CPS | Monitor | Corruption

Anti-Corruption measures
In its Opinion on Slovakia, the Commission stated that the fight against corruption needed to be made more effective and the Regular Report did not identify major improvement in this area. Progress can be reported in terms of conventions signed, policy decisions adopted and specific actions taken. Nevertheless, results have been modest.
Slovakia signed the Council of Europe's Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime in September 1999 and approved the participation in the Group of States against corruption (GRECO) in March. The OECD Convention on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions was approved by Parliament, but is not yet ratified. The criminal code was amended to cover both active and passive bribery. The Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption was signed by Slovakia in January but is not yet ratified.
The Government approved a crime prevention strategy which implements relevant Council of Europe and UN recommendations. Based on recommendations from the joint European Commission and Council of Europe project on corruption (Octopus) a specialised police unit was created in December 1998 for countering corruption.
The above unit has solved six criminal cases of passive bribery and misuse of authority by public officials. The Government has reviewed a number of privatisation transactions where suspicion existed that the law had been violated, but the results have been kept confidential. Lack of transparency and suspicion of corruption in connection with a tender have led to the resignation of a Minister and the dismissal of a high government official.
A considerable number of representatives of the previous Government have been deprived of their passports following the investigation of economic crimes. The number of offenders prosecuted has significantly increased. More than 100 police officers have been prosecuted for various crimes, of which 7 cases relate to corruption. The Slovak Financial Police reports 13-25 suspicious banking operations per month. In 1998 there were 14 registered cases of criminal proceedings against customs police officers.
In spite of the above, the effect of the measures taken has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated. Further sustained efforts are needed to ensure effectiveness in the fight against corruption both in economic and political life.

Phare programmes

A search on the Phare Programme Search Facility yields two programmes dealing directly with corruption in Slovakia (corruption also features as a minor component of three further programmes - SR9913, SR9808, and SR9809).

Programme on justice and home affairs - SR9908

Budget: Fight against organised crime and corruption Euro 1,900,000
Description: Phare will provide support for the elaboration of a complex programme for the fight against crime, with special emphasis on: organised crime; corruption; tax evasion; drug crimes; child pornography; trafficking in women; motor vehicle theft. A specialised unit for the fight against corruption, the Department of Criminal Terrorism, has been established within the organisational structure of the Presidium of the Police Force. Phare will provide support for establishing additional special units for combating organised crime.

Pre-ins (catch-up) facility - SR9813

Budget: Support for the fight against corruption ECU 1,052,000
Description: Support will be provided to the Supreme Audit Office for creating training activities and providing equipment. Focus will be on: improving the knowledge of staff on professional methodology, international norms, standards and jurisdiction, in relation to the fight against corruption; bringing audit and control practice and procedures in line with European Union standards; increasing exchanges of experience and information with professionals in European Union Member States and other central and eastern European countries. The facility will provide funding for: a feasibility study on the establishment of an educational institution for auditors and controllers, on the basis of a systematic approach to European and international standards and the harmonisation of current procedures with international standards, norms and laws on auditing and control; extensive training and seminars for controllers and auditors from the Supreme Audit Office and from different; institutional sub-systems of the state administration, on the fight against organised crime, corruption and money laundering; institution building through the vehicle of a partnership programme between the Supreme Audit Office and a counterpart from a European Union Member State; study tours in the context of the training activities and partnership programme; the provision of computer hardware and software to modernise the existing communication network and improve the efficiency of the Supreme Audit Office's operations.

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from the European Commission's Regular Report on Slovakia 1999

Phare programmes