PREVENTING CORRUPTION IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN LATVIA

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1 PREVENTING CORRUPTION IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN LATVIA Alvis Vilks Deputy Director, Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, Latvia Conference on Public Integrity and Anticorruption In the Public Service Bucharest, May 2007

2 Key legal and policy instruments Legislation : - Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials (adopted in 2002), - Special laws regulating activities of specific categories of public officials, - Law on Disciplinary Responsibility of Civil Servants.

3 Governmental policy documents: - National Strategy for Corruption Prevention and Combating ; - National Programme for Corruption Prevention and Combating ; - Action plans of the government.

4 Prevention of conflicts of interest Head of public authority has duty to: - not to allow public officials working in his authority to act in a conflict of interest situation and in this way misuse his office, - submit lists of persons holding office of public official, - by a written order, transfer performance of a function or task to another public official (also can be done by a collegial authority)

5 - decide on possible additional employment of a public official, - verify declarations of income of subordinated officials, - immediately inform Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau about detected violations of law committed by public officials.

6 Public official has duty to inform on his initiative and in writing a higher public official or collegial authority regarding: - financial or other personal interest, interest of their relatives or business partners that occurs in the performance of their duties, - commercial enterprises, in which the official or his relatives have interests, merchants providing services for the relevant authority, receiving financial resources and benefiting from credits guaranteed by the State or local governments or privatization fund resources, except open competition.

7 Codes and commissions of ethics The Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest requires public officials to respect professional behavioral (ethical) codes. A public official shall refuse to carry out public duties or take an additional employment in cases where due to ethical reasons the impartiality and neutrality of his or her actions might be doubted.

8 Internal control Main goal: Develop a system where its different elements reduce the risk of corruption Key methods: - transparency, - collegial or multi-step decision making, - dissociation of preparation and adoption of decision, - control of decisions, - possibilities of appeal, - strict separation of authority and responsibility of officials.

9 Training of civil servants Training courses, Consultations, Training materials.

10 Competence of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau in prevention of corruption 1) national anti-corruption strategy and programme; 2) enforcement of the law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Actions of State Officials and other relevant rules; 3) Examination of declarations of public officials in the framework of the Law On Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Actions of State Officials. 3) receive and review reports from citizens,

11 4) Analysis of trends in detected violations and practice of public institutions in preventing corruption, recommendations for improvement to the relevant Ministry and the National Civil Service, 5) Methods for prevention and fighting of corruption in state and municipal institutions and private sector, 6) Legal analysis and drafting to improve the legal framework for prevention of corruption, 7) Surveys of public opinion, 8) Education on prevention of corruption, law and ethics, 9) Regular information to the public on trends in corruption, detected cases and steps taken to prevent and fight corruption,

12 Enforcement of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest KNAB has duties to: - monitor application of this law and other restrictions in this area; - examine declarations of public officials in the framework of this Law. This work is insured by a special division Division of Control of Actions of State Officials

13 KNAB has powers to: - issue a warning; - apply administrative sanctions; - request to return to the state budget revenues received in result of illegal activities.

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