Slovak experts: Public control, strong law enforcement can help in the fight against corruption in Ukraine

A lack of public control, especially with regard to top level politicians and public procurement as well as weak law enforcement, are among major issues, which support corruption, according to Miroslav Beblavy, member of Slovak parliament and anti-corruption expert. Mr.Beblavy named several strategies that can help with the fight against corruption in Ukraine.

“One is increasing the probability that if you abuse office, this will be discovered. For this usually transparency is the best. The second is about trying to match demand and supply, so you have to work to balance, to have better health services, better education, more affordable. And third thing that helps is also having strong law enforcement,” – Mr.Beblavy said.

The EU requirements also can help Ukraine to develop anti-corruption policies, according to Emilia Beblava, chair of the board of directors of Transparency International in Slovakia. It concerns the public procurement, in particular.

“Once Ukraine is in the process of adopting the EU rules (on public procurement), it may help it in the fight against corruption. Because, indirectly, the clear rules and transparency of public procurement might help to decrease corruption in the public procurement,” – Mrs.Beblava said.

Mr.Beblavy and Mrs.Beblava visited Kyiv in July within the frame of #UkraineReforms project. They had several meetings with representatives of state anti-corruption bodies and civil society and also participated in a public discussion on the education and labor market demands in Ukraine.

#UkraineReforms project was launched in the end of 2014 by Wirlfried Martens Centre for European Studies in partnership with the Kyiv School of Economics, Reanimation Package of Reforms and Stronger Together to support reforms in Ukraine.

Read more about the visit of Mrs.Beblava and Mr.Beblavy here