TI: Slovakia in the Corruption Perceptions Index fell by 12 places, lags behind many EU countries

Berlin/Bratislava – Slovakia ranked 59th in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024, compiled annually by Transparency International (TI). Compared to its historically best position in 2023 (47th place), it fell by 12 places and also dropped compared to other EU countries. The best ranked were Denmark, Finland, Singapore, and New Zealand, reports TASR.

Slovakia scored 49 out of 100, five points less than in 2023. “In one year of Robert Fico’s government, Slovakia’s score sharply decreased, as numerous reforms weaken anti-corruption controls and bypass public consultations,” says TI. It pointed to the dissolution of the special prosecutor’s office and the National Crime Agency, which were responsible for combating corruption and serious crime.

Among neighboring EU countries, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland ranked better, while Hungary and Ukraine, which is not a member of the Union, ranked worse.

The average score of European Union member states decreased by two points (62) compared to 2023. According to TI, Europe’s ability to fight corruption is not sufficient. This hinders the bloc’s response to challenges ranging from the climate crisis to the weakening of the rule of law and overloaded public institutions.

Globally, the level of corruption remains alarmingly high, according to the organization, and efforts to reduce it are weakening, with more than two-thirds of countries scoring less than 50 points. Crisis-stricken states including Syria, Venezuela, and Somalia were in the last places of the corruption index. South Sudan scored the lowest. As Transparency explains, the world CPI scale is compiled based on 13 other indexes of independent institutions over the past two years. (February 11)

“In one year of Robert Fico’s government, Slovakia’s score sharply decreased, as numerous reforms weaken anti-corruption controls and bypass public consultations.” Transparency International