Moldovan student addresses president at National Anti-Corruption conference

Students from both sides of the Moldova-Ukraine border have gathered in Chisinau for the opening of the fifth ‘Youth against Corruption’ school, organised by the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) in cooperation with the Centre for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCECC) of the Republic of Moldova and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The opening took place during the National Anti-Corruption Conference ‘Progress and Prospects in the Suppression of Corruption’, organised jointly by CCECC and EUBAM. The annual conference marked International Anti-Corruption Day, and had as its remit the demonstration of the commitment of the Republic of Moldova in promoting zero tolerance towards corruption and continuous efforts to combat the phenomenon.

“Corruption exists in every country,” said the acting president of the Republic of Moldova, Marian Lupu. “But there are different levels of corruption, and countries that are making a transition to a market economy such as Moldova are more vulnerable. Corruption creates social tensions and compromises transparency, but I am confident that with enough political will we can fight it.”

Senior representatives of local and central government, international organisations, the European Union, business people and civil society in attendance joined the acting president in hearing an address by Artiom Gusan, a Moldovan student who participated in the last ‘Youth against Corruption’ school in Vadul-lui-Voda and has since continued with initiatives to fight corruption.

The anti-corruption conference provides an opportunity to present anti-corruption activities undertaken during 2011 in the specific fields of activity, main issues in the fight against corruption, progress made and the prospects that will be reflected during implementation of the new National Anticorruption Strategy and its Action Plan.

The fifth ‘Youth against Corruption’ school, meanwhile, follows successful editions in Vadul-lui-Voda (twice), Odessa and Yalta. The week-long programme will include practical and theoretical sessions on aspects of anti-corruption such as international instruments for preventing corruption, European principles of good governance, and ethical conduct in the public service. Students will also consider what impact they can have in the fight against corruption, and develop their own anti-corruption projects.

The ‘Youth against Corruption’ series is among several anti-corruption initiatives supported by EUBAM. At central and regional levels in Moldova and Ukraine, the Mission supports the border-management services in the design and implementation of their anti-corruption action plans and preventative mechanisms.