Politics and Private Interests

Accountability Instruments

Johannesburg, April 3, 2007

Accountability instruments

Transparent access to public funds and active control institutions

Freedom of information Public disclosure

Transparent access to public funds

Public procurement procedures: Inclusive eligibility criteria Clear and transparent selection criteria Predictable process

State subsidies Exemptions / delays from tax payments Public-private partnerships

Freedom of information

Rule: Free access to information Exemptions: limited and clearly

defined Clear deadlines and strict

procedures for providing public information

Access to justice in case of refusal

Public disclosure

Financing of political parties and electoral campaigns

Declarations of wealth and interests for public sector employees

Budgets, investment plans and expenditure reports

Financing of political parties and electoral campaigns

Publication of all sources of funding Clear rules on membership fees and

donations Clear rules on access to state subsidies Effective controls Deterrent and proportional sanctions for

non-compliance

Declarations of wealth and interests

Publicly accessible declarationsIncluding assets and interests of

family membersComprehensive instruments Sanctions for non-submission of the

declarations

Budgets, investment plans and expenditure reports

Publication and public debate on draft budgets and investment plans

Adoption of budgets and investment plans through transparent procedure

Publication of comprehensive expenditure reports

Prerequisites for accountability

Awareness campaignsActive civil society and mediaIndependent and efficient judiciary

LAURA OANA STEFAN

MINISTRY OF JUSTICEROMANIA

www.just.ro

laura.stefan@just.ro