A recent Eurobarometer survey has cast a stark light on the pervasive perception of political corruption across the European Union. According to the poll, an overwhelming majority of EU citizens believe corruption to be widespread within their own countries, with a particular focus on political parties and politicians. The survey further reveals a deep skepticism about the effectiveness and impartiality of anti-corruption measures, highlighting a serious challenge for the EU’s democratic institutions and governance frameworks.

The survey finds that 69% of EU citizens perceive corruption to be a widespread problem in their country, underscoring the normalization of corrupt practices in the public imagination. Despite years of concerted efforts by the European Union and its member states to combat corruption through legislative frameworks, transparency initiatives, and watchdog institutions, a significant portion of the population remains unconvinced that these efforts are yielding tangible results.

This widespread perception of corruption is not evenly distributed across the EU. The countries with the highest reported perceptions of corruption are Greece (97%), Croatia (92%), and Portugal (91%). These nations have long grappled with entrenched corruption challenges, and the survey suggests that citizens there continue to see bribery and illicit influence as endemic to their political systems.

Conversely, Finland and Denmark stand at the opposite end of the spectrum, with just 21% and 28% of citizens, respectively, believing corruption to be widespread. These countries are often praised for their robust governance models and transparent institutions, which appear to foster greater public trust.

Interestingly, the report also identifies notable shifts in countries such as Luxembourg and Ireland, where perceptions of corruption have increased by nine and six percentage points, respectively, since 2024. This upward trend may signal growing public awareness or dissatisfaction with recent political scandals or........

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