The Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) determined that there is almost no effective control over the financing of political parties in Serbia and expressed hope that the new law on the financing of political parties will contribute to the solving of the problem.

GRECO also recommends the introduction of stricter penalties, including prison sentences.

One of our most important recommendations refers to the establishment of clear competences of the authorized body, the Anti-Corruption Agency, and its full capacity for the performing of these functions. Without an effective control mechanism even the best regulations will remain an empty word, GRECO member Drago Kos told the Belgrade-based daily Danas Monday.

We expect that the new regulations will produce solutions, which will satisfy GRECO's rules and bring about changes in this area in Serbia, Kos pointed out.

However, the abolishment of the limit on the total amount of private donations, as well as the maintaining of a special register of donations, do not protect politicians from the influence of powerful donors. This is only the first step which should be followed by others, such as absolute accessibility of such information, penalties, control mechanisms, and a genuine and effective implementation of the adopted solutions, he stressed.