Agency for Prevention of Corruption

Press Release from the 16th session of the Council of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption

March 20, 2020
Council of the Agency for Prevention of Corrupiton

At today's teleconference session, the APC Council the APC Annual Activity Report and Budget Execution Report for 2019. The Council also reviewed the information on implementation of the Control and supervision plan for the election of councilors in the Municipal Assembly of Tivat.

The Council has also determined the List of candidates who meet the requirements of the repeated public vacancy announcement for the Director of APC, in accordance with articles 83 and 84 of the Law on Prevention of Corruption. The following candidates made the list:

- Elvira Pupović, PhD in Economics;

- Vukas Radonjić, BA in Law; and

- Savo Milašinović, PhD in Economics.

In addition to the activities of APC in the previous year, the APC’s Annual Activity Report also identifies challenges in the implementation of anti-corruption laws, and provides recommendations for improvement where needed.

The Council acknowledged that in 2019, following the Opinions and Decisions of the APC, a total of 57 public officials resigned, and four public officials were dismissed from public office.

There was a significant increase in the number of registered gifts, sponsorships and donations, compared to 2018 (25.2% more gifts, 65.4% more donations, and a particularly significant increase in the number of registered sponsorships, which in 2019 was almost six times more than in 2018).

Since the beginning of APC’s operation in 2016, there has been a growing trend in the number of submitted reports on income and assets of public officials, while the number of misdemeanor proceedings for failing to submit regular annual reports on income and assets last year was 42.6% lower than in 2018.

Furthermore, in addition to fully implementing all legal obligations concerning transparency of data on funding of political entities and election campaign for the councilors in the Municipal Assembly of Tuzi, APC has made efforts to further improve the legislative framework in this area, and in cooperation with international partners, will prepare an analysis on the implementation of the Law on financing of political entities and election campaigns in 2020.

Another encouraging data for 2019 is an increase in the percentage of whistleblower reports in which threats to the public interest or some other type of irregularity were found.

A total 97.6% of the authorities submitted their integrity plans to the APC.

Due to violations of laws under its jurisdiction, the APC initiated 427 misdemeanor proceedings, and the total amount of fines imposed was €117.277,00. The percentage of sanctioning increased from 75.4% in 2018 to 91% in 2019.

The APC has continued implementing the recommendation of the European Commission experts concerning the confiscation of property gains obtained by committing misdemeanors. In 2019, competent courts were requested to confiscate such property in 13 cases related to violating ​restrictions in the exercise of public office.

The APC’s budget for 2019 was €1.493.710,29. A total of €1.340.327,61 was spent (89.73%).

When reviewing the information on implementation of the Control and supervision plan for the election of councilors in the Municipal Assembly of Tivat, the Council found that APC continued with regular and transparent implementation of supervision over the compliance with the law by the authorities and political entities.

The members of the APC Council also decided to donate 30% of their monthly remuneration to the state fund for the prevention of spread of the coronavirus desease.