Ruling party offers bill on anti-corruption moves as part of EU candidacy conditions

The ruling party on Wednesday proposed a bill and initiated the creation of the anti-corruption bureau, saying that the amendment was part of the European Union’s 12-point conditions for the membership candidate status. 

Anri Okhanashvili, the ruling party MP, said that discussions over the bill would begin next week. 

“The anti-corruption bureau will supervise the implementation of the document defining the general policy of the fight against corruption and the national anti-corruption strategy of Georgia. For this purpose, the said bureau will also coordinate the activities of appropriate bodies, organisations and officials”, said the MP.

He said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau would be accountable to the Parliament of Georgia and the Interagency Anti-Corruption Council and noted that the head of the bureau would submit an annual report to the Parliament of Georgia, and periodic reports to the Interagency Anti-Corruption Council.

Candidates for the head of the bureau will be selected on the basis of an open competition by the competition commission created with the participation of state agencies and civil society representatives, and will be submitted to the Prime Minister of Georgia for appointment to the position, while the PM would  select and appoint the head of the bureau from the nominated candidates.