Eurobarometer is a collection of cross-country public opinion surveys conducted regularly on behalf of EU institutions since 1974. The mission of the Eurobarometer program is to monitor public opinion in the European Union member and candidate countries. The surveys are conducted on behalf of the European Commission and the responsible Directorate-General, particular modules are commissioned by the European Parliament. Survey results are regularly published in official reports by the European Commission.
With regard to attitudes towards corruption, this summer’s surveys show that 65% of businesses think that the problem of corruption is widespread in their country. Corruption is seen by 35% companies in the EU as a problem when doing business in their country. The extent to which corruption is perceived by respondents as a serious problem varies considerably across member states. The highest proportions of companies for which corruption is a problem are seen in Romania (75%), Greece (74%) and Cyprus (72%), while the lowest proportions are observed in Denmark (6%), Estonia (7%) and Ireland (7%). More than three quarters of companies in the EU (78%) agree that overly close links between business and politics in their country lead to corruption. 72% agree that favouritism and corruption hamper business competition in their country while 59% agree that bribery and the use of connections is often the easiest way to obtain certain public services in their country. Just under four in ten companies (38%) agree that, in their country, the only way to succeed in business is to have political connections. Less than four in ten companies (37%) agree that, in their country, measures against corruption are applied impartially and without ulterior motives.
In Lithuania, more than half, or 62 percent, of business representatives believe that the problem of corruption is widespread in the country. The figure is down from 89 percent in 2013, but up from 58 percent in 2022.
Corruption (17 percent) ranked last among the nine most mentioned problems for a company when doing business in Lithuania and was below patronage and nepotism, which were mentioned as a problem by 24 percent of respondents and ranked 6th and 7th, respectively, said the Special Investigation Service (STT) in a press release on September 5.
Six percent of business representatives have admitted this year that their company was previously asked or expected to give a gift, favour or extra money for permits, such as building permits, business permits, or public services, up from 5 percent in 2022 but down from 8 percent in 2013.
About 87 percent of respondents in Lithuania have said this year that excessively close links between business and politics lead to corruption, up from 81 percent in 2013. Some 37 percent have agreed that the only way to succeed in business is to have political connections, down from 60 percent a decade ago.
The Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International indicates that most countries have failed to stop it. The group defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” According to U.S. News 2023 Best Countries rankings, Russia is perceived as the world’s most corrupt country. This marks the second year in a row that Russia tops the ranking as the world’s most corrupt country. The United States slid to No. 25 among the countries perceived as least corrupt, down two spots from No. 23 last year. Canada is 14th, along with Estonia, Uruguay and Iceland. Lithuania is 33rd.
