Series:CSD Corruption-Monitoring

Integrated report on corruption and trafficking in women

Integrated report on corruption and trafficking in women

Author(s): Nadya Stoynova,Atanas Rusev,Maria Yordanova / Language(s): English

Keywords: CSD; Center for the Study of Democracy; corruption; organised crime; trafficking; women

Trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation is a criminal business of transnational nature, ranking third after narcotics and arms trafficking in generating huge amounts of illegal profit. THB in all its manifestations is a dangerous crime that results in significant psychological, emotional, financial and often physical harm to victims, representing a serious violation of human rights. Despite the seriousness of the crime, law enforcement and criminal justice authorities across the world encounter various problems in investigating and punishing perpetrators. One important barrier is corruption, which – as with other criminal enterprises – is a significant facilitating mechanism.

Corruption and trafficking in women: The case of Bulgaria

Corruption and trafficking in women: The case of Bulgaria

Author(s): Tihomir Bezlov,Maria Yordanova,Nadya Stoynova / Language(s): English

Keywords: CSD; Center for the Study of Democracy; human trafficking; corruption; organised crime; Bulgaria

Corruption is an important facilitating mechanism for human trafficking. The link between the two crimes is especially relevant in countries like Bulgaria, which traditionally have had very levels of trafficking. Corruption is believed to be one of the key instruments adopted by organised criminal groups to avoid detection and obstruct counter-trafficking efforts. Although the use of corruption is often mentioned along with human trafficking, few studies have empirically explored the factors and mechanisms behind this nexus.

Anti-Corruption Policies Revisited: WP9 Organised crime and impact on vulnerable groups (ANTICORRP Integrated Report)

Anti-Corruption Policies Revisited: WP9 Organised crime and impact on vulnerable groups (ANTICORRP Integrated Report)

Author(s): Salvatore Sberna,Alberto Vannucci,Tihomir Bezlov,Dimitar Markov,Maria Karayotova,Ana Hećimović,Iva Nenadić,Munir Podumljak,Péter Gyimesi,Szidónia Nagy,Boróka Pápay,Zoltán Szántó,István János Tóth,Edona Krasniqi / Language(s): English

This integrated report investigates the link between political corruption and organised crime, by examining the modalities, resources and strategies used by criminal groups to govern and/or capture the market of political corruption. On the one hand, the report looks at the infiltration of organised crime in three main policy sectors where public spending and regulations play a pivotal role: public procurement, the privatization of public services, and management of EU funds. Alongside this, the report also analyses the criminal penetration of electoral politics, by evaluating the influence that criminal organisations can achieve in electoral arenas. As a result, the report provides a general assessment of policy regulations, legal countermeasures and practices adopted to prevent and combat organised crime, especially in interaction with political corruption. The report is drawn from data collected in five European countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo) across the above themes, and includes two more countries for the assessment of anti-organised crime legislation and initiatives (Albania and Georgia). The methodology involves both extensive and intensive strategies of investigation. A quantitative assessment of the crime and politics nexus is based on the Organised Crime & Corruption (OCC) events database, in which events data about the link between criminal groups and political corruption have been gathered and assembled1. A qualitative assessment involves in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of corrupt exchanges, presented as single case studies conducted in the countries covered by this study, inclusive of primary and secondary sources (interviews, legal proceedings, academic and policy-oriented reports). Data collection and analyses were conducted by five institutions across Europe (EUI, CSD, BCE, IKS, PSD).

