07/10/2013
The FIIAPP and EUROSOCIAL are strategic allies in the Colombian government’s plan to fight corruption
Reunión de Rafael Merchán con el Director de la FIIAPP, Pedro Flores, y el Director del Area de Justicia y SeguridadRafael Merchan meeting with the Director of the FIIAPP, Pedro Flores, and the Director of the Area of Justice and Security
Corruption is a serious problem affecting Colombia’s development. In 2012, Colombia was ranked 94 out of the 174 countries evaluated by Transparency International. The Colombian government has made a national and international commitment to significantly reducing corruption, resulting in the creation of the Secretariat of Transparency.
The FIIAPP and EUROsociAL are working with the Secretariat of Transparency to strengthen public-private collaboration policies in the fight against corruption, as well as transparency policies and policies regarding public access to information, among other things. In fact, the EU and Colombia are about to sign an agreement for a cooperation project in the fight against corruption, which will be managed by the FIIAPP.
Rafael Merchán is the Head of the Secretariat of Transparency. Today he was in Madrid and highlighted the important role of the FIIAPP and EUROsociAL in Colombia.
“They are and have been very important strategic allies. We’ve been working with EUROsociAL in the private sector, which is one of the fundamental pillars of anti-corruption policy, as well as on documents about the responsibilities of legal entities and information access events. The relationship is very effective and we are eagerly awaiting the programme with the FIIAPP as part of the delegated cooperation project, which will be signed by the government and the EU. We’re excited about launching this agreement and to incite the change we have already begun implementing in Colombia.”
Rafael Merchán explained that society is becoming increasingly aware, but that we still need a “cultural strategy of legality.” In other words, we need to get the media, the educational sector, universities, etc., involved in order for citizens to become aware that corruption is not only a problem of government “but of society as a whole.”
Since October of 2012, EUROsociAL IIhas been helping the Secretariat of Transparency with aspects such as conducting studies on best practices, exchange visits, and consultancy services. These efforts are intended to help the Colombian government fulfil their international commitments in this area.
