International Cooperation
21st annual EPAC/EACN conference in Chisinau
The Annual Professional Conference and General Assembly of European Partners against Corruption and European contact-point network against corruption (EPAC/EACN) took place in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, on 23-24 November 2022.
The two-day conference, which was organised for the first time in the Republic of Moldova this year, was attended by around 180 participants from 24 countries, EU institutions and international organisations. The Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK) was represented by the acting Head of Department III/BAK/1 and Vice-President of the EPAC/EACN Anti-Corruption Strand as well as another BAK staff member to support the EPAC/EACN Secretariat.
Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, opened the 21st annual conference. She welcomed the exchange between the experts present and underlined her country's determination in the fight against corruption. Other opening speakers included the Vice-President of Eurojust and the Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), among other international representatives.
Žydrunas Bartkus, EPAC/EACN President and Director of the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania, highlighted the fight against corruption as one of the host country's top priorities on the road to accession to the EU. He described the conference as a great opportunity to hold discussions, establish contacts and look for the best solutions to create an environment of anti-corruption and integrity in Moldova, Europe and beyond.
During the two-day conference, a wide range of topics were discussed related to high-level corruption investigations, international cooperation and information sharing, recovery of criminal assets, and new tools for corruption prevention and risk assessment.
On the second day of the event, the EPAC/EACN Award was presented for the most innovative anti-corruption initiative. Out of four submissions this year, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine won for establishing an Anti-Corruption School.
In the EPAC/EACN General Assembly, the membership applications of six new members were accepted: Ireland's National Police and Security Service Anti-Corruption Unit, Garda SÃochána Ombudsman Commission, Internal Security Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Latvia, Chief Official Ethics Commission from Lithuania, Internal Protection and Anti-Corruption Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova and State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) was given observer status and the Chisinau Declaration was adopted in conclusion of the meeting.