Corruption and Organized Crime Threat Monitoring Report

Corruption and Organized Crime Threat Monitoring Report

Author(s): Emilija Tudzarovska-Gjorgjievska / Language(s): English

The Corruption and Organized Crime Threat Monitoring Report is an overview of the state and dynamics of corruption and organized crime in the Republic of Macedonia. The basis of this report is the Corruption Monitoring System (CMS) developed by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD). The CMS relies on diverse sources of information and combines quantitative and qualitative methods for monitoring and the assessment of corruption and organized crime. The CMS has gained acknowledgement from the United Nations (UN) as a best practice system for monitoring corruption at the national level. The report is divided into seven chapters and it provides an overview of the legal and institutional framework for the fight against corruption and organized crime in the country, provides an overview of the macroeconomic situation and the emergence of the link between corruption and organized crime, risk assessment of threats and corruption of organized crime, as well as levels of connection between these two phenomena: infiltration (general) in the political arena, infiltration in the government (elected officials), infiltration in public administration and institutions, bribery, etc. Through these levels indirect critical review of corruption in politics is offered, but also to other areas and levels of government such as the judiciary; administration, police and customs. The last section deals with the private sector and corruption with a general review and review of public procurement, money laundering and VAT fraud.

Hidden Economy in Macedonia Policy Brief 3: Hunting the Shadows – Tax Evasion Dynamics in Macedonia

Лов на сенки - динамиката на даночното затајување во Македонија

Author(s): Author Not Specified,Center for Research and Policy Making CRPM / Language(s): Macedonian

The Center for the Study of Democracy, in collaboration with the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) elaborated a series of policy briefs analyzing the hidden economy in Macedonia. The topics encompass the issues of countering undeclared labour, tax evasion and fraud, media reporting on hidden economy and corruption, etc. According to estimates in 2013 the European Union lost around 1 trillion EUR in public revenues annually due to tax evasion and fraud. Given that EU's GDP summed up to 12.7 trillion EUR in 2013, tax evasion and fraud represented 7.9% of its annual GDP. The current policy brief stresses that as a middle-income country, which is still reforming its tax authority, tax system and related measures against tax evasion and fraud, one can reasonably assume that Macedonia should expect at least a similar rate to GDP of tax evasion and fraud (7.9%) or at least 700 mln. EUR on an annual basis. On the one hand, it negatively affects the competitive position of the companies that pay their taxes vis-a-vis the ones that evade taxes. On the other hand, it affects all citizens, as it undermines the everyday functioning of public services, (like healthcare, education, security, infrastructure etc.), which otherwise would have had better quality and extent. The authors underline several key points: tax revenues from pension and disability, and healthcare contributions in Macedonia have increased recently despite the lowering of tax rates; according to the Public Revenue Office tax evasion and issuance of cash register receipts were the leading causes for reporting irregularities throughout the period 2006-2013; the hidden economy survey among businesses has shown that half of interviewed companies agree that the tax system is good and stimulating for the development of businesses; but less than half (46.7%) of citizens reported to always receive receipts when buying groceries; and 1/3 of businesses reported that ‘manipulating VAT’ and ‘employing accounting tricks in order to pay lower taxes’ happens in their sectors.

ANTICORRP Background paper on Bulgaria

ANTICORRP Background paper on Bulgaria

Author(s): Alexander Stoyanov,Ruslan Stefanov,Boryana Velcheva / Language(s): English

Keywords: Anti-Corruption; Corruption, Governance; Governance Regimes; Bulgaria

The Worldwide Governance Indicators show that Bulgaria has made significant progress in the area of “control of corruption” since 1996. This finding contrasts with the general opinion of the Bulgarian population who perceive Bulgarian institutions as corrupt, and contradicts the decision of the European Commission to continue monitoring Bulgaria’s progress in fighting corruption and organized crime. Hence, there is a need for careful consideration and analysis to understand how much progress Bulgaria has really made in the fight against corruption. Can Bulgaria be considered an anti-corruption success story? This paper seeks to answer the above questions by providing a background analysis on Bulgaria’s governance regime. According to research, Bulgaria has made some progress in its transition from patrimonialism to open access order but the main features of its governance regime remain these of competitive particularism. In legal terms Bulgaria displays some open access order features but they do not translate into practical implementation.

