Director of the Directorate for Anti-Corruption Initiative (DACI), Vesna Ratkovic, PhD, as the Chairman of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), chaired the Steering Group meeting of RAI held at Tirana on 14 and 15 November 2011.

The aim of the annual meeting was to evaluate the progress made in 2011 in implementing the Declaration on 10 joint measures to curb corruption in South Eastern Europe (Brussels Declaration), through dialogue of the senior representatives of the RAI member countries. To this end, DACI provided the RAI Secretariat with the annual report on implementation of the Brussels Declaration for period October 2010 – October 2011.

In addition, the participants discussed the priorities and ideas for future joint projects, and defined them in the new work plan for 2012-2013. These activities should reflect current trends in member states and the levels of development they have achieved in combating corruption. The participants also discussed methods and models for preparing and adopting the new Memorandum of Understanding concerning cooperation in the fight against corruption through the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, which will be adopted in 2012.

This year’s session was the last session chaired by Ms. Vesna Ratkovic. Namely, the representative of the Croatian Ministry of Justice, Mr. Davor Dubravica, was elected as the new Chairman of RAI.

DACI Director was the Chairman of RAI since October 2007. DACI actively participates in defining the priorities and developing anti-corruption policies which are being implemented on the regional level, within RAI, and contributes to overall development of the Initiative.