European Commission
Malmström

Corruption destroys a country from within, undermining trust in democratic institutions, weakening the accountability of political leadership and playing into the hands of organised crime groups. According to a new Eurobarometer survey presented today, almost three-quarters of respondents said that they see corruption as a major problem, that it exists at all levels of government. Eight percent of respondents say they have been asked or expected to pay a bribe in the past year. You’ll find the survey here.

Although the nature and scope of corruption varies among EU countries, no country is spared.  It means huge costs for society – not least the cost of underminig the credibility of politics and democracy. Anti-corruption efforts must be intensified mainly by Member States, but also at EU level. Last June, the Commission adopted a corruption package, calling for a stronger focus on corruption in all relevant EU policies. In 2013 we will also publish a report on anti-corruption measures in all 27 EU Member States on what works and what doesn’t, as well as offering suggestions for improvements.

New legislation to tackle corruption i.e. reform of public procurement rules, more advanced statistics on crimes and enhanced anti-fraud policies is also to be expected from the Commission. The proposal on increased harmonization on confiscation of criminals assets, which I will present in a few weeks, is also part of the overall anti-corruption efforts at EU level.