“I gave bribes within the healthcare system but I didn’t take any”. The confession was made by Romanian Justice minister Monica Macovei in a press conference on Tuesday in which the Romanian Justice, Interior and European Integration ministries launched a public campaign against small graft.

It is the first such initiative supported by the government, after a series of similar moves promoted by the civil society in Romania over the past several years – including one supported by the Association of Online Press Editors, the publisher of Hotnews.ro.

The new campaign is focused on raising awareness among and inform public servants and the public opinion on the negative effects of small-scale graft, better known as bribery to doctors, plumbers, teachers, clerks and other public workers.

The campaign will last June 13- July 9 and will focus on public employees with a direct relation with the public as well as on citizens in contact with administration representatives.