海角大神

It鈥檚 perhaps telling that the European Commission never before issued a report on corruption. Europe is, after all, largely considered one of the 鈥渃leanest鈥� in the world, with the Scandinavian countries in particular always winning global rankings on transparency.

But the extent of corruption across Europe, revealed in a first-of-its kind report today, is 鈥渂reathtaking,鈥� European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstr枚m .

The report says that none of the 28 members of the EU is immune from corruption, and that it costs their economies a total of $162.2 billion a year.

The findings hurt the image of the EU overall, but they鈥檒l do more harm to certain countries, particularly those hit worst by economic crisis and the newest full-fledged members, Romania and Bulgaria.

Ms. Malmstr枚m said in that "corruption undermines citizens' confidence in democratic institutions and the result of law, it hurts the European economy, and deprives states of much-needed tax revenue,鈥� she said. "Member states have done a lot in recent years to fight corruption, but today's report shows that it is far from enough."聽

The report is good news for the north. 鈥淎nswers confirm a positive perception and low experience of bribery in the case of聽 Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, and Sweden,鈥� it notes. These residents say they鈥檝e rarely paid a bribe 鈥� less than one percent 鈥� and the percentage of those saying they believe corruption is widespread at home (20 percent, 29 percent, 42 percent and 44 percent respectively) is significantly below the EU average of 76 percent.

It鈥檚 not such good news for the south, however. In Portugal, Spain, and Italy, almost everyone feels corruption is widespread, at 90 percent, 95 percent, and 97 percent respectively (even though the actual act of bribe-paying in these countries is less than 3 percent). The European Commission concludes that recent political scandals and the economic and financial crisis have contributed to their disillusionment.

That mirrors findings from Berlin-based Transparency International released last year, and show the eurocrisis undermining the public鈥檚 trust in institutions, especially within the countries most indebted.

"There is a deterioration in public trust in public institutions,鈥� Anne Koch, regional director for Europe and Central Asia at Transparency International, told 海角大神 after the July release of the organization's poll. 鈥淭here is a sense that Europe is slightly adrift politically.鈥�

Today鈥檚 report might be most damaging for Romania and Bulgaria, which are part of the EU but only had their work restrictions lifted in several EU countries on January 1.聽

The report showed that both countries, along with Croatia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Greece, experience significant levels of actual bribe-paying and high percentages of those who say corruption is widespread at home.

They are slated to become part of the passport-free Schengen zone. But nations such as France have argued that their commitment to rule-of-law is not up to par yet. Findings today will only add to those arguing that Romania and Bulgaria should remain out for now.