EU citizens see political corruption as the norm – survey

A Eurobarometer poll has found that more than half of the bloc’s population believes bribery is prevalent among political parties

Across the European Union, 69% of citizens believe that corruption is widespread in their country, according to a new Eurobarometer survey published this week.

Despite efforts by the bloc’s authorities, more than half of EU citizens do not believe anti-corruption measures are effective and doubt their impartiality, according to the poll; 51% say the problem is prevalent among political parties.

Distrust was particularly high in Greece, Croatia and Portugal, where perceptions of widespread corruption were also the most common. Greece reported the highest rate at 97%, followed by Croatia at 92% and Portugal at 91%. At the opposite end of the scale, Finland and Denmark recorded the lowest levels, at 21% and 28%, respectively. The most notable increases since 2024 were observed in Luxembourg, up nine percentage points, and Ireland, up six points, the report said.

Among respondents, 80% say it is never acceptable to give money to public services for a favor, with Portugal (98%), France (90%), and Spain (90%) leading that view. Over 70% oppose doing favors in exchange, while only 5% believe it is always acceptable. Roughly three‑quarters say giving gifts to get services is never acceptable. Older respondents, aged 55 and over, are more likely than younger ones to reject corruption.

The survey also explores perceptions of corruption by institution and region. More than half believe corruption is common among political parties, and 46% say it’s widespread among politicians at all levels. Two‑thirds of EU citizens say high‑level corruption cases are not pursued sufficiently, and more than half consider government anti‑corruption efforts ineffective. Nearly half doubt that measures are applied impartially.

Only 5% of respondents reported experiencing or witnessing corruption in the past 12 months, and just one in five of them filed a report. In addition, fewer than half of those surveyed know where to report corruption cases. The survey also shows that men are more likely than women to personally know someone involved in bribery.