The COVID-19 pandemic has tested many governments’ ability to respond to communities’ needs swiftly and efficiently. Public agencies are facing greater scrutiny and increased expectations to deliver services and meaningful projects to expedite an equitable recovery from the crisis.
In the EU, member states have agreed an unprecedented budget of €1.8 trillion for the 2021-2027 period. Over the coming months and years, national governments will invest much of this funding through public contracting projects. The extraordinary influx of funds to be invested, along with the need to spend them quickly, significantly raises risks of fraud and corruption.
There is no better time to complement existing controls with open and participatory oversight measures. Integrity Pacts offer a timely opportunity to authorities across the EU to collaborate with civil society and create greater transparency and accountability in public contracting.
The diversity of contracting projects makes it unlikely that a single solution exists for preventing and addressing mismanagement, fraud and corruption risks. These manifest themselves differently in each project or country. However, there is robust evidence that strategies based on openness, citizen engagement and external monitoring can reduce the likelihood of corruption and fraud in public contracting. They can also improve contracting outcomes and, ultimately, public trust. An Integrity Pact is a tool designed to achieve exactly these goals.