More than two thirds of the citizens of the European Union believe that corruption is widespread in their country, the results of the survey published yesterday showed. According to the Eurobarometer survey, 68 percent of Europeans believe that corruption is present, with the highest percentages recorded among residents of Greece (98 percent), Portugal (96 percent), Malta (95 percent) and Slovenia (95 percent).
The lowest percentages were recorded in Finland (18 percent), Denmark (26 percent) and Luxembourg (43 percent), the portal "Politiko" reported. About a quarter of Europeans (27 percent) said that they personally experienced corruption in their daily life, and 75 percent said that business and politics are too intertwined, creating favorable conditions for the spread of corruption.
According to the survey, Europeans are skeptical of the efforts of national governments to fight corruption: 65 percent of citizens believe that cases of high-level corruption are not adequately processed, and only 30 percent believe that the efforts of governments in the fight against corruption are effective.
The research was published together with the European Commission's annual Rule of Law Report, which, among other things, analyzes anti-corruption measures in EU member states. The report for 2024 warns of "certain criminal law reforms" in the bloc that "may jeopardize the fight against corruption."
Slovakia, where MPs approved a plan to reduce penalties for corruption and fraud in February, and Italy, which recently abolished the criminal offense of abuse of office, were singled out. Hungary has also come under criticism for the continued decline in democratic standards, which threatens the effective fight against corruption.
"Protection of the rule of law is a continuous job," said Commission Vice President Vera Jurova during the presentation of the report's main findings. "We see that additional measures are needed." The goal of the report "is not to name, shame or praise anyone," she added, calling it a "preventive tool" to encourage dialogue and raise awareness.
Bonus video:
