Cyprus Makes Progress in Public Procurement Transparency, but More Needs to be Done

Nicosia, Cyprus - The Republic of Cyprus has taken significant steps towards increasing transparency and accountability in public procurement processes.

Recent Report Highlights Positive Trend

According to a recent report, the value of calls for tender published in the Official Journal as a percentage of total expenditure on public works, goods, and services has decreased from 56.6% in 2007 to 49.1% in 2010. This is a positive trend, indicating that more contracts are being awarded through open and transparent procedures.

Measures Implemented to Promote Transparency and Integrity

• The establishment of an evaluation committee, which must sign a declaration of integrity, impartiality, and confidentiality
• The requirement for awarding authorities to keep minutes of every meeting

Despite these efforts, corruption remains a significant concern in Cyprus’ public procurement system. A recent survey found that 55% of companies who participated in a public tender or procurement process in the last three years claim that corruption prevented them from winning a contract.

Areas for Improvement

• Strengthening the disciplinary regime for public servants
• Introducing codes of conduct for elected and appointed officials
• Lowering the thresholds for donations to political parties
• Implementing specific mechanisms to detect potential corrupt practices during the procurement process

The European Commission has praised Cyprus’ efforts to combat corruption, but notes that more needs to be done to enhance the financial independence of the Auditor General and to strengthen the enforcement system.

Conclusion

While Cyprus has made progress in promoting transparency and accountability in public procurement, there is still much work to be done to address corruption risks and ensure the integrity of these procedures.