This Anti-Corruption Helpdesk brief was produced in response to a query from the European Commission. The Anti-Corruption Helpdesk is operated by Transparency International and funded by the European Union.
Query
Can you provide an overview of and background to recent measures taken to address political corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina? We are particularly interested in elections, political party financing, codes of conduct, asset declaration, immunity, conflict of interest and lobbying.
Content
1. Overview of political corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Elections
3. Party financing
4. Immunity
5. Codes of conduct for politicians
6. Conflict of Interest
7. Asset declaration
8. References
Summary
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, political corruption at all levels of government remains a serious and ongoing concern. The widespread popular protests that shook the country in February 2014 were at least partly motivated by societal frustration with a structurally corrupt political system, as well as with the apparent lack of political will to tackle this situation.
Successive European Commission and Group of States against corruption (GRECO) assessments have repeatedly underlined that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to step up the fight against corruption, a key precondition for its accession to the European Union. Nevertheless, the track record of the Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions on the issue of corruption, including political corruption remains rather poor. Most worryingly, recent reforms appear in some cases to have weakened existing anti-corruption legislation, thus undermining previously obtained achievements.
Authors
Francesco Bosso, [email protected]Reviewers
Marie Chêne, Robin Hodess, PhD, Transparency International; and Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina, [email protected]Date
04/06/2014
