EU publishes first Anti-Corruption Report

The EU has yesterday published its first Anti-Corruption Report. The Report consists of a General Chapter on the main findings and general corruption-related trends in the EU, and 28 Country Chapters for specific findings in each Member State. Moreover, two Eurobarometer surveys reveal the perception of corruption issues by Member State citizens and companies. The Report analyses the situations in the Member States, their counter-measures currently in place and possible improvements for the future.

Chapter IV. of the General Chapter entirely deals with Public Procurement, a sector that is especially vulnerable to corruption. The upcoming amendment of the Procurement Directives is considered to be a positive step towards modernisation of anti-corruption mechanisms. Still, the Report also calls for the need to systematic and overall risk assessment in the public sector. The Report also concludes that high transparency standards, strengthening of internal and external control mechanisms, raising of awareness for the need of anti-corruption measures, and the improvement of sanctioning mechanisms are necessary.

You can find the Anti-Corruption Report with the General Chapter, the Country Chapters and the Eurobarometer surveys here.