Action against economic crime
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GEPAC: Support to the Anti-corruption strategy of Georgia |
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GEPAC Project aimed at strengthening Georgian institutions' capacities in their anti-corruption efforts through the implementation of the Anti-corruption Strategy and Action Plan.
Funded by a 700.000 € voluntary contribution of the Ministry for Development Co-operation of the Netherlands, GEPAC promoted technical co-operation among different law-enforcement
and prevention services. Activities Closing Conference (26 March 2010, Tbilisi) [30 March 2010, Strasbourg] The GEPAC Project’s closing conference took place at the Marriott Hotel in Tbilisi on 26 March 2010. Mr Vakhtang Lejava, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mr Heino van Houwelingen, Counsellor /DHM, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ms Ardita Abdiu, Head of Corruption and Fraud Unit, Council of Europe and Ms Marijana Trivunovic, Project Advisor, Council of Europe Expert addressed the closing event. The GEPAC project implementation, completed activities, and the status of the main project outputs (e.g. national AC Strategy) were presented. The presentations also included findings of the two surveys undertaken during GEPAC. The representatives of various state institutions, non-governmental organisations as well as other donors operating in the Country attended to the closing event. Workshop on Indicators and Reporting Tools for Monitoring the Implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy of Georgia (24 February 2010, Tbilisi) [26 February 2010, Strasbourg] On 24 February 2010, a workshop on Indicators and Reporting Tools for Monitoring the Implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy of Georgia was conducted. During the workshop, the Project’s short-term adviser, Ms. Marijana Trivunovic made a presentation on the aforementioned subject in particular elements of implementation plan, concrete measures, responsible institutions and partner agencies were at issue. Also the attendants expressed big interest in the implementation plan and the relevant steps after the adoption of AC Strategy of Georgia. Development of Anti-Corruption Training Module (22-25 February 2010, Tbilisi)
The workshop was led by Mr Michael Ocvirk, BAK investigator with the unit for Prevention and Education, who presented Austrian good practices for review and adaptation to the Georgian national context, and national expert Mr Giorgi Jokhadze, Trainer of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.
Presentation for Media on National Anti-Corruption Strategy of Georgia and Perception of Corruption Surveys (29 January 2010, Tbilisi) [3 February 2010, Strasbourg] A Presentation for Media on National Anti-Corruption Strategy and on the results of two GEPAC surveys took place at the State Chancellery. The representative of the survey company GORBI presented the findings of the surveys of “Perception of Corruption in Georgia – General Public Survey” and “Perception of Corruption in Georgia – Survey of Public Officials”.
The Strategy was presented by Mr
Vakhtang Lejava, Chief Adviser to
the Prime Minister of Georgia on
Economic and Governance Affairs. His
presentation included the role of
the Anti-Corruption Council and the
process of Anti-Corruption strategy
formulation, and modes of
cooperation in this process. Perception of Corruption Surveys are completed !
The general public survey assessed the degree of integrity of various service providers, the existing corruption reporting system, prevailing attitudes and the role of the Georgian Legal System. Aspects of the educational and public health care systems, as well as electricity, water and gas utilities were also examined. The public official survey marked differences in the number of observed cases of corruption in the last five years. The most important improvement was noted in human resources management. Most publics officials consider cronyism and bribes as practices of the past. Both surveys results were shared with public during a presentation for the media scheduled for the end of January 2010 in Tbilisi.
