KDI: Fighting corruption is moving at a slow pace

Despite Kosovo's continued efforts in fighting corruption, it remained 41st place last year, while on the world list in 83rd. So it was said Tuesday at a news conference from the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI).

While commenting on the Corruption Perception Index for 2021, compiled by international organisations, “Transparency International”, Eugen Cakoli from KDI, said that Kosovo was posted in 41st place, as it was last year, while on the global list at 83rd. He said that the Index lists 180 world states and territories annually on the basis of perceived levels of corruption in the public sector. He uses a point methodology, according to which zero points for a very corrupt country, while 100 for a clean spot from this phenomenon.

For 2023, Kosovo was estimated at 41 points, as much as it was estimated in last year, while taking 83rd place in the world ranking. The 83rd position, Kosovo shares with countries like Burkina Faso, South Africa and Vietnam. Compared to the Western Balkan countries, Kosovo this year ranks third, after Montenegro (in 63rd) and North Macedonia (in 76th). After Kosovo, the weaker results have Albania (in the position of 98), Serbia (place 104) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (in the position of 108). It is noteworthy that over the 12 years since Kosovo has become part of the CPI's assessment, 7-point Incremental progress, from 34 points in 2012 to 41 points in 2023”, Cakolli said.

“Anyway, Kosovo's slow but steady progress in the last decade is largely the result of democratic progress, attributed to holding free elections and the peaceful transfer of powers over the years. The CPI, however, stresses that this progress has not been reflected even in anti-corruption performance. Despite continued efforts, reforms that are key to the independence and efficiency of the justice system, including the veto process and the Law on the Prosecutorial Council, are moving at very slow pace. Furthermore, the government's continued interventions in judicial cases, the dismissal of the Special Unit of Investigations in the Kosovo Police, followed by the obstruction of parliamentary investigation into the alleged case of corruption for state reserves by MPs from the parliamentary majority, indicates that the political will is lacking to give up control of the judiciary and to strengthen independent oversight”, he said further. /EO/