Romania ranks, for the third consecutive year, among the EU countries with the weakest results in combating corruption, achieving a score of 46 points out of a possible 100, equal to that of Malta, according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released by Transparency International on Tuesday.The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)."Global corruption levels remain alarmingly high, with efforts to reduce them faltering," reads a Transparency International press release."Against a backdrop of record-breaking global warming and extreme weather events, erosion of democracy and a decline in global climate leadership, the world has its back against the ropes in its fight against the climate crisis," Transparency International warns.The European Union has the highest scores in the CPI ranking, nonetheless the EU average is 62 points, two points lower than the previous years.The highest-scoring countries in the region are Denmark (90), Finland (88) and Luxembourg (81).Romania scores 46 points out of 100, same as Malta, and among EU countries with the weakest results in terms of corruption combat.At the EU level, the largest decline in the CPI ranking over the last year is seen in Germany (75 points, minus 3 points compared to 2023), Austria and France (67 points, minus 4 points compared to 2023), Slovakia (49 points, minus 5 points compared to 2023), and Malta (46 points, minus 5 points compared to 2023).Although it is one of the few countries in the European Union that has maintained a stable score in the CPI ranking, Romania remains well below the EU average. According to Transparency International's methodology, scores below 50 points are considered unacceptably low.Recommendations for Romania include implementing the integrity agreements as means to monitor public procurement; improving citizens' awareness in terms of law breeches reporting in areas such as public procurement, money laundering prevention, climate protection, public health; updating legislation in the area of public integrity; adopting a government programme to fight corruption leading to a better score of at least 50 points by 2027; non-formal and informal education for pupils and students on basic notions of democratic principles, individual rights, ethics and integration in the society. (Photo:https://www.transparency.org/)
President Nicușor Dan has nominated Senate president Ilie Bolojan, a leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and former interim president, for the prime minister seat. Dan said Bolojan is “the best person to carry out the needed adjustments in the state administration.” He pointed to Bolojan’s track record with reducing spending, and said he has […]
Balkanik Festival – Home of World Music, set to take place at Uranus Garden between September 5 and September 7, lines up this year artists who "celebrate that form of joy that does not ignore reality, but faces it with beauty, energy, and solidarity," the organizers said. The artists performing in September in Bucharest will […]
The mayor of Timișoara, Dominic Fritz, announced on Friday, June 20, that two new bridges over the Bega River will be built in the city. The bridges will be financed with EU-backed funds worth over RON 130 million. The bridges in question are the Solventul Bridge, which will connect Gării Street to Dâmbovița Boulevard and […]
A Sarmatian necropolis nearly 2,000 years old was discovered after archaeological excavations were carried out at the Mehala II site in the municipality of Timișoara, in western Romania. Researchers discovered 15 inhumation graves, most arranged in rectangular pits with rounded corners, although some no longer retain their original outline, having been disturbed by the passage […]
The George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra will deliver on June 26 a concert marking Romania Day at the Osaka World Expo. Additionally, the Bucharest-based orchestra will present a series of other concerts and recitals, both within the Romanian Pavilion and outside, at Toyonara Hall in Osaka. The George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra's concerts will be conducted by […]
Sphera Franchise Group, the largest food service group in Romania, has opened its first Cioccolatitaliani store in the seaside resort of Riccione, in Italy’s Rimini tourist area. This marks the official launch of Sphera Group’s development plan for the premium Italian brand of coffee, gelato, and pastry. Under the plan, it will open four locations […]
