The European Commission just adopted its first EU Anti-Corruption Report. Highlights:
- 76% of Europeans think that corruption is widespread in their own country.
- More than half of Europeans (56%) think the level of corruption in their country has increased over the past three years.
EU’s Anti-Corruption Report asks for:
- better accountability and integrity standards;
- control mechanisms in public authorities;
- dealing with conflicts of interests by officials;
- how to address corruption at local level and in state-owned companies;
- the effectiveness of courts and police, and protection mechanisms for whistleblowers;
- limiting risks of bribery in foreign countries, and making lobbying more transparent;
- And – developing innovative e-tools to enhance transparency.
The Report also takes a close look at corruption in public procurement. In this respect, one may argue Romania’s main source of corruption lies in public procurement and so-called public “invite-only” bidding processes.
Speaking of better accountability, Romania has a new Criminal Code effective as of 1 February 2014. First effects: some 400 convicts are ready to be up and about thanks to the new provisions. Some 122 are already out since Saturday which points that convicts are really law-abiding citizens. Lucky us!
This spells accountability.
Communication for Development of Ideas 
Pretty scary statistics.
It’s probably the tip of the iceberg but it’s good they’ve started showing it in reports.
I hope the government has a nice program in place( surveillance ) for the convicts.
No, not really, not for those. Those are really out.