Eurobarometer on corruption highlights serious concern among EU citizens and businesses

The EC published today, 13 July, the latest Special Eurobarometer on Corruption, listing citizens’ perceptions and experiences, as well as the Flash Eurobarometer on the attitudes of businesses to corruption in the EU.   Corruption remains a serious problem for EU citizens: 68 % of them believe that corruption is still widespread in their country.   For 63 % of EU businesses, corruption is also a widespread problem in their country. 37 % of respondents believe that anti-corruption measures are applied impartially and without hidden purposes.   34 % of EU citizens believe that sufficient prosecutions are successful to discourage people from engaging in corruption practices and that their national government’s efforts to fight corruption are effective (31 %). And 31 % believe that transparency and control over the funding of political parties in their country is sufficient.   Corruption remains a serious problem: 72% of respondents believe that, in Romania, corruption is still widespread (68% European average).   For 88% of Romanian companies, corruption is also a widespread problem, with the EU average of 63%. 42% of respondents consider that, in Romania, anti-corruption measures are applied impartially and without hidden purposes (38% for EU-27).   37% of Romanian respondents believe that the government's efforts to combat corruption are effective (31% European average), and 40% believe that transparency and control over the financing of political parties in Romania are sufficient (31% EU-27 average).   Eurobarometer surveys are an important source of information for the Commission’s assessments, including rule of law reports. Under the EU Rule of Law Mechanism, the Commission encourages the fight against corruption to promote a rule of law culture in all EU countries. The 2022 Rule of Law Report will, for the first time, contain specific recommendations addressed to Member States, in particular on the fight against corruption.   In May, the Commission presented a proposal for a directive on asset recovery and confiscation to ensure that crime and corruption are not profitable, limiting the ability of criminals to commit new crimes. In addition, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office  is operational and has already blocked and confiscated assets from criminals worth several million euros.