Basel Institute to support the Government of Bulgaria in strengthening Anti-Corruption and asset recovery efforts

May 2022, Sofia, Bulgaria

The Government of Bulgaria and the Basel Institute on Governance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering long-term collaboration in the country’s efforts to combat corruption and recover stolen public funds. Through the agreement, the Basel Institute will support the Bulgarian authorities in strengthening the capacity of specialized law enforcement, judicial, and other relevant officers to effectively investigate corruption and related financial crime cases, identify and trace illicit proceeds, and recover them for the benefit of Bulgarian citizens. In addition to training and hands-on technical assistance, ICAR will work with Basel Institute on Governance partners in Bulgaria to review the current anti-corruption chain, illuminate key blockages, and structural deficits, and identify potential solutions.

Kiril Petkov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and Gretta Fenner, the Basel Institute’s Managing Director, signed the agreement in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on 18 May 2022, moments after the Council of Ministers approved the agreement. The signing ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Justice Nadezhda Yordanova, who will be a key partner in this program. Prime Minister Kiril Petkov acknowledged that the fight against corruption is a long-term endeavor, commenting: “This partnership is another step in the right direction, and we hope to deliver concrete results together.”

On the same day, the Council of Ministers also approved draft amendments to the Bulgarian Law on judicial Power that aim to strengthen cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). Emphasizing this is an important piece in the puzzle, Gretta Fenner, the Basel Institute’s Managing Director,said: “We are in this partnership for the long run. The priority is bringing more checks and balances and accountability into key enforcement and judicial authorities. Then we need to ensure that citizens see and feel the impact of these reforms. It will be incremental changes, but we are confident that change is already happening.”

(Photos and text courtesy of Government of Bulgaria and Basel Institute of Governance)

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Ksenija Renko

Chief Executive Officer & Strategic Communications Consultant

JUPITER Strategic Consulting Ltd.

Ksenija Renko is a seasoned communications expert with over 25 years of experience, recognized for her expertise and extensive contributions to strategic communications and communication management. Her work has been pivotal in shaping and executing strategic communication efforts for high-profile donor-funded initiatives and European Union projects, particularly those tied to the EU accession processes and justice sector reforms in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Turkey, Albania, and Kosovo. Her leadership in developing and implementing communication strategies for anti-corruption campaigns across Central and Eastern Europe underscores her expertise in managing complex, multifaceted communication endeavors.

With a robust portfolio of achievements, Ksenija has helped design and implement numerous communication and visibility policies and strategies, as well as online communication and social media campaigns in Croatia and Southeast Europe. She has also provided expert services in reputation management and crisis management, encompassing problem identification, on-site crisis support, and client guidance through restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, and stakeholder relations mediation.

As a trainer with over 15 years of experience, she has delivered comprehensive training programs for public officials across Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey. Notably, she has expanded her reach globally, conducting Public Outreach and Communication training for public officials of the African Judicial Exchange Network, representing Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Her training expertise encompasses diverse topics, including strategic communications, crisis management, internal and external communications, and effective use of social media.

Ksenija’s professional leadership extends to her founding role as the Managing Director of Publicis Consultants Zagreb, Adriatic Hub, under the esteemed Publicis Groupe. Currently, she leads Jupiter Strategic Consulting Ltd., an agency specializing in strategic communications and communication management.

As an active participant in global networks, Ksenija Renko has played a key role in creating innovative resources, including the Practical Guidelines on the Use of Social Media by Judges. This pioneering document, specifically designed for the Central and Eastern European context, was published by the CEELI Institute in Prague.

Ksenija Renko has been a lecturer at the University of Dubrovnik, teaching PR Campaign Management and Integrated Marketing Communications courses.

Ksenija has held several key positions within professional associations, including President, Vice President, and board member of the Croatian Public Relations Association. Her dedication to advancing the public relations profession has earned her lifetime honorary membership in the prestigious CEE association PrOACTIVE CLUB PROven in ACTion and Venture. She also holds honorary membership in the Serbian Association of Public Relations. Additionally, she has been recognized as an Honorary Member of the Jury for the BAPRA Bright Awards in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her pioneering work and lasting contributions to the profession have been honored with prestigious awards.

Ksenija holds a Master’s in Humanities and Social Sciences and has also studied Postgraduate Specialist Studies in Business Marketing at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb.