INTEGRITY PACTS: BETTER SAFEGUARDING AND USE OF EU FUNDS

 

To tackle fraud and corruption in EU-funded projects as well as to improve transparency and efficiency in public procurement procedures, the European Commission teamed up with Transparency International (TI) in promoting the Integrity Pacts – A Civil Control Mechanism for Safeguarding EU Funds. The project also emphasizes the role of civil society in the fight against corruption, within the aim of making sure that Member States make the most of the available funding

The first concrete results are already there.

So far, nine integrity pacts have been signed. They have been around since the 1990s, and have been applied in more than 15 countries and 300 separate situations. They help save taxpayer funds, ensure that infrastructure projects and other public works are delivered efficiently, and stave off avenues for illicit gain.

The implementation of the second phase of the pilot project launched by the Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu in March 2015 is already in full gear. More than €7 million for a 4 year period were made available to support the implementation of 17 Integrity Pacts for projects co-financed by the Structural Funds (European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund) and the Cohesion Fund in 11 Member States.

For more information please follow the link: Integrity Pacts