Anti-corruption squad's credibility rising

The credibility of the Economic Crimes and Corruption Combating Center (ECCCC) is rising, although the squad has managed to accomplish but 2/3 of the actions envisaged by Country Threshold Program (CTP), Info-Prim Neo reports. This is one of the conclusions of the monitoring report on the implementation of the CTP, launched by the NGOs joining the Anti-Corruption Alliance. Out of the total number of activities, by the end of 2008, the ECCCC carried out 23, as 12 activities were accomplished partially or are under way. Three activities have not been accomplished at all. According to a second poll commissioned by Transparency International Moldova, the ECCCC has recorded positive developments since the start of the CTP in all the sectors. According to Galina Bostan, the executive manager of the Corruption Analysis and Prevention Center (CAPC), an organization having watched the ECCCC implementing the CTP, the last quarter of 2008 saw a slight improvement in terms of the squad's openness. During that period, the number of media reports critical of the ECCCC's work decreased in number. In general the institution is well organized and knew to adopt smart solutions in critical situations, as for instance the idea to create the Civil Council to watch the ECCCC, says Galina Bostan. However, the CAPC concludes that within the ECCCC there corruption-related risks, generated by the high level of administrative discretion. As during the previous quarters, the CAPC remarks the rather efficient work of the Internal Security Direction of the ECCCC. Still the new reorganization of the squad arouses concern. “It seems that this reorganization has a conjuncture-related character, meant to solve some minor issues, even imaginary,” reads the CAPC's report. As the elections are approaching, preventive measures should be adopted not to admit the direct or indirect involvement of the ECCCC in political persecutions and intimidations. They need to strictly observe the provisions of the Election Code, banning to arrest, detain, sanction the candidates without the agreement of the election commission they registered with, except for severe offenses. The impact of the ECCCC's anti-corruption policies will not be palpable, as long as the considerable efforts (training, news conferences, round tables, etc.) of the ECCCC are not supported from the state budget, the CAPC states. Through the CTP, the Moldovan Government committed to continue, with the support of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the reforms in decreasing corruption in five sectors. The Government has benefited from assistance worth $24.7 million from the US Government. The measures envisaged by the CTP were to be achieved from 2007 to 2008. The monitoring of the Anti-Corruption Alliance is part of the Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity Program, implemented by the Academy for Educational Development (AED). The program is funded by the MCC and run by USAID within the CTP.