CPI 2024 for Western Europe & EU: Leaders’ hollow efforts cause worsening corruption levels

Flora Cresswell, Lidija Prokic and Altynai Myrzabekova, Regional Advisors for Europe, Transparency International

In fragile times, Europe's ability to combat corruption is falling short, hindering the bloc’s response to challenges that range from the climate crisis to fraying rule of law and overstrained public services.

The Western Europe and European Union (EU) regional average on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has dropped for the second consecutive year to 64 out of 100. Major economies like Germany (CPI score: 75) and France (67) are declining, and even traditionally strong Nordic countries such as Norway (81) and Sweden (80) have recorded their lowest ever scores.

Others like Slovakia (49), Malta (46) and Hungary (41) have dropped as the rule of law breaks down. Of the 31 countries assessed, only six improved their scores, while 19 declined.

Recent climate-induced catastrophes, such as flooding in Spain (56) and heatwaves in southern Europe, highlight the need to prioritise integrity in climate efforts. Yet gaps in integrity frameworks are leaving climate action vulnerable to corporate lobbyists, who subvert climate policy for their own interests. This was made explicitly clear by oil giants scaling back CO2 emission targets in Europe, with a network of 50 organisations leveraging €64 million to amplify their lobbying on the EU Green Deal, raising questions about transparency standards across Europe.

Such examples abound in domestic contexts as well. Corporate lobbyists played a significant role in mitigating the ambitions of France’s (67) citizen consulted 2021 climate law, as seen by the watering down of bans on domestic flights. Germany's Transport Ministry dismissed its policy head over a nepotism scandal in hydrogen funding, whilst delays in a Federal Transparency Act hindered transparency and open data efforts.

Yet there is some cause for optimism. Germany’s (75) new lobby register will require fossil fuel companies to disclose climate lobbying, staving off corporate influence – even though requiring a full lobbying footprint would further boost its effectiveness.

Weak transparency and accountability in government procurement, including those involving EU funds, remain a major concern, opening doors for bribery and eroding citizen trust in public service delivery. According to the European Court of Auditors, competition for public contracts has worsened. In response, the Commission’s planned revisions to the EU’s 2014 Public Procurement Directive is an opportunity to address transparency gaps.

Systemic corruption in public procurement persists in several EU countries. In Malta (46), the former prime minister, and former ministers and officials, are currently facing criminal charges relating to corruption concerning the transfer of three public hospitals to a private company in a deal estimated at €4 billion. Hungary’s (41) Chief of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Antal Rogan was recently sanctioned by the US Government for distributing public contracts to cronies loyal to himself and the Fidesz political party.

In Croatia (47), the Health Minister was fired over suspicions he accepted bribes in exchange for the approval of procurement of robotic medical equipment from a specific company at inflated prices for several public hospitals. Whilst in the Czech Republic (56), the Antimonopoly Office Chairman’s unchecked power and insufficient transparency expose public procurements to undue influence. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigated a contracting authority for rigging tenders for medical equipment supplies. Shockingly, privileged bidders even had access to the procurement management system to compare offers.

On the bright side, Estonia (76) pioneered one solution: its centralised e-procurement register has enhanced public access to procurement notices, allowing civil society and the broader public to scrutinise deals.

Recent reforms in anti-corruption measures are harming Italy's (54) progress. Adjustments to the legal framework, including the narrowing of influence trading definitions and the decriminalisation of abuse of office by public officials, weaken checks on ties between the public sector and organised crime. Transparency and data access gaps persist in monitoring how Italy spends its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds. Whilst there are longstanding gaps in lobbying regulation and conflict-of-interest management compared to other European countries. However, Italy is taking steps to foster public trust, with the Anti-Corruption Agency serving as a regional example of progress in public procurement through its e-procurement database.

For some time, gaps in legal frameworks, poor enforcement and resource scarcity have held EU countries back. But now, some governments are going further, undermining or politicising anti-corruption frameworks and allowing erosion of the rule of law.

Prime Minister Victor Orbán’s 15-year-long rule has been marked by systemic corruption and a continuous decline of the rule of law in

Hungary (41), whose CPI score has dropped 14 points since 2012. Even the withholding of €20 billion in EU funds has failed to compel the Orban-regime to restore rule of law and democracy.

In Austria (67), an independent committee found evidence of political influence on the judiciary in ongoing corruption investigations. Spain (56) too has declined four points, reflecting ongoing delays in its anti-corruption strategy and a comprehensive approach.

While some enforcement challenges remain to Lithuania’s (63) Law on Lobbying Activities, the introduction of a cross-declaration requirement has significantly increased transparency and accountability in public decision-making processes.

In one year under Robert Fico’s government, Slovakia’s (49)score has sharply declined as numerous reforms erode anti-corruption checks and bypass public consultation. The government dissolved the Special Prosecutor’s Office and the police's National Crime Agency, responsible for fighting corruption and serious crimes. Combined with reduced statutes of limitations, lightened corruption penalties and waived potential sentences, these changes have limited the ability to prosecute perpetrators in ongoing cases and have fostered impunity in some high-level cases. Political appointments, bypassing of standard legislative procedures and government’s undermining of independent institutions and media, along with attacks against NGOs through Russian-style “foreign agent” narratives, have sparked significant backlash from citizens and civil society.

As the region continues to decline, it’s time for European leaders to act. This year the EU has a key opportunity to enhance anti-corruption standards through a dedicated EU Anti-corruption Directive that can standardise regulation around the region and stop this decline.