The control over the property and personal interests could be exercised during a year of the ending or expiry of the mandate of the public post, not during three years as now, as a bill to amend the Law on the National Integrity Authority (NIA) that was given two readings provides. The NIA reacted, saying these changes will compromise the Authority’s mission, IPN reports.

“The main provisions of the bill refer to the modification of the period during which the control procedures can be performed by the NIA - during the term of the mandate and within a year of the ending or expiry of the mandate. The given change introduces clear statutes of limitations for imposing penalties for the identified violations as the relevant provisions in the current form allow for unlimited application,” says the informative note to the bill drafted by a group of Socialist MPs.

The person who is subject to control will be able to challenge the ascertaining documents in court. The disciplinary punishment could be imposed after the ascertaining document becomes final, in accordance with the special laws that regulate disciplinary liability.

In a press release, the National Integrity Authority reiterates its concern about this bill, saying it disapproved of this bill last week, signaling unfavorable consequences and unwanted effects on the control files handled by the NIA, including in relation to aspects concerning punishments and bans, if the bill is adopted in the proposed version.

“Consequently, we ascertain with regret that the Authority’s warnings about this bill weren’t taken into account, while the proposed amendments will lead to the blocking of the activity of integrity inspectors by significantly reducing the available anticorruption instruments and to the impossibility of appropriately fulfilling the Authority’s duties,” said the NIA.