Ugo Draetta has been appointed Chairman of the Stability Pact Initiative Against Corruption (SPAI). Professor Draetta succeeds Judge Giuseppe di Gennaro, who chaired the Initiative from April 2001 to December 2002. Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact, Erhard Busek welcomed the new Chairman and expressed his gratitude to the Italian Government for its continued support in the crucial domain of fighting corruption in Southeastern Europe.

Following his professional engagements as General Counsel and Secretary of FIAT S.p.A., and of Vice President and Senior Counsel of General Electric, Ugo Draetta is at present Professor of International Law and Law of the European Union at the Catholic University of Milan. He also represents the Italian Government in the OECD Working Group on Bribery.

Background on SPAI

The Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative (SPAI) intends to give an impetus to the fight against corruption in Southeastern Europe by better co-ordinating existing efforts and by relying on high-level political commitment of the Governments. Its objective is to help and support countries of the region to adopt efficient legislation, build up proper institutions and develop awareness in the civil society for a sustained fight against corruption. The Initiative covers the following five sectors: ratification and implementation of relevant international instruments, promotion of good governance and reliable public administrations (including procurement legislation), reinforcement of legislation (including on money laundering) and promotion of the rule of law, promotion of transparency and integrity in business operations, and promotion of an active civil society.

The Initiative was formally adopted at the meeting of the Working Table III in Sarajevo on 16 February 2000, where the SPAI Compact and Action Plan were endorsed. Participants include: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, FRY/Montenegro, FRY/Serbia and Romania. Bulgaria participates as an observer