The Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) explored possibilities for the EU Police and Rule of Law Mission (EUPOL COPPS) support to enhance witness protection in Palestine as well as strengthen frameworks obliging public servants to declare their assets. This support was requested at a meeting on 16 January held between PACC Commissioner Ahmad Barrak and the Deputy Head of EUPOL COPPS’ Rule of Law Section Clemens Mueller.

“A robust programme for protecting witnesses as well as a comprehensive framework which obliges public officials to declare their assets and incomes are both essential tools in the fight against corruption,” said Mueller. “It is for this reason that we are currently supporting the PACC in drafting standard operating procedures to its Witness Protection Programme, in addition to providing specialised trainings and enhancing the cooperation between the PACC and the Palestinian Civil Police to investigate corruption cases”.

EU support for anti-corruption measures has been valuable in recent decades for countries that have become EU members, for countries aspiring to become EU members or for countries in the EU’s neighbourhood. EUPOL COPPS advisers therefore have a number of European and international best practices to draw to support the PACC in creating a strengthened anti-corruption framework in Palestine.

EUPOL COPPS is the European Union Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support. The aim of the Mission is to contribute to the establishment of sustainable and effective policing arrangements and to advise Palestinian counterparts on criminal justice and rule of law related aspects under Palestinian ownership.

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EUPOL COPPS