In Serbia, corruption is endemic, present in all layers of society, it has become a pattern of behaviour and a mode of thinking, so the fight against it would require determined efforts of state institutions, as well as a change in the mindset, participants of the debate entitled “How to curb corruption in companies?” estimated on Monday.

Head of Serbia's Anti-Corruption Agency Zorana Markovic said that the agency started drafting, together with the Justice Ministry, a new national anti-corruption strategy, since the old one is no longer adequate.

“The fact that corruption in Serbia is endemic, implies that we have let it spread, we have let it become a pattern of behaviour, a way of doing business, of working and what is the most appalling - a mode of thinking,“ Markovic underlined, adding that, apart from the relevant laws and strengthening of integrity, a change in the mindset is needed.

The interior minister's advisor Milos Andjic underlined that 3,970 cases of corruption were registered in 2009, Serbia's record high, and 3,858 in 2010.

According to him, over 40 percent of the people reported for corruption in 2009 and 2010 were directors. Andjic said that corruption is particularly widespread in the sector of public procurements, since its services offer ample time and space for unlawful activities.

Annexes of contracts may prove particularly dubious, as well as settling of fictive services such as consulting, Andjic added.