MOST CORRUPT COUNTRIES OF EUROPE IN 2014

TI’s Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. A country or territory’s score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The score for each country below is indicated in parenthesis:

1. Croatia (48):Transparency of lobbying. Lobbying is not regulated in Croatia. There is no obligation for lobbyists to be registered and no transparency standards are set in this field. Although over time there has been some reflection at government level on the possible regulation of lobbying, no legislative initiative has materialised to date. Some ad-hoc initiatives are being implemented, such as that of the Croatian Society of Lobbyists consisting of 80 members, which has taken steps to promote ethics and transparency in lobbying activities, including the setting-up of a voluntary registration system
2. The FYR of Macedonia (45): Macedonia adopted a lobbyist registration law in 2008,  There appears to be considerable confusion and disdain over what constitutes lobbying – prompting not a single registration to date – and apparently no sense of urgency among governmental officials to clarify and implement the law in any meaningful fashion).
3. Bulgaria (43):Transparency of lobbying. Lobbying is not regulated in Bulgaria. There is no specific obligation for registration of lobbyists or reporting of contacts between public officials and lobbyists.
4. Greece (43): Transparency of lobbying. Lobbying is not regulated in Greece. There is no specific obligation for the registration of lobbyists or the reporting of contacts between public officials and lobbyists.
5. Italy (43): Transparency of lobbying. Lobbying is not regulated by law in Italy. There are no obligations to register lobbyists or to report contacts between public officials and lobbyists.
6. Romania (43):  Transparency of lobbying. Lobbying is not regulated in Romania. There is no mandatory registration or obligation of public servants to report contacts with lobbyists. The Romanian authorities were of the view that such new legislation is not necessary since the risks related to lobbying are already covered by the existing rules on conflicts of interest and incompatibilities applicable to public officials. One draft law regulating lobbying is currently discussed by the Chamber of Deputies. In 2010, a Romanian Lobbying Association was set up, with the aim to further promote lobbying activities and possibly ensure self-regulation. However, so far its impact has been limited.
7. Montenegro (42):  On 23 October 2014 the Government of Montenegro approved a Lobbying Bill aimed at establishing limits, rules and sanctions for violating the lobbying rules.
8. Serbia (41): Lobbying is not legally regulated although the National Strategy for Fighting Corruption 2013-2015 indicates that adoption of a law on lobbying will be an important part of fighting corruption.
9. Bosnia and Herzegovina (39): No regulation and lack of transparency in lobbying
10. Moldova (35): No regulation and lack of transparency in lobbying
11. Albania (33): No regulation and lack of transparency in lobbying
12. Kosovo (33): No regulation and lack of transparency in lobbying
13. Belarus (31): No regulation and lack of transparency in lobbying
14. Russia (27): No regulation and lack of transparency in lobbying
15. Ukraine (26): No regulation and lack of transparency in lobbying.Attempts to regulate lobbying by law have so far been unsuccessful in Ukraine. The first attempt to create a law on lobbying dates back to 1992. On 13 April 1999, ‘On lobbying in Ukraine’ was withdrawn from the Verkhovna Rada. On 3 November 1999, ‘On legal status of groups united by common interests (lobbies) in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine’ was considered by the Verkhovna Rada and then discontinued. On 25 September 2003, ‘On regulation of lobbying activities in state government bodies’. On 9 November 2005, ‘On activities of lobbyists in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine’ was rejected by the Verkhovna Rada Committee. On 3 September 2009, ‘On lobbying’ (‘On the influence of the public on adoption of regulations’ was cancelled by the new government. On 20 October 2010, ‘On regulation of lobbying activities in Ukraine’