A two-day meeting of the Working Group for the Development of the Operational Plan for the Prevention of Corruption in the Police was held in Novi Sad on 15 and 16 July 2025, marking an important step forward in Serbia’s efforts to enhance integrity and transparency in law enforcement. The initiative responds directly to recommendations issued by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), which called on Serbian authorities to adopt a dedicated strategic document for corruption prevention in the police sector.
Working group for development of the Operational Plan is composed of representatives of the different sectors within the Ministry of Interior (police directorate, sector for logistics, sector for internal control) as well as the representatives of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, reviewed and discussed a technical report identifying high-risk areas for corruption within the police. During the workshop, the methodology for developing the Operational Plan was presented, emphasizing importance of an evidence-based, transparent, and inclusive approach in creation of this document. The participants adopted the outline and template for development of the plan, together with a list of general and specific objectives, in order to address risks of corruption identified through assessments carried out by Agency for Prevention of Corruption, Ministry of interior, GRECO and Council of Europe experts.
Working sessions focused on key risk areas such as: ethics and integrity, asset and income declarations, secondary employment, conflict of interest, whistleblower protection, public procurement, and police-citizen interactions. Group discussions refined proposed objectives and actions, ensuring they are grounded in the findings of recent assessments and aligned with Serbia’s broader anti-corruption strategy. The working group will continue development of the targeted activities in upcoming period, set realistic timeframes, assign responsibilities, and establish indicators for effective monitoring and evaluation.
The forthcoming Operational Plan is a direct response to GRECO’s call for Serbia to address structural vulnerabilities and implement systematic safeguards within the police. Once finalized, it is expected to provide a strategic framework for meaningful and sustainable reform, strengthening public trust in the country’s law enforcement institutions.
The activity has taken place within the Project “Countering Economic Crime in Serbia”, funded by the Swedish International Development Agency, and implemented by the Council of Europe.
