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At the Anti-Corruption Summit London 2016, Romania has signalled its determination to speed up its fight against corruption, with emphasis on the prevention and retrieval of the proceeds of crime, as well as investment in education and exchanges of good practices.
Romania's Justice Ministry says in a press statement that the summit in London hosted by UK's Prime Minister David Cameron unequivocally reopened the fight against corruption as a global priority needed to alleviate poverty and for sustainable development.
In a communique at the end of the summit, the attending nations reiterated the need for a worldwide fight against corruption.
The participating delegations also set to use and implement international agreements in force, while turning the fight against corruption in a domestic and foreign priority.
"Romania, represented by Deputy Prime Minister Costin Borc and Justice Minister Raluca Pruna, signalled in its turn its determination to speed up the fight against corruption, saying that is a duty to the citizens. In the document at the end of the summit, Romania states its commitment to keep up the pace of late in its anti-corruption policies and implement a new set of measures under a future national anti-corruption strategy. Emphasis will be on prevention and retrieval of the proceeds of crime, as well as investment in education and exchanges of good practices," the Justice Ministry says.
All this can only be achieved if there is legislative and organisational stability where political will is paramount.
"The Romanian Government reaffirms that a high level performance of the National Anticorruption Directorate and National Integrity Agency is possible only if such institutions are provided by the Government and the Parliament with a sound mandate, translated into clear and predictable legislation, adequate resources and independence from undue political and economic pressures," reads Romania's statement to the summit.
The statement also says over the past few years, Romania made further steps in fighting corruption, from the stage of adopting anti-corruption laws and policies to the one of ensuring their effective implementation.
"We now have a consistent track record in addressing corruption, both in the public and the private sectors. Moreover, we work closely with a significant number of institutions in other jurisdictions to trace and recover proceeds of corruption and organised crime. As a consequence, the annual value of the seized assets reached and even surpassed half a billion euros and our flagship anti-corruption institutions - the National Anticorruption Directorate and the National Integrity Agency - are today acknowledged as sound partners and providers of best practices at an international level," the statement says.
