TL:DR – EU Releases 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, Highlights Anti-Corruption Stagnation
• Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, released on 10 February 2026, shows the EU remains the least corrupt region worldwide with a score of 62 out of 100.
• Hungary and Bulgaria rank as the worst-performing EU member states with scores of 40.
• Denmark, Finland, and Sweden are the best-performing EU countries with scores of 89, 88, and 80, respectively.
• The EU adopted its first Anti-Corruption Directive in December 2025, set for adoption in March 2026.
• The directive requires annual publication of EU-wide corruption data and national anti-corruption strategies.
EU remains least corrupt but anti-graft progress stalls, report warns
The European Union has maintained its status as the least corrupt region globally, according to Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released on 10 February 2026. However, the organisation noted that anti-corruption efforts have largely stalled over the past decade, which is significant as it highlights the challenges facing EU member states in combating corruption.
The global average corruption score has reached a new low of 42, while the EU’s regional average stands at 62 out of 100. Since 2012, 13 countries in Western Europe and the EU have significantly declined, while only seven have shown significant improvement.
Hungary and Bulgaria’s Low Scores
Hungary and Bulgaria have been ranked as the worst-performing EU member states, with Hungary scoring 40 and Romania at 45. Flora Cresswell, regional advisor for Europe at Transparency International, stated that the erosion of checks and balances in Hungary has created “a melting pot of corruption risks.” She explained that the diminishing framework of accountability is linked to a lack of media freedom, undermined judicial independence, and increased corruption risks in public spending.
Trends in Slovakia and Other EU States
Transparency International observed concerning trends in Slovakia, which scored 48, citing government campaigns against independent whistleblowing agencies that have rolled back the ability to investigate and prosecute corruption. France and Sweden also experienced drops in their scores, attributed to sanctions enforcement challenges and integrity scandals, while the Baltic states saw improvements by implementing effective anti-corruption strategies and enhancing transparency.
EU Anti-Corruption Directive Adoption
In December 2025, the European Union agreed on its first Anti-Corruption Directive aimed at harmonising criminal laws on corruption across member states. This provisional agreement mandates the establishment of EU-wide definitions and sanctions for corruption offences, as well as the annual publication of corruption data. Flora Cresswell noted that the directive is “lacking ambition,” as many critical elements, such as lobbying transparency, are not obligatory. The text is expected to be adopted in March 2026, with member states given two years to transpose the directive.
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