The government had to quickly adjust many decisions, including the state annual budget to address the problems and effects caused by the Covid-19 crisis. The budget of the health sector was increased to secure the necessary safeguards, medical staff, equipment and other related needs to cope with the situation not only in the hospitals dedicated to Covid-19, but also in the regional ones.
Accountability and transparency
The outbreak of COVID-19 is proving to be an unprecedented global crisis which is causing virtually all public institutions and authorities to respond and to act. Our experience with the Human Rights and Gender Equality Network of Committees in the Western Balkan (HUGEN) shows that parliaments are no exception as they employ their capacities to continue to function during this crisis and at the same time maintain their positions as cornerstones of democracy.
When the UK government published its Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017 to 2022, global corruption was recognised as having far-reaching effects, including prolonging extreme poverty, reducing economic activity, growth, trade and investment, and threatening international security. The World Bank’s analysis reinforces this, and there is no doubt that corruption is corrosive in many ways.
In many political systems, parliaments are responsible for approving the budget and controlling government spending, so that funds are used effectively, efficiently and fairly and are not misappropriated. However, legislators do not always have access to the financial information they need to fulfil this role, while the executive enjoys privileged access to economic and financial forecasts.