Corruption

Registration for this event has now closed

For years, politicians in Russia have been leading a seemingly unanimous fight against corruption. More than often government officials and opposition politicians, businessmen and experts have denounced corruption as a disease for Russian society, and, as such, that it should be fought by all means. Facts are overwhelming: Transparency International has reported that Russia's corruption rate has been experiencing a downtrend over the past years. Last year the country slipped to place 154 from a total of 178 in the annual corruption index; alongside Congo, Kenya and Cambodia. According to another Russian study the annual turnover of twilight economy represents nearly 50 % of Russia's GNP. These figures confirm that bribery and corruption are deeply rooted in bureaucratic and economic practices as well as in social life. The close-knit economic relations with EU´s third largest trading partner are unfortunately all too often burdened by corruption scandals, as well as it overshadows the planned accession of Russia into the WTO. In the discussions and negotiations between the EU and Russia the issues of the scale and measures to reduce corruption are increasingly playing a role. With our guests Alexander Lebedev, Ivan Ninenko, Georgy Satarov and others from Russia and EU we want to discuss the background and consequences of corruption and, particularly, how to develop political, economic and social strategies to tackle the issue. Venue: European Parliament, Room ASP A 1 G 3 Location: Brussels, Belgium Date and Time: 12 October 2011 - 17.00 - 19.30 (followed by a cocktail) Deadline registration 6 October 2011 Who: Moderator:          Werner Schulz (MEP Greens/Efa)          Guest Speakers:          Representative Russian administration (TBC)          Georgi Satarov (Director Foundation to INDEM)          Alexander Lebedev (Chairman of the Board, National Reserve Corporation)          Ivan Ninenko (Deputy Director of Transparency International -Russia)          Jakub Byratynski (Head of Unit Fight against Organised Crime (A2) DG Home Affairs European Commission) PLEASE NOTE that :
- badges will be distributed at the reception desk of the conference. Please come 30 min before the start of the event in the entrance of the Parliament facing Place Luxembourg. Please have your chosen ID with you.