Chancellor of the Ministry of Justice Augustas Ručinskas: a transparent State is a daily effort of public authorities, businesses and the general public
The 96th Plenary Meeting of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe gave a positive evaluation of Lithuania's anti-corruption legal environment, the complexity and comprehensiveness of the rules and endorsed the report on the implementation of the recommendations made by GRECO during 5th Evaluation Round of Lithuania.
Augustas Ručinskas, Chancellor of the Ministry of Justice, noted during the event that, in its efforts to strengthen transparency initiatives and create an environment where corruption has no place, Lithuania appreciates the insights provided by GRECO experts and the Member States, which not only help identify the strengths and weaknesses of national anti-corruption measures, but also encourage the necessary legal, institutional and practical initiatives.
“The road to a corruption-free society is complex and requires strong commitment, innovative solutions and close cooperation between all sectors. Our joint efforts in this area include not only policy making and implementation, as well as the improvement of legislation, but also the broader promotion of a culture of transparency, accountability and ethical governance,” said Mr Ručinskas.
Lithuania's progress is evidenced by the transparency initiatives implemented: the Methodological Guidelines drawn up by the Chief Official Ethics Commission to ensure that the conduct of public officials complies with the standards of ethics, as well as to raise awareness and provide clear guidance on the management of conflicts of interest. In addition, a distance learning platform, a dedicated website created by the Commission with guidance on ethical and transparent behaviour, are the steps towards strengthening a corruption-resilient environment through education.
The activities of the State Border Guard Service and the Police Department in implementing international transparency standards, the initiatives and recommendations of the Office of the Government and the Ministry of Justice to ensure a more inclusive and transparent legislative process have contributed to the reduction of the risk of corruption.
According to Mr Ručinskas, all these measures demonstrate our country's consistent efforts and determination to strengthen transparency initiatives and increase public confidence in our governance processes, however, it is also very important to consider the recommendations made, the implementation of which would contribute to the improvement of the existing system of corruption prevention and control.
The report will be published on the GRECO website.
GRECO aims to enhance the capacity of its member states to fight corruption by monitoring their compliance with the Council of Europe anti-corruption standards. The organisation helps identify deficiencies in national anti-corruption measures, promotes change.
GRECO was established by the Council of Europe in 1999 and currently has 49 member states.
Lithuania joined GRECO on 3 May 1999.
The 96th Plenary Session of GRECO was held in Strasbourg, France.
Last updated: 29-05-2024