Transparency Serbia

"Negotiating Chapter 4" - on free movement of capital, and "Negotiating Chapter 2" - on free movement of labor have the greatest chances of being opened in Serbia's pre-accession negotiations with the EU, announced Radio-Television of Serbia.

Rasa Nedeljkov from Serbian NGO, the Center for Transparency, Research and Accountability, CRTA, stated that the organisation has been receiving reports from both citizens and its own election observers, about alleged pressures on voters to support the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and abuse of public resources for its leader, Aleksandar Vucic's campaign.

Concerns have been raised about two proposed candidates for the board of the Anti-Corruption Agency who were put forward earlier this month by President Tomislav Nikolic because both of them work for the presidency.

"I see this as a conflict of loyalty," a former member of the Anti-Corruption Agency board, Zoran Stojiljkovic, told BIRN.

With the corruption perception index of 42, Serbia is still considered a country with a high level of corruption, in 72nd place among 176 countries.

Transparency Serbia (TS) stated this on Wednesday, Beta has reported.

Serbia is still highly corrupt - 71st among 168 countries - Transparency Serbia (TS) said during a news conference on Wednesday, Beta reported.

Serbia has slightly improved on this list, having corruption perception index of 40 compared to 41 last year, and after ranking 78th then, the NGO said, noting however, that "the number of countries was greater last year - 175."

The Serbian government believes that the new law will not only boost the fight against crime and corruption, but also ensure that people regularly report their income and pay taxes.

However, watchdog organisation Transparency Serbia warned that the outcome might not meet these expectations.