European Commission: European Anti-Fraud Office, 35th annual report on the protection of the European Union’s financial interests and the fight against fraud 2023 – Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

In line with the obligation laid down in Article 325(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), each year the European Commission, in cooperation with the EU Member States, submits a report (the Protection of Financial Interests Report/PIF Report) to the European Parliament and the Council on the measures taken to implement the Article. On the basis of the report, the European Parliament adopts its annual motion for a resolution on the protection of the EU’s financial interests and the fight against fraud. The 2023 PIF Report highlights measures at EU and national level aimed at strengthening the protection of the EU’s financial interests.

European Commission: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Businesses' attitudes towards corruption in the EU – Report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

This Eurobarometer survey, first conducted in 2013, and repeated in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023, is designed to explore the level of corruption perceived and experienced by businesses employing one or more persons in the following six key sectors: energy, mining, oil and gas, chemicals; healthcare and pharmaceutical; engineering and electronics, motor vehicles; construction and building; telecommunications and information technologies; and financial services, banking and investment. The survey covers a range of areas, including:  Businesses’ perception of the level of corruption in their country  The prevalence of practices leading to corruption  How corruption is investigated, prosecuted and sanctioned  Problems encountered when doing business  Corrupt practices in public tender and public procurement procedures.

European Commission: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU in 2024 – Report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union, Haase, D. and Schwarcz, A., EU assistance to Ukraine and scrutiny of the EU financing provided, European Parliament, 2024.

The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) will hold an exchange of views with the parliamentary Committees on Budget and on Anti-corruption Policies of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on 20 March 2024. This briefing provides background information for that debate.

European Parliament, Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union, Haase, D., Schwarcz, A., European Parliament, 2024.

The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) will hold an exchange of views with the parliamentary Committees on Budget and on Anti-corruption Policies of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on 20 March 2024. This briefing provides background information for that debate.

European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Huss, O., Beke, M., et al., Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.

The goal of this Handbook is to map a variety of anti-corruption practices in EU Member States (MS) that have proved to be useful in solving problems related to corruption, and which can inspire similar initiatives elsewhere. For this purpose, one good anti-corruption practice either established or innovative, with positive impact aspirations in each EU Member State was selected, and clustered into eight types of anti-corruption approaches. The Handbook is structured along these identified types.

European Commission: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Persson, A., Worth, M. and Jeney, P., High-risk areas of corruption in the EU – A mapping and in-depth analysis, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Corruption encompasses a vast collection of abusive, subversive and sometimes violent crimes that harm virtually all portions and levels of society. It radiates outward from the initial act to damage public institutions, companies, communities and families. Eventually, corruption touches and affects people personally – whether it is obvious or not. Corruption is estimated to cost the EU up to EUR 990 billion per year – more than enough to end world hunger and provide electricity, safe water and sanitation to everyone everywhere.

European Investment Bank, Investigations activity report 2023, European Investment Bank, 2024.

The 2023 Investigations Activity Report highlights our commitment to integrity and transparency in all our activities. The European Investment Bank Group (EIB) is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and has a zero-tolerance policy for any prohibited conduct. The Group’s Inspectorate General’s Investigations Division investigates allegations related to EIB-financed operations and the conduct of our staff and governing bodies. In 2023, we enhanced cooperation with Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and launched the EIB Fraud Fighters Network. The 2023 Investigations Activity Report highlights our commitment to integrity and transparency in all our activities. It also illustrates our achievements, including handling 169 incoming allegations and successfully halting 232 scams.

European Parliament, Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union, Vidačak, I., Šelo Šabićs, S., European Parliament, 2023.

This analysis explores examples of best practices from selected parliaments in the areas of transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption, and reflects on the effectiveness of the analysed approaches and their possible applicability for the European Parliament (EP). Findings confirm the need for the establishment of an independent European Union (EU) ethics body, granted investigative and enforcement powers with full transparency of enquiries, decisions and/or proposals as a pre-condition for its effectiveness and regaining citizens’ trust in the work of EU institutions.

Europol, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.

Serious and organised crime continues to threaten the internal security of the EU. The criminal landscape constantly evolves, as criminals seek out new opportunities and exploit crises for their own interests. Criminal actors involved in economic and financial crimes are highly adept at taking advantage of our economy for their purposes, and at targeting increasing numbers of victims. They capitalise on vulnerabilities in society’s systems to generate billions in illicit profits, while applying various strategies, often cyber-enabled, to remain undetected and secure their earnings. Financial crimes, and in particular money laundering, undermine our society not only by infiltrating the legal economy, but also by fostering the growth of a parallel underground society made of individuals who increasingly rely on organised crime for their economic sustenance and livelihood.

European Parliament, Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union, Nugent, A., European Parliament, 2023.

The Committee on Budgetary Control has organised a public hearing with the aim of getting a better understanding of how investigative journalism can help to uncover cases of fraud and corruption within Member States, which is of particular concern to the CONT Committee due to potential cases of fraud within EU funds. The hearing was scheduled out of concern for declining levels of press freedom in Central Europe, in this context it is important to discuss the vital role that a free media fulfils in society. This briefing will provide a background on the role of investigative journalists before moving on to discuss the role that they play in uncovering fraud and corruption in Europe. It will then discuss the decline of press freedom in Central Europe before analysing different policies that could be used to protect investigative journalists.

European Commission: Directorate-General for Communication and Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, Rule of law – Eurobarometer report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

The survey looks into several key aspects key as covered in the Rule of Law Report Key topics are: The support for EU values and the rule of law including the perceived importance of the EU's fundamental values, the perceived role of the EU in upholding the rule of law and the perceived level of