IMPORTANT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Answering the written question put by CHP Antalya Deputy Husnu Collu with the information note prepared by the Secretariat General for EU Affairs, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated that important steps were taken in the area of fight against corruption and said, "These steps show the importance of dealing with an issue with political determination."

Bagis said that the European Commission published Progress Reports on Turkey every year since 1998 and that the issue of fight against corruption was addressed in these reports.

Indicating that in its 2009 Progress Report the European Commission noted that legislative framework designed to prevent corruption was improved in general and that limited progress was made in fighting corruption, Bagis stressed that it was evaluated positively in the report that a broad consultation was carried out with all stakeholders, including NGOs during the preparation phase of Turkey's anti-corruption strategy and it was also noted in the report that the strategy had to be formulated.

Bagis emphasized that it was noted in the report that in the area of fight against money-laundering Turkey moved ahead with aligning its legislation with the EU acquis and with the recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force and said:

"In the context of negotiations under the chapter of Free Movement of Capital, in the area of Prevention of Money-Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, Turkey has prepared its Action Plan which concerns legislative alignment with the EU acquis and with the recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force and which comprises administrative capacity building and building of capacity of law enforcement units, referred also in 2009 Progress Report, at the end of 2008. In the Action Plan, the activities which were foreseen for 2008 have been completed and those which were foreseen for 2009 are about to be completed.

As of 2009, the most comprehensive step which was taken in the area of fight against corruption has been that the Prime Ministry Inspection Board has started work on anti-corruption strategy, which is one of the important elements of the Judiciary and Fundamental Rights chapter and it has prepared a Draft Anti-Corruption Strategy. During the preparation of the draft, all public institutions and bodies and non-governmental organisations were involved in the process and their views were included in the said document. Since the strategy hasn't been finalised yet, work which strategy comprises couldn't be reflected positively in the Progress Report. It is considered that important progress will be made in the area of fight against corruption with taking effect of the strategy."

Minister for EU Affairs Bagis stated that they planned to take effective measures in fighting corruption with the help of the Anti-Corruption Strategy.

Noting that important steps were taken in the area of fight against corruption, Bagis said, "These steps show the importance of dealing with an issue with political determination. On the other hand, the dynamic and changing profile of the crime and the criminal also indicate the necessity of conducting a dynamic, determined and comprehensive work to fight against corruption."

Source: AA