# Bringing the Receipts: Political Finance Transparency in the Western Balkans and Türkiye URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/bringing-the-receipts-political-finance-transparency-in-the-western-balkans-and-türkiye Type: Publication or report Published: 2023-12-07 Updated: 2024-07-10 --- 07 December 2023 Political parties and candidates require funding to adequately exercise their ordinary functions or to campaign for elections. However, donations made by individuals and corporations to political parties and candidates can come with corruption risks. Political finance scandals are not unusual in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Over the last decade, the media have reported cases including €4.9 million of illicit donations accepted by a former ruling party in North Macedonia; allegations of foreign funding in Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and false donations aimed at hiding funding sources in Serbia, to name a few examples. Weak political finance controls result in dirty money entering politics and initiating a vicious cycle of corruption and dependency. Overhauling those controls is therefore critical for the fight against corruption and to strengthen democracy. This study analyses political finance regimes in **Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia**and **Türkiye**. It identifies regulatory and enforcement gaps, and offers recommendations on: 1\) Strengthening **legal foundations**, including definitions of who can donate, how much they can give and in what form. 2\) Enhancing **transparency**in terms of what is reported and published, and in which format. 3\) Promoting **accountability**through well-resourced and independent oversight institutions, and credible sanctions for those who break the law or abuse the system. ### Related publications ## [Ending Debt Secrecy: Recommendations to the G20 on Anti-Corruption in Sovereign Borrowing and Lending](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/ending-debt-secrecy-g20-recommendations) Publication • 04 September 2026 Recommendations to the G20 to strengthen transparency, accountability and integrity in sovereign borrowing and lending ## [Regional Assessment of Integrity in Political Finance in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/integrity-political-finance-asia) Publication • 03 September 2026 This report reviews systems across 17 countries to identify the areas of political finance most in need of reform. ## [Monitoring political finance: Compendium of citizen initiatives and good practices](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/monitoring-political-finance-compendium-of-citizen-initiatives-and-good-practices) Publication • 18 August 2026 This compendium aims to provide ideas for stakeholders interested in monitoring political finance. It presents seven monitoring and disclosure solutions from around the world,… ## [Annual Report 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/annual-report-2025) Publication • 17 July 2026 In 2025, Transparency International pursued its mission to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society. ## Priorities - [Political integrity](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/political-integrity) ## Countries - [Albania](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/albania) - [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina) - [Kosovo](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/kosovo) - [Montenegro](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/montenegro) - [North Macedonia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/north-macedonia) - [Serbia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/serbia) - [Türkiye](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/t%C3%BCrkiye) ## Regions - [Europe & Central Asia](https://www.transparency.org/en/region/europe-central-asia) ## Projects - [Western Balkans and Turkey: Citizen engagement for public integrity (CEPI)](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/western-balkans-turkey) ![Cover showing two stacks of folders alongside the Transparency International logo and the title.](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/Bringing-the-receipts-cover-WEB.jpg?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2023_WorkingPaper_BringingTheReceipts_English-NEW.pdf)