Public Discussion on National Anti-Corruption Strategy of Georgia (15 January 2010, Tbilisi) [19 January 2010, Strasbourg] One of the main aims of the GEPAC project has been to assist the drafting of the Anti-Corruption Strategy. In relation to this, a public discussion on national Anti-Corruption Strategy of Georgia took place with the participation of representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Academia. The draft current strategy was presented to the participants and templates were disseminated in order to receive feedback from them. The deadline for receiving the submissions was set as the end of January 2010. Training on access of public to information (26 December 2009, Tbilisi) [4 January 2010, Strasbourg] The Council of Europe organised training for the public officials dealing with granting access of public information. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the national legislation on free access to public information and the problems of implementation of this legislation in practice. The discussion was aimed at the solving of the day-to-day difficulties connected with the providing of the public information to the citizens. The meeting took place at Hotel Ambasadori. Training for police officers on Code of Conduct (9-10 December 2009, Tbilisi) [11 December 2009, Strasbourg] The Council of Europe organised training to raise awareness among the police officers about the Code of Ethics. The Federal Bureau for Internal Affairs of Federal Ministry of the Interior of Austria cooperated with the Council of Europe for this activity. The back-to-back training sessions on Code of Ethics for police officers took place at the Police Academy of Ministry of Internal Affairs on 9-10 December 2009. The training was delivered by Mr Dominik Fasching who currently works for the Prevention and Internal Relations Unit of the Federal Bureau for Internal Affairs in Austria, and Mr Ivane Khazhalia who is also a regular trainer on the Code of Ethics at the Academy of the Ministry of Georgia. The issues discussed included the Georgian and Austrian code of ethics and their key provisions, challenges from practice, and lessons learned. 3rd Steering Group Meeting (25 June 2009, Tbilisi) [29 June 2009, Strasbourg] The 3rd GEPAC Steering Group Meeting (SG) took place at the Ministry of Justice in Tbilisi on 25 June 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to review the progress made to date, to discuss the possibility of extending the project and the recruitment of a second national Long Term Advisor. As a result, the SG decided to extend the implementation period of the project until 31 March 2010. The Project workplan was revised and the calender of activities was updated. The SG also decided to proceed with the recruitment of a second national Long Term Advisor. The meeting brought together representatives of main partners institutions of the project (the Coordination Council for Fight against Corruption, the Minsitry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior), the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Council of Europe.
3rd Progress Report [27 April 2009, Strasbourg] The report evaluates the results of the activities which took place since September 2008 focusing mainly on strengthening the capacities for prosecuting and investigating high level corruption cases, as well as the support to the new Coordination Council for Fighting against Corruption. While the creation of the Coordination Council for Fighting against Corruption and the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), is promissing, the report insists on the need for stronger efforts to update and implement the anti-corruption strategy and action plan for Georgia. Workshop on “Best Practices” (11 March 2009, Tbilisi) [11 March 2009, Strasbourg] A workshop on “Best Practices” in Anti-Corruption bodies was organised at the Ministry of Justice for the newly-established Georgian “Coordination Council for Fighting against Corruption”. Among others, presentations on international legal instruments and requirements concerning Anti-Corruption bodies, as well as success and failures of some other countries’ Anti-Corruption bodies were given to the Council. Meeting with the "Coordination Council for Fighting against Corruption” (2-6 February 2009, Tbilisi) [11 March 2009, Strasbourg] Following the establishment by President Saakashvili of the “Coordination Council for Fighting against Corruption” on 26 December 2008, GEPAC project team met with the Deputy Chairperson as well as several members, from the government, administration and representatives of the Civil Society, composing the Coordination Council. A Technical Paper with recommendations on further assistance activities with the Council, especially as regard the review of the Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan, has been prepared and handed-over to the Deputy Chairperson of the Council. Two Study Visits for police officers and prosecutors from Georgia (12-16 January 2009, Croatia & Hamburg)
[22 January 2009,
Strasbourg]
Police officers and prosecutors from Georgia visited the
Office for the Suppression of Organised Crime and
Corruption (USKOK) in Zagreb, Croatia, and the
Department of Internal Investigations of the Ministry of
Interior of Hamburg, Germany. The study visit took place
from 12 to 16 January 2009. The aim of the visit was to
provide first-hand experience to complement the theory
and help Georgian officials to examine possible changes
to their own procedures and approaches, and also
initiate the basis for launching co-operation and
networking with other CoE Member States. Training for law enforcement agents on the use of Special Investigative Means (9-10 December 2008, Tbilisi)
[04 December 2008,
Strasbourg]
The training on the use of special investigative means
will gather professionals from the Ministry of Interior
and the Prosecutor's Office working on investigation and
prosecutions of corruption cases. The discussion will
focus on relevant issues related to the effective use of
special investigative techniques in Georgia, exchange of
experience with practitioners from abroad and best
practices. 2nd Steering Group Meeting (8 October 2008, Tbilisi)
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[28 January 2010,
Strasbourg] 