Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Slovenia: A Review of Progress
Corruption and Lack of Transparency
Slovenia has been making efforts to combat corruption and increase transparency, but the country still faces significant challenges. The following are some key findings:
- Ineffective Implementation of GRECO Recommendations: Slovenia has not made substantial progress in implementing GRECO’s recommendations from 2007.
- Insufficient Sanctioning System: The country lacks an effective dissuasive sanctioning system for corrupt practices, making it difficult to prevent and detect corruption.
- Limited Powers of the Court of Audit: The Court of Audit has limited powers to check the origin of funding and financial flows, hindering its ability to detect possible corrupt practices.
Key Areas for Improvement
The following areas require attention to improve transparency and accountability in Slovenia:
- Transparency of Party and Campaign Accounts:
- Donations from legal entities operating under public law should be disclosed.
- Loans and their sources should be transparently reported.
- Supervisory Powers and Capacity of the Court of Audit: The court’s powers and capacity to supervise financial flows and detect corruption should be strengthened.
- Level of Sanctions for Violations of the Law: Sanctions for violating the law should be increased to deter corrupt practices.
Recent Developments
Recent amendments to the Political Parties Act and the Elections and Referenda Campaign Act have introduced some positive changes:
- Ban on Corporate Donations: The amendment bans corporate donations to political parties.
- Increased Transparency and Reporting of Loans: New rules require greater transparency in reporting loans, including their sources.
However, despite these efforts, significant shortcomings remain, particularly regarding the variety and nature of applicable sanctions and their capacity to deter corrupt practices.
Transparency of Lobbying
Lobbying is regulated in Slovenia, with:
- Mandatory Registration of Lobbyists: Lobbyists are required to register and disclose information about their activities.
- Monitoring Mechanism for Lobbying Activities: A monitoring mechanism is in place to track lobbying activities.
Transparency International has highlighted Slovenia’s lobbying legislation in its regional report on the assessment of National Integrity Systems in Europe.
Conclusion
While Slovenia has made some progress in regulating corruption and increasing transparency, there are still significant challenges to be addressed. The country needs to strengthen its institutions, improve accountability mechanisms, and increase public awareness about the importance of transparency and anti-corruption efforts.