Corruption is one of the biggest issues Serbia faces and in 2014 the country has made progress in fighting it, but many challenges remain, said Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport at the ceremony marking the International Anti-Corruption Day.

“Over the past year, Serbia has made progress in fighting against corruption. This was stated in European Commission’s Progress Report published in October, but… in the period following the publication of the Report, Serbia has made important steps in creating better conditions for prevention and fight against corruption,” Davenport said.

According to him, the adoption of Law on Whistleblower Protection was one of the most important steps made.

“On several occasions such as this, I have highlighted that without the said protection, fight against corruption is illusory. European Commission will follow cases of whistleblowing closely, as a first step in breaking the corruption chain,” Davenport said.

He welcomed the Prime Minister Vucic’s “definite reform approach” to fight against corruption, stressing that the process of fighting against corruption “is not an easy, but rather painstaking and time consuming one, but also necessary and important, because its effect will be felt in the years to come, through economy growth, improved investment climate, and enhanced living standards of all Serbian citizens.”

“Serbia faces a series of challenges in fighting against corruption. A number of these challenges were described in detail within the so-called Screening Report,  an overview of the state in areas falling under negotiating Chapter 23. It contains a series of recommendations regarding the means of overcoming these challenges. Serbia has consistently transposed these recommendations into the first draft action plan for implementation of recommendations regarding the Chapter 23,” Davenport said.
EU Ambassador welcomed the decision of awarding media with “Verica Barac” Award for the contribution to fight against corruption.

“I am glad this Award goes to media for the second year in a row. Impartial and objective media are among the preconditions of a truly democratic society, and their work should therefore be supported,” Davenport said.

The Award went to authors of “Talasanje” programme broadcast by Radio Belgrade 1.