Anti-Corruption Measures in EU Border Control

Anti-Corruption Measures in EU Border Control

Author(s): Philip Gounev,Rositsa Dzhekova,Tihomir Bezlov / Language(s): English

The present study, commissioned by FRONTEX, provides academic and policy perspectives, as well as empirical data on corruption and anti-corruption measures observed in border guard institutions across the 27 Member States of the European Union. The report compares and analyses anti-corruption measures in EU Member States’ border guard services, as well as the strategies and instruments used in corruption investigations of border guards. The purpose of this study was to provide border guards with a general overview of the relevant academic and policy research available on the subject of corruption, as well as to review and analyse mechanisms of corruption and the principal anti-corruption measures targeting them.

Anti-Corruption in Public Procurement: Balancing the Policies

Anti-Corruption in Public Procurement: Balancing the Policies

Author(s): Jens Andvig,Boyko Todorov / Language(s): English

This paper analyzes the mechanisms of corruption in public procurement in the context of the EU policies in this area. The analysis focuses on the implications of governance failures in procurement as experienced in two countries of quite different corruption propensities – Norway and Bulgaria – for the European anti-corruption and public procurement policies. The paper intends to inform the development of the expected EU policy updates in these areas by analyzing the trade-offs that are necessitated when combining competition and anti-corruption goals.

CSD Contribution to the EU Consultation on a future reporting and monitoring mechanism on EU Member states progress on fighting corruption

CSD Contribution to the EU Consultation on a future reporting and monitoring mechanism on EU Member states progress on fighting corruption

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The document presents the Responses by the Center for the Study of Democracy to the questionnaire for the Consultation on a future reporting and monitoring mechanism on EU Member states progress on fighting corruption. The questionnaire gathers opinions on the establishment of a reporting mechanism on the fight against corruption in the EU-27, the relevant anti-corruption measures, the proposed tools to gather data on corruption across the EU, the vulnerable to corruption sectors, etc.

Crime without Punishment: Countering Corruption and Organized Crime in Bulgaria

Crime without Punishment: Countering Corruption and Organized Crime in Bulgaria

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The report provides an overview of the state and dynamics of the corruption in Bulgaria as well as of the Bulgarian anticorruption policy and initiatives during the first two years of Bulgaria`s EU membership. This period can be described with a high rate of crimes without punishment such as political corruption and organized crime. This report explores the facets and sources of political corruption in Bulgaria. It tracks the dynamics of the hidden economy in the country and the main channels for corrupt interaction between business and politics.

Anti-Corruption Reforms in Bulgaria: Key Results and Risks

Anti-Corruption Reforms in Bulgaria: Key Results and Risks

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

This is the eighth Corruption Assessment Report providing an overview of the state and dynamics of corruption in Bulgaria and Bulgarian anticorruption policy. It analyzes the main results and risks of the anticorruption process from the period immediately preceding Bulgaria’s accession to the EU through to the first months of EU membership. The report builds on regular monitoring of the spread of corruption, its trends, evaluations of the anti-corruption efforts and initiatives implemented by government institutions and by civil society, as well as a number of suggestions and recommendations on anti-corruption measures, including considerations related to the administration of EU’s structural funds. In addition to the main corruption indexes which have consistently displayed lower values throughout 2006 and early 2007, the report draws on authoritative international surveys to assess corruption levels in Bulgaria in comparison to EU member states. Furthermore, Bulgaria’s EU member status demands that national anti-corruption initiatives are implemented in close coordination with EU and international efforts in this area. Therefore, corruption would be most appropriately measured and assessed by a common EU benchmarking methodology as the most reliable yardstick for international comparisons.

