Series:CSD Corruption-Monitoring

A Painful Shift in Bulgarian Anti-Corruption Policies and Practice

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

The most important shift in Bulgaria’s anti-corruption policies in recent months is the move from “soft” (awareness-raising) campaigns to “hard” (prevention and sanctions oriented) measures with immediate anti-corruption effects. Taken together these recent developments create a tipping point for countering political corruption, a critical mass of action to guarantee that Bulgaria moves to a new equilibrium of lower political and administrative corruption. The latest CSD Brief points out that more pressure and support both from EU partners and from the Bulgarian civil society and mass media would be needed for the country to move more quickly to this new equilibrium. Bulgaria still needs to address several outstanding challenges to complement its initial steps against political corruption: • coordination of anti-corruption measures; • pro-active generation of anti-corruption policies; • decrease the corruption vulnerability of public procurement by ensuring transparency and accountability; • reducing channels for political payback and corruption; • public-private partnerships; • reducing VAT fraud; • more efforts in the administrative domain, including government’s commitment to independent oversight of its anti-corruption actions; • measuring the impact on the level of corruption of all anti-corruption programs implemented in the country.

ANTICORRP Background paper on Bulgaria

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

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 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.

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.

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 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).

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.

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.

Background Document on Corruption in Southeast Europe

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

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.

Coalition 2000 Corruption Indexes, CSD Monitor, Issue 3, 1998

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

In the period March 1997 - September 1998 Vitosha Research conducted its regular survey on corruption among the Bulgarian population. This study is part of the Corruption Monitoring System of Coalition 2000. The report "Coalition 2000 Corruption Indexes, CSD Monitor, Issue 3, 1998" presents the main findings, comparative analysis, trends and conclusions based on the data of the last survey.

CONTRASTO ALL’ESTORSIONE ORGANIZZATA: L’ESPERIENZA ITALIANA

Author(s): Elena Sciandra,Antonio Iafano / Language(s): Italian

Extortion racketeering is a crime which spans all sections of society, poses threats to the well-being of local communities and impairs the growth and development of business. No country is immune to it, although it varies across time, space and economic context. Extortion can be perpetrated by single offenders, or it can be part of more complex criminal schemes. In this sense, the case of Italy is typical because Italian mafias systematically resort to extortion racketeering.

Corporate Governance: An Antidote to Corruption. Examples/lessons learned in Bulgaria and transition countries

Author(s): Todor Yalamov,Boyan Belev / Language(s): English

The phenomenon referred to as corruption comprises the sundry forms of abuse of power (economic, political and administrative) which all result in obtaining personal or collective benefits to the detriment of the rights and lawful interests of an individual, groups or the whole society. Corruption hinders development virtually everywhere, thus harming the social, political, and economic life of any society. It distorts choice, increases costs of products and services, promotes unproductive investment, contributes to decline of living standards and undermines democracy and societal integrity.

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.

Corruption and trafficking in women: The case of Bulgaria

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

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.

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.

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 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.

Corruption Assessment Report 2003

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

Countering corruption in Bulgaria needs to go further than institutional or legislative measures and be aimed at creating the kind of political and economic culture which is built on trust in public institutions, transparency and accountability of all actions of the public administration and a determination to achieve a stable and predictable economic and social environment. Coalition 2000 is an initiative of Bulgarian non-governmental organizations launched in the spring of 1997 with the aim to help restrict 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 Corruption Monitoring System, and an anti-corruption public awareness campaign. The Corruption Assessment Report – 2003 follows the approach of the Action Plan adopted by the Policy Forum 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 2003 emphasizing the anti-corruption dimensions of judicial reform in Bulgaria.

Corruption Indexes of Coalition 2000, April 2000

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

In the period April 1-15, 2000 Vitosha Research conducted its regular survey on corruption among the Bulgarian population. This study is part of the Corruption Monitoring System of Coalition 2000. The report "Corruption monitoring by Coalition 2000" (.pdf) presents the main findings, comparative analysis, trends and conclusions based on the data of the last survey.