site.bta Former French Finance Minister Michel Sapin Shares Anti-Corruption Legislation Experience in Sofia

Leaders, politicians and experts from various sectors attended a conference organized by the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the French Embassy on Friday. The event was entitled "Мodernize the State, Modernize Economic Life: Contribute to Bulgaria's positive international image through legislation brought up to the best European standards", the FBCCI said.

France's former economy and finance minister Michel Sapin (2014-2017), known for his pioneering anti-corruption legislation, was one of the keynote speakers. His presence underlined the conference's commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and sustainable economic development.

He presented the four pillars of the Sapin II Law, which helped France retake its sovereignty and authority in the prevention of, and fight against, corruption. First, the law expands the extraterritorial reach of France's anti-corruption laws, significantly extending the ability of French authorities to reach corrupt conduct occurring overseas. Second, the law improves protections for whistleblowers, which extend to any disinterested person who in good faith reports a violation of French law or an issue that poses a serious threat to the public interest. Third, the law establishes the French Anticorruption Agency (Agence Française Anticorruption - AFA) to prosecute wrongdoers and prevent corruption. Fourth, the law introduces a resolution mechanism for enforcement actions known as the Convention judiciaire d’intérêt public into French Criminal Law.

Participating in the debate were former justice minister Krum Zarkov, who is now President Rumen Radev's Secretary for Legal Affairs; Francois Debergh, Veolia 
Country Director Bulgaria and Greece; and Tania Iossifova, professor of civil law at the University of National and World Economy and Chairperson of the Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Industrial Association, among others.