Latest survey by Transparency International concerning perceptions of corruption and the Western Balkans
17.2.2020
Question for written answer E-000941/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Dominique Bilde (ID)
In the latest survey by Transparency International on perceptions of corruption, Bosnia and Herzegovina has lost six points since 2012, now scoring 36, due in particular to election irregularities, threats to voters and misuse of public funds [1] .
Albania, with a score of 35 points, has fallen 23 places in three years. Transparency International reports that corruption is endemic, ranging from fraud at the highest level of government to everyday fraud, which hampers access to basic public services, such as health care or education [2] . Moreover, Albania is said to be the most corrupt country among the EU Member States and the candidate countries for accession, alongside North Macedonia.
- 1.How does the Commission explain the contrast between its 2019 reports on these countries and the results of this survey, as well as the manifest ineffectiveness of the efforts undertaken in the field of good governance and transparency?
- 2.Both the Commission and the Croatian Presidency of the Council have expressed themselves explicitly in favour of the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. In what way is this decision justified in the light of the survey referred to?
- [1] “With a score of 36, Bosnia and Herzegovina significantly declined by six points on the CPI [Corruption Perceptions Index] since 2012”, the organisation noted. [...] “[...] voting irregularities, threats against voters, the misuse of public resources and unequal access to the media”. Bosnia drops further in Transparency Intl corruption perception ranking, Moldova ranks lowest in SEE, SeeNews, 24 January 2020.
- [2] “From fraud that occurs at the highest levels of government to petty bribery that blocks access to basic public services like health care and education, citizens are fed up with corrupt leaders and institutions,” said the report; https://exit.al/en/2020/01/23/transparency-international-albania-is-europes-most-corrupt-country-falls-23-places-in-three-years/