On 24 July 2024, in parallel to its 2024 Rule of Law Report (→ related link), the Commission released the results of two Eurobarometer surveys on the perception of corruption in the EU:

• Special Eurobarometer 548 - Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU (2024);
• Flash Eurobarometer 543 - Businesses’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU (2024).

The first survey found that European citizens remain sceptical about national governments’ efforts to address corruption: 65% of citizens believe that high-level corruption cases are not sufficiently pursued, and only 57% think that government efforts to combat corruption are ineffective. 68% of citizens consider corruption to be widespread in their Member States. However, responses widely differ from country to country. Whereas 98% of Greeks consider corruption to be widespread in their country, only 18% of Finns do so. A majority of Europeans (61%) continue to view corruption as unacceptable, although this represents a decline of 3% compared to the survey conducted in 2023. A growing number of citizens believe that there is a lack of protection for whistleblowers.

The second survey on businesses' attitudes found that 51% of EU-based companies think that people or businesses engaging in corrupt practices are caught by or reported to the authorities. Of these companies, more than three quarters think that too close links between business and politics lead to corruption (79%) and that favouritism and corruption undermine business competition (74%). 64% of EU-based companies consider corruption to be widespread in their Member States. More than half of the respondents view corruption as prevalent in public procurement, with 27% stating that it has prevented them from securing contracts. Over 50% doubt the effectiveness of corruption investigations and sanctions.

The annual Eurobarometer surveys feeds the Commission's rule of law report. They also serve the Commission for identifying specific anti-corruption support needs at national level.