Belgium 2012

This report presents the Belgian « National Integrity System » (NIS). The thirteen pillars which form the NIS have been analysed through a series of questions. For the most part, the formal framework (legal framework) and, to a lesser degree, the practical implementation (practice) has been examined.

The comparative analysis of the perception of corruption (at the business as well as the public level) places Belgium at an average European level. Corruption is perceived to be higher in Belgium than in the Scandinavian countries but lower than in France or Spain for example.

The studies are not extensive enough to enable clear conclusions. Moreover, official statistics of prosecutions and convictions given by the police and justice department have proven difficult to analyze. Besides problems with information registration, criminal offences tend to receive claims more often than corruption since the former are easier to prove than the latter. However, political scientific studies have argued that, in the last few years, certain phenomenons which are linked to corruption (such as political appointments or permanent holding of position) are less frequent.

Additional materials from this assessment