Branch, and took place on Thursday 26 April 2012.

The Head of the EU Delegation, H.E. Mrs Györgyi Margit Martin Zanathy, delivered the opening speech stressing the importance of the region of the Balkans, a region of concern to the EU which had funded the projects. Ambassador Zanathy mentioned that, 13 years ago, the EU had established the Stabilization and Association Process, providing free trade and financial support to these countries in the amount of 1 billion EUR per year, in order to create an area of peace, stability, prosperity and freedom and to bring these countries progressively closer to the EU.

H.E. Mrs Dragana Radulovic, Ambassador of Montenegro, also declared that the projects in the Balkans area were very important for economic development and the democratic process of the region, and pointed out that corruption in the business sector undermined potential investments and impeded economic growth.

On the basis of a household survey in the Western Balkans in 2010, UNODC released the report "Corruption in the Western Balkans: Bribery as Experienced by the Population", funded by the European Union. Highlighting how corruption affected everyday life, the report showed that corruption was a major concern among citizens of that area.

A new project on "Assessment of Corruption and Crime affecting the Business Sector in the Western Balkans (2012-2013)", to be implemented by UNODC, will focus on the business sector, and will aim to strengthen integrity and transparency in the business area of Western Balkan economies. Financial support from the EU covers 90% of the budget of the project.