Strengthening Anti-Corruption Capacities in BiH: APIK and the European Union Successfully Complete Twinning Project

Strengthening Anti-Corruption Capacities in BiH: APIK and the European Union Successfully Complete Twinning Project

The closing of the two-year European Union Twinning project "Strengthening the Capacity of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption (APIK)" was marked in Sarajevo today. The project, whose key partners were the National Anti-Corruption Authority of Italy (ANAC) and the Special Investigation Service of Lithuania (STT), contributed to enhancing APIK's capacities and emphasised its role in coordinating anti-corruption policies.

Over the past two years, intensive cooperation was achieved with experts from Italy and Lithuania, directly supporting reform processes and BiH's progress on its European path.

The President of the Italian Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC), Giuseppe Busia, pointed out: "The most important lesson is that the fight against corruption is a joint effort. Initiatives like this Twinning project create conditions for long-term cooperation and mutual learning. Trust has been built and a commitment developed that will continue even after the formal closing of the project. Fighting corruption is indeed a collective and ongoing effort requiring international cooperation, to which we are firmly committed. All countries, including EU Member States, continue to face challenges and improve their anti-corruption systems, as the EU has recently adopted a new Anti-Corruption Directive recognising that further progress is both possible and necessary. The Twinning Project strengthened mutual understanding and created a lasting commitment that will continue beyond its formal conclusion".

Through successfully implemented specialised training sessions, which included more than 100 civil servants in BiH, preventive mechanisms in the fight against corruption have been strengthened. Over 30 different types of documents were developed, including methodologies and guidelines, which will serve as a useful tool in APIK's work. Besides, with the aim of modernization and transparency, a new Communication Strategy was adopted.

Elanas Jablonskas, Deputy Director of the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania (STT), highlighted the significance of the partnership and the value of international cooperation in strengthening anti-corruption institutions: "Twenty years ago, Lithuania itself was learning from international partners and benefiting from their support while strengthening its anti-corruption system. Today, we are proud to share our own experience with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Building effective anti-corruption institutions is a long-term process that requires leadership, professionalism and sustained commitment, but it is through this process that greater public trust in government is built. We believe this project will strengthen APIK's capacities, while our partnership will create lasting value for both institutions and the people they serve."

The Deputy Director of APIK, Damirka Mioč, emphasised that strengthening APIK's capacity is a key segment in building a stronger and more transparent comprehensive system for the prevention of and fight against corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Projects like this provide us with clear guidelines for further action and alignment with EU and international standards in the field of anti-corruption, while simultaneously improving the cooperation network among all stakeholders of anti-corruption activities", Mioč stated.

Head of Section for Good Governance of the EU Delegation to BiH, Karel Lizerot highlighted: "Strengthening APIK's institutional framework, independence and effectiveness will be essential for the Agency to fully assume its role within Bosnia and Herzegovina's anti-corruption architecture. The European Union expects that the expertise and recommendations generated through this project will help APIK further strengthen its leadership role in corruption prevention. Lasting progress, however, will depend on domestic ownership, adequate resources, political commitment and the consistent implementation of reforms".

This project, assigned to APIK as the beneficiary institution, was designed with the aim of transferring the best practices of EU member states and achieving sustainable results, which was highlighted by the APIK Project Leader, Jelena Turanjanin: "This project has laid a solid and practical foundation for improving the work of our Agency. Through the development of over 30 professional documents, we have proven that APIK has the capacity and a clear vision to lead and guide proactive anti-corruption measures."

The implementation of this project demonstrates the continued commitment of the European Union to supporting and guiding Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path towards European integration.