PM Robert Fico (source: TASR)
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will carry out an audit of Slovak anti-corruption legislation. Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico and OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurría, signed the agreement for the audit in Paris on January 16.
“I, as Prime Minister want an objective audit of anti-corruption legislation in Slovakia,” said Fico at a press briefing held in Paris, as cited by the TASR newswire. “But it will be neither journalists, nor opposition leaders who will get to say: this is bad and this is good. International organisations, with whom we cooperate in this regard, have been established to that end.”
The audit is designed to determine whether anti-corruption legislation is effective and standard and whether it could pose an obstacle to economic growth.
“We’re absolutely convinced that the OECD will adopt a completely objective stance on the issue,” said Fico.
Gurría emphasised that the OECD does not intend to tell Slovakia what to do; its goal is only to share the best experience from abroad. Based on this, Slovakia might consider whether or not a change of rules is in order.
“It would be up to you, the Slovak Parliament and Slovak society, how to implement measures linked to the fight against corruption in practice,” said Gurria.
Both representatives also inked a memorandum of understanding to bolster cooperation in the fight against corruption.
The Slovak Cabinet Office specified that Slovakia has been developing a more intensive cooperation with the OECD in fighting corruption within the National Crime Agency (NAKA), as well as with a special expert commission to combat corruption.
