Summary:
On 29-30 October 2015 the SELDI and ANTICORRP initiatives organized one and half day conference in Podgorica to discuss with local and regional stakeholders the best methods for transforming the existing cutting-edge anti-corruption and good governance research into efficient policy and advocacy tools. The participants focused on the role of the civil society in evaluating the impact of current anti-corruption measures and stressed on the need of stronger collaboration with the public institutions, the media, and the general public. The participants noted the importance of free access to data, such as public procurement databases, asset declarations, finanicial audits of state-owned enterprises, the reports and recommendations by the European Commission.
The participants presented their initial findings from a research on the energy sector governance deficits. They underlined that the key energy risks in the SEE region remain the large energy expenditure intensity, import dependency, low energy efficiency, widespread energy poverty, and general governance deficits. The SELDI initiative is currently preparing a report to present the energy governance issues and inconsistences. A key focus of the analysis will be the liberalization of the energy market, which is essential in decreasing corruption risks.
During the second day the participants exchanged experience in CSOs’ advocacy and management practices, and the ways of leveraging EU and national reform efforts.
Dr. Boško Mijatović, President of the CLDSS, highlighted that the energy sector is state-run in Serbia, and that there is still doubt if open procedure tenders could have brought more value than the present inter-governmental arrangements for large infrastructure projects. According to him, the politically appointed directors of energy agencies and state companies work in intransparent manner, and do not report on the efficiency of their institutions. He called for strengthened political will for reforms and transparency.
Paper: Transparent governance for greater energy security in CEE
www.seldi.net
