The European Commission on Monday in Brussels unveiled the first anti-corruption report of the European Union, EU, saying corruption costs the European economy $162 billion (about N25.9 trillion) annually.<\/p>\n
According to the report, corruption is still a challenge which affects all EU member-states despite initiatives taken against it in recent years. The results of the initiatives, however, are uneven.<\/p>\n
The report showed that public procurement was particularly prone to corruption in the member-states, owing to deficient control mechanisms and risk management. It said some sectors, including urban development and construction, healthcare and tax administration, also seemed particularly vulnerable to corruption.<\/p>\n
The EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, said in her reaction that corruption undermined citizens\u2019 confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hurts the European economy and deprives states from much-needed tax revenue,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The commissioner said member-states had done a lot in recent years to fight corruption, but lamented that the report shows that it was far from enough. Ms. Malmstrom therefore urged EU member-states to follow proposals on counter-corruption listed in the report.<\/p>\n
A Eurobarometer survey on the attitude of Europeans towards corruption published on Monday showed that 76 per cent of Europeans think that corruption is widespread; 56 per cent think that the level of corruption in their country had increased over the past three years; and eight per cent said they had experienced or witnessed a case of corruption in the past year.<\/p>\n
SOURCE OF REPORT:\u00a0http:\/\/premiumtimesng.com\/news\/foreign\/154508-corruption-costs-eu-162-billion-yearly-report-says.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n The European Commission on Monday in Brussels unveiled the first anti-corruption report of the European Union, EU, saying corruption costs the European economy $162 billion (about N25.9 trillion) annually. According to the report, corruption is still a challenge which affects … Continue reading