The results of the extraordinary Eurobarometer on the attitude of citizens and businesses towards corruption in the European Union were published by the Commission (“Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU in 2023“), which are not only optimistic.
Seven out of ten respondents believe that corruption is widespread in their country, with the percentage in the case of Greeks reaching 93%.
At the same time, 78% agree that too close ties between business and politics lead to corruption. In fact, 60% believe that corruption is part of the business culture in their country, while 57% agree that in their country, the only way to succeed in business is to have political connections.
Most people find corruption unacceptable
More than seven in ten respondents consider it unacceptable to give a gift (72%) or a favor (72%) to get something from a public administration or service, while 83% consider it unacceptable to give money for the same reason.
Overall, 64% of Europeans believe that corruption is unacceptable. However, 27% believe it is acceptable to give a gift or favor (26%) in order to get something from the public administration or a public service, while 16% believe it is acceptable to give money for this reason.
Almost three-quarters (74%) believe that there is corruption in their country’s national public institutions, while 73% believe that there is corruption in their country’s local or regional public institutions and 60% believe that corruption is part of the business culture in their country.
They do not know where to report cases of corruption
Less than half of respondents (45%) say they know where to report a case of corruption if they experience or observe it. Respondents are most likely to know where to report a case of corruption in Malta (63%) and Slovenia (62%), and least likely in Poland (32%) and Hungary (33%).
They don’t complain because they know it’s pointless
47% say that the difficulty of proving corruption is a major reason why people do not report it. Three in ten say reporting would be pointless because those responsible will not be punished, while 28% say there is no protection for whistleblowers.
Furthermore, respondents are pessimistic about national anti-corruption efforts.
Only a minority believe that anti-corruption measures are applied impartially and without hindrance (35%), that there are enough successful prosecutions to deter people from corrupt practices (32%), that their national government’s efforts to fight corruption are effective (30%) or that there is sufficient transparency and supervision of the financing of political parties in their country (29%).