Anticorruption Reforms in Bulgaria

Anticorruption Reforms in Bulgaria

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The report makes an overview of the conducted anticorruption reforms in Bulgaria since 1997 and analyses the spheres of penetration, as well as the levels and dynamics of corruption in the Bulgarian society and presents the major achievements and problems of anticorruption reforms. It also defines the challenges for the conducting of anticorruption reforms, which ensue from the pending accession of Bulgaria to the European Union: i.e. overcoming of structural and institutional barriers in counteracting corruption; effective functioning of judiciary and law enforcement systems; restriction of corruption-generating practices of the organized crime and grey economy. // Coalition 2000 is an initiative of Bulgarian non-governmental organizations launched in the spring of 1997, which aims at counteracting corruption in th Bulgarian society through a partnership between state institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals, who developed and have been implementing an Anti-Corruption Action Plan, a Corruption Monitoring System, and an anti-corruption public awareness campaign.

Corruption Assessment Report 2002

Corruption Assessment Report 2002

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Coalition 2000 is an initiative of Bulgarian non-governmental organizations launched in the spring of 1997 with the aim to counter corruption in Bulgarian society through a partnership between state institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals, who developed and have been implementing an Anti-Corruption Action Plan, a CorruptionMonitoring System, and an anti-corruption public awareness campaign.The Corruption Assessment Report - 2002 follows the structure and approach of the Action Plan adopted by the Policy Forum of Coalition 2000 in November 1998. The Report contains a general evaluation of the state and dynamics of corruption in Bulgarian society and of anti-corruption efforts in the year 2002.

Anti-Corruption in Southeast Europe: First Steps and Policies

Anti-Corruption in Southeast Europe: First Steps and Policies

Author(s): / Language(s): English

The main goal of the Report is to sensitize politicians and civil society to the specific set of sources of corruption in the region. The first part analyzes the origins of cross border corruption in the region which is seen as a result of the rise of transnational crime caused by the violent break-up of former Yugoslavia. It intends to show that regional factors significantly contribute to national-level corruption and could undermine national anti-corruption efforts. In the second part, the report evaluates the national circumstances in which the regional factors develop. It compares the national legislation and institutional practice in a number of areas critical to anti-corruption efforts: regulatory and legal framework, institutional prerequisites, corruption in the economy, the role of civil society and media and international cooperation. The second part is ultimately a collection of contributions from watchdog organizations in the countries in Southeast Europe. In fact, the nature of regional concerns about corruption is evident in the limitations of this report – namely that the level of institutional development, policy implementation practice and international affiliations of the countries in SEE are varying to such a degree that only a “bird’s eye view” could reveal the source of common problem. This was very much in line with the USAID approach that there is a strong conceptual distinction between law enforcement approaches to corruption, which try to strengthen crime-fighting efforts, and a more holistic approach that addresses poor governance systems more broadly. The countries covered by the RCAR included Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.

Background Document on Corruption in Southeast Europe

Background Document on Corruption in Southeast Europe

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Corruption Assessment Report 2000

Corruption Assessment Report 2000

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Corruption Assessment Report - 2000 is the second in a row, which attempts to outline the general framework and the specific dimensions of corrupt practices in Bulgaria introduced in their dynamics. As before, our evaluation criteria take into account reputable international analyses and domestic indexes about the spread and the frequency of different forms of corrupt behavior. The analysis of the Corruption Indexes of Coalition 2000 shows that, over the past year, the public in this country has still perceived corruption as an obstacle to Bulgaria's development that is especially difficult to overcome. Respondents in various polls have indicated that unemployment, low incomes and poverty are the only factors ranking higher than corruption in terms of social significance. Moreover, the problem of corruption has been given more weight in comparison with the previous year. The latter fact demonstrates that, in the opinion of the public, no sufficiently effective means exist yet to combat corrupt practices so as to suppress them to a tolerable level.

