The passing of the legislative framework against corruption will fulfill the state's obligation to society on this issue, Minister of Justice and Public Order Stefi Drakou said on Thursday, following the debate in Parliament on the "Transparency in the Public Decision-Making Process" bill.
The discussion of the relevant bill, also known as the lobbying bill, in the Institutions Committee, has been completed[/B] according to the minister who was invited to take part in the session.
She said, after the session, that it is the second bill that completes the anti-corruption legislative framework. "I recall that there are three bills, one is the establishment of the (Anti-Corruption) Authority, the second is the protection of those who give information which has already been passed by the House of Assembly and the third is transparency in policy decisions," Drakou said.
There are some issues that will need further clarification, and possibly some amendment, she added, and possibly both bills will be brought to the plenary, "in order to fulfil our obligation to society and provide a proper legislative framework against corruption."
The chairman of the committee, DISY MP Demetris Demetriou, also said that during today's meeting they concluded the discussion on the bill regulating lobbying. "It was a debate that took several sessions, but we feel quite good because we believe that it is a bill that when passed will be both enforceable and will have substance," he added.
The aim, he said, is for transparency to prevail and for the Anti-Corruption Authority, which will be passed by the plenary on the same day, to declare meetings held to promote specific interests to those who have the power to decide on public decisions.
"These are concepts that are new or will be in their infancy, but little by little, transparency must prevail, we must build that culture that we lack, that conflict of interest must be clearly defined and in this way we can feel, be and look clean and clear," he said.
Asked whether foreign countries will be able to influence parliaments through foreign lobbying firms, Demetriou said that what applies to lobbying firms or lobbyists or those promoting domestic interests will also apply to those promoting interests from another country. "There will be no distinction and the debate cannot be framed differently," he said."
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides stressed that a capital issue remains, which is the limitation of the control and scope of the legislation in cases where a business or financial interest is pursued, individually for natural or legal persons.
"We are heading towards the end, I believe that the aim and goal of everyone is to pass a legislation which will regulate this phenomenon we call lobbying, but on the other hand it will not affect the independence and freedom of movement of MPs or any other officials, while serving the principles of transparency and accountability that I believe we all embrace," he said.
Source: CNA
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