Global Corruption Barometer: European Union 2021

European Union countries are known for being wealthy, stable and democratic. However, their clean image is undermined by issues ranging from socioeconomic disparities and erosion of the rule of law to corruption problems. Corruption, especially, affects every country in the political bloc, and the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening matters. In some countries, people in power are using the crisis as an excuse to undermine democracy. In others, they see it as a chance to make a profit.

The Global Corruption Barometer – European Union 2021 shows that people in all 27 EU states are well aware of these issues and want their leaders to act with more integrity.

Conducted between October and December 2020, the GCB is one of the largest, most detailed surveys of citizens’ views on and experiences of corruption in the 27 EU countries.