The Ministry of Interior and the National Defence Service (NVSZ) co-organized an international anti-corruption conference with the participation of six international organizations and of 23 countries on April 13 and 14 in Budapest.

The fact that the event was organized in the Hungarian capital indicates the country's commitment to the cleanness of public sector and to the creation of balance between the efficient law enforcement and the social expectations. The conference began with the official reception, where the invited representatives of European organizations and leaders of organs protected by the NVSZ met each other.

On behalf of Sándor Pintér, the Interior Minister, the event was opened by Laszlo Felkai, the Administrative State Secretary. Among the others, Martin Kreutner the president of organizations European Partners against Corruption/European Anti-Corruption Contact-point Network (EPAC/EACN), Giovanni Kessler, the new director of OLAF (European Union Anti-Fraud Office), and Zoltán Bolcsik brig-gen, the director general of NVSZ gave a presentation at the conference. In addition, the leaders of organs protected by NVSZ were present at the conference.

It is indicative of the successfulness of the conference that the working group adopted more international directives and international recommendations. The participants agreed that the resources must provide the appropriate number of staff, pay and working conditions, and the authentic and fast accountability of Anti-Corruption Authorities (ACA). In matters relating to the criterion of independence and autonomy they came to agreement that in the interest of the authority’s efficient performance, it has to work independently from the supervised and controlled organizations both organizationally, financially, as well as functionally.

The negotiating parties, for reasons of competence and confidentiality, found the transparency and accessibility essential to enhance public confidence in the authority. Taking the international examples into consideration it was established that the Hungarian structure is at the forefront of the European Union's objectives.

(Zsaru Magazin; kormany.hu)