Money, power, politics: Corruption risks in Europe
24/06/2012
According to Transparency International's latest report on corruption in Europe, no country is immune from corruption or the damaging effects it has on citizens and society. The report shows that across Europe, corruption is undermining confidence in national institutions and contributing to a sustained economic crisis.
Transparency International's report, "Money, Power, Politics: Corruption Risks in Europe" states that 75% of Europeans consider corruption a growing problem in their societies. And gaps in governance continue to plague European countries' attempts to pull the region out of its ongoing economic crisis.
During Transparency International's two-year project to investigate corruption in European countries, over 300 institutions in 25 countries were analysed, using their National Integrity System approach. The approach gauges the capacity and effectiveness of a range of institutions – from political parties, the police, and the judiciary, to the media and civil society – in their contribution to national anti-corruption efforts. In-depth national studies then form the basis of the regional report released on 6 June in Brussels.
The report highlights strengths and weaknesses in individual states, but also points at commonalities shared by many European countries. For instance, 19 of the 25 countries surveyed have not yet regulated lobbying, while currently only ten ban undisclosed political donations. Four-fifths of the states covered in the report present obstacles to citizens seeking access to information, while 17 of the countries lack codes of conduct for their parliamentarians.
While the report details these and other areas of concern, it also offers targeted recommendations for reform. Ultimately, the report aims to help key European actors identify and then plug the integrity gaps which enable corruption to grow.
Further details of the study, and a copy of the report, can be accessed on the Transaprency International website