THE EU MUST DO MORE TO COUNTERACT CORRUPTION !

Corruption in the 28 EU member states undermines citizens' fundamental rights, good governance and the rule of law. Corruption occurs in old and new EU Member States alike. Research shows that the trust of EU citizens in Member States and the EU to fight corruption is very low.

The EU must do more to counteract corruption with a comprehensive anti-corruption policy. The prevention of and fight against corruption should remain a priority on the EU's political agenda. Leaders and decision-makers at the EU- and Member State level must take a clear and public stance against corruption, while adequate EU legislation, mechanisms and standards against corruption are needed to tackle the issue at its roots.

Earlier we wrote that Bulgaria was suffering from chronic corruption. If the current situation does not improve, these problems could manifest themselves as a threat to the EU. In one aspect, addressing the particular issues that Bulgaria faces may pave the way in the future for the EU to mitigate problems of corruption that are more specific in nature. On the other end, a decision must be made as to what extent the EU is willing to tolerate the costs of an unstable Bulgarian membership in the interest of maintaining European political solidarity.

With regard to Bulgaria the European Commission’s stance has been that ‘the EU wouldn’t swoop in and change the Bulgarian government because it doesn’t interfere in national affairs” BUT the EU most certainly should undergo careful examination of Bulgaria’s incentives as a participating member and how to procure a regionally specific anti-corruption policy. More efforts should target training and institutional strengthening as part of the EU’s assistance being offered to Bulgaria.