Turkish gov't approves mandate on corruption, transparency
The Prime Ministry approved a public mandate on Saturday regarding an action plan to increase transparency and strengthen the fight against corruption for the years 2016 to 2019. According to the mandate published in the Official Gazette, it provides further legislative amendments and strategies for the action plan that must be carried out by relevant institutions and organizations in the government.
As Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced back in 2015 concerning a reform package to improve transparency in state institutions, such as the judiciary, politics, economy and the media, the newly introduced action plan is considered a further sign of the government's determination to comprehensively combat corruption, while increasing transparency for the new period.
As part of the new action plan and the official mandate, a commission for Increasing Transparency and Strengthening the Fight against Corruption has been assigned to the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Lütfi Elvan. The commission, which includes figures from the Ministry of Justice, Work and Social Security, Customs and Trade, Justice as well as the Ministry of the Interior, is to meet at least twice every year to coordinate and facilitate the action plan reaching its goals. Similarly with the same efforts, the previously mentioned ministry's deputy secretaries are to meet at least four times a year. Additionally, a Watch Group that includes representatives from employee and employer institutions, and the Court of Accounts under the chairmanship of one academician has been established to compile a "watch report" on the activities and developments of the action plan and present it to the commission.
According to the action plan, the Ministry of Justice addresses all work on political ethics, particularly transparency and openness of financing election campaigns and political parties and active supervision of political parties. Furthermore, through the newly altered action plan enhances transparency in civil society and professional organizations with public institution status.
The Ministry of Customs and Trade is to actualize legislative amendments through ombudsman's activities aimed at working through a "one window system." Document checks once done manually are now to be done electronically to eliminate user errors and shorten processing time.
The action plan also allows the Ministry of Justice to determine the professional ethics law for members of the judiciary and allows the Ministry of Interior to enhance accountability mechanisms of local administrations.
To increase measures to improve social awareness, the plan supports social activities with "clean society" themes and encourages television and radio to include publications on ethical matters.
As Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced back in 2015 concerning a reform package to improve transparency in state institutions, such as the judiciary, politics, economy and the media, the newly introduced action plan is considered a further sign of the government's determination to comprehensively combat corruption, while increasing transparency for the new period.
As part of the new action plan and the official mandate, a commission for Increasing Transparency and Strengthening the Fight against Corruption has been assigned to the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Lütfi Elvan. The commission, which includes figures from the Ministry of Justice, Work and Social Security, Customs and Trade, Justice as well as the Ministry of the Interior, is to meet at least twice every year to coordinate and facilitate the action plan reaching its goals. Similarly with the same efforts, the previously mentioned ministry's deputy secretaries are to meet at least four times a year. Additionally, a Watch Group that includes representatives from employee and employer institutions, and the Court of Accounts under the chairmanship of one academician has been established to compile a "watch report" on the activities and developments of the action plan and present it to the commission.
According to the action plan, the Ministry of Justice addresses all work on political ethics, particularly transparency and openness of financing election campaigns and political parties and active supervision of political parties. Furthermore, through the newly altered action plan enhances transparency in civil society and professional organizations with public institution status.
The Ministry of Customs and Trade is to actualize legislative amendments through ombudsman's activities aimed at working through a "one window system." Document checks once done manually are now to be done electronically to eliminate user errors and shorten processing time.
The action plan also allows the Ministry of Justice to determine the professional ethics law for members of the judiciary and allows the Ministry of Interior to enhance accountability mechanisms of local administrations.
To increase measures to improve social awareness, the plan supports social activities with "clean society" themes and encourages television and radio to include publications on ethical matters.
Last Update: May 01, 2016 21:37