The Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency, with the support of the local OSCE Mission and of the Italian Government, organised a two-day regional conference in Belgrade entitled “Implementation of Corruption Prevention Mechanisms” to highlight the importance of prevention in combating crime and corruption. Another factor emphasised was the independence of anti-corruption agencies. The speakers at the conference included Paola Severino, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Corruption, the Italian Ambassador in Belgrade, Carlo Lo Cascio, and the Director of the Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency, Dragan Sikimic. 
Mr Sikimic thanked both Italy and the OSCE and recalled that the initiative was organised to celebrate the International Anti-Corruption Day that falls on 9 December. He also said that the key factors in combating corruption and crime include prevention, international cooperation and the exchange of data and experiences, which become all the more important in the prospect of Serbia’s future accession to the EU.
Combating corruption is on top of the Italian Government’s agenda, said Ambassador Lo Cascio, who agreed on the importance of an ever-broader cooperation and of an integrated approach in fighting corruption. He added that this issue is also important in the progressive rapprochement of Serbia and the other Western Balkan Countries to the European Union and in creating a climate in the region that might be more favourable to investments and economic activities.
Nicoletta Parisi, from the Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority, went on to illustrate the regulator’s activities and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio, reassured the Organization’s continuing support to Serbia in this respect.