Corruption Assessment Report 1999

Corruption Assessment Report 1999

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Limiting corruption in Bulgarian society calls not only for institutional and legal measures but also for establishing the rule of law. In this sense, it is of crucial importance to foster a political and economic culture based on trust and respect for public institutions, on transparency and openness in the actions of public administration, and the will to achieve stability and predictability of the economic and social environment. Coalition 2000 is an initiative of Bulgarian non-governmental organizations which was launched in the Spring of 1997 aimed at limiting corruption in Bulgarian society through a partnership between state institutions, non-governmental organizations, and individual personalities, who developed and have been implementing an Anti-Corruption Action Plan, Corruption Monitoring System, and an anti-corruption public awareness campaign. The Corruption Assessment Report 1999 follows the structure and approach of the Action Plan adopted by the Policy Forum of Coalition 2000 in November 1998. It presents a general evaluation of the state and dynamic of corruption in Bulgarian society and of the efforts to counteract it in 1999.

Local Anti-Corruption Initiatives

Local Anti-Corruption Initiatives

Author(s): / Language(s): English

This brochure represents an attempt to analyze and summarize the activities and results of the first stage of the Small Projects program of Coalition 2000. Following a competition held in the beginning of 1999, thirteen non-governmental organizations, most of them based in different Bulgarian town and cities, were included in the first pilot stage of the program. They include: 'Civic Council in Razgrad' Citizens Coalition, 'Stefan Stambolov' Bulgarian Youth League - Smolian, Center for the Study of Political Processes - Shoumen, 'Lecturers' NGO - Plovdiv, 'Revived Civil Society' Regional Association - Pleven, InfoEcoClub - Vratza, Black Sea Legal Community - Bourgas, 'Sexaginta' Open Education Youth Center - Rousse, as well as the Sofia-based Christian Revival Movement, the Corruption-free Society Association, the Association of Young Lawyers, the Foundation for Entrepreneurship Development, and the Bulgarian Association for Fair Elections and Civil Rights. Within a time frame of three months (April - June 1999) they conducted activities covering the whole spectrum of the anti-corruption campaign: participation in the Clean Future Public Awareness Campaign, local government monitoring, establishment of anti-corruption structures, using different instruments to expose and curb corrupt practices in the respective municipalities. Despite the fact that such a short time frame does not enable the potential of the Coalition 2000 local initiatives to be fully utilized, the experience accumulated during that time can be used to map out future spheres, forms of organization, and instruments in this new part of Bulgarian reality. This is why the brochure focuses on the practices which seem most promising for our future work. It will continue with the second stage of the Small Projects 1999-2000 program within whose framework a permanent cooperation structure will be established with local NGOs as part of the Coalition 2000 process. In a structural respect the pamphlet consists of two main sections. The first contains analyses of the pilot stage of local initiatives conducted by Coalition 2000 experts. The second section presents the so-called "best practices", as well as some sociological studies conducted by our local partners. With the stipulation that these are initiatives in their pilot, i.e. experimental, stage we recommend them as already tested instruments which could effectively be used to accomplish the goals of anti-corruption activity. A List of Activities under the Small Projects program of the 13 NGOs is appended.

CLEAN FUTURE. Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Bulgaria. Monitoring. Corruption Assessment Indices

CLEAN FUTURE. Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Bulgaria. Monitoring. Corruption Assessment Indices

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The Anti-Corruption Action Plan has been developed within the framework of the Coalition 2000 process with the purpose of becoming part of the social agenda as a broadly approved system of measures and actions for curbing the extremely dangerous social phenomenon of corruption. The Anti-Corruption Action Plan gained credit as a document, which was often referred to in Bulgaria and used in other countries as a model for mapping out national anti-corruption priorities. In the words of George Soros, the Bulgarian anti-corruption plan is the most comprehensive and ambitious document of its kind.

Corruption Indexes of Coalition 2000, November 2004

Corruption Indexes of Coalition 2000, November 2004

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The report presents key findings about the level of corruption and corruption related perceptions. The analysis is based on national sample (n=966) survey of the Bulgarian population aged 18 and over and also includes previous Vitosha Research survey data (back to February 1999).