If until now citizens were not able to force two previous Vojislav Kostunica`s cabinets to fulfil one of their five priorities ("war against corruption") then the European Union will be the Serbian citizens` biggest ally in making the current Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic`s government and the ruling nomenclature to seriously stand up to widespread social anomie - corruption.
That things got serious also has proved the recent monthly report of the Delegation of the European Commission to Belgrade on Serbia`s stabilisation and association process in joining European Union. In that report, very unpleasantly, at the first place was the following observation: "The problem of corruption in Serbia is ever bigger." In order to avoid confusion and arbitrary interpretation, The European Union Office in Belgrade has clearly stated "the level of corruption in Serbia is increasingly alarming since in previous period the situation has significantly deteriorated in the sphere of political parties` financing, public acquisitions, free access to information and conflict of interests". It is also said that in the war against corruption the role of prosecutors was of an essential importance but that there was not enough guarantee they would be independent in their work.
All this is well known and obvious in Serbia. Only this time Europeans have publicly made known to the Serbian officials that it is not possible to join European Union
- with the Political Parties Financing Law that enables parties to still hide where the money comes from and who finances them (especially in election campaigns) without the State Auditor Institution being able to look through the parties` books;
- with constant warnings of the Commissioner for free access to information of public importance that clerks have been persistently hiding important data on the state businesses from citizens;
- with constant State avoiding to carry through transparent and lawful public acquisitions in order to make citizens sure the State has been spending their money in rational and effective way; and
- with civil servants who do not care a lot for proved clash of interests they have fallen into while performing functions of, say, a mayor and MP.
War against corruption in Serbia has become unsystematic and promotional activity of some politicians who consider that way could attract public opinion, i.e., voters. War against corruption unsystematic character is best illustrated by arrests of various "mafias", from time to time, and in spite of that not reducing corruption. This only points out the fact that there is no real, systematic war against corruption in Serbia.
Recent statement of the State President declaring he would "get even with delinquents within his (Party) ranks" in the context of the war against corruption had great echo in public, exactly when Europeanisation of the country is in question. In Serbia, it is well known how great animosity the European Union has towards corruption. This feeling Bulgaria has recently experienced when Brussels "had driven it into a corner" making an ultimatum - either to free the justice system of corruption or the European funds will keep back hundred million euros bound for the aid of this country.
Before the European Union (through its Belgrade Office), the Foreign Investors Council, FIC, has also pointed to the corruption problem in its "White Book" scolding the Serbian Government eighth time in a row for bad business conditions. All said regarding the so-called administrative corruption the Centre for Liberal-Democratic Studies has also documented with indisputable proofs on corruption broad possibilities of civil servants. For example, for founding a company in Serbia one needs 23 days for obtaining 11 licenses while in Hungary the same procedure lasts 16 days and only six permissions are needed.
Miklosh Marshal, Regional Director for Europe of the Transparency International, global coalition against corruption, has recently said that the Serbian political elite realised it had to face the corruption before joining the EU.
"There are a lot of measures that can help economy make businesses easier and make Serbia attractive for foreign investors," said Marshal. He also warned about making distinction among different kinds of corruption - one is administrative (license getting procedure) and it is slowly dying down, while the other one is political and more serious since it is taking place at very high level.
"It is not known who among politicians is a businessman," said Marshal. Moreover, this was one of the strongest accusations made on the account of the political nomenclature in Serbia.
At the same time, this is also the sign for those politicians dedicated to the war against corruption showing them the way of clearing the Serbia`s path towards the European Union. Only political will is needed for quitting the practice that is a thorn in the side of every at all literate Serbian citizen - people having their private businesses cannot be, at the same time, in office in Government or local communities. This does not mean they are automatically involved in corruption businesses. This is just a warning that they could not possibly take two chairs in order not to be tempted to become an object or a subject of corruption. That way, also, those voting for them would not have to pay attention to such things.
Long-standing refusal to face the corruption and finally eradicate it could come as a boomerang to Serbia during following months and years. In case government officials and key political figures continue to have sharp tongues and remain benevolent in practice towards corruption, they will risk Serbia getting far away from the European Union although they are constantly talking on European integration.
* Misa Brkic is an economic analyst and Belgrade correspondent with Voice of America** Published: 2008/10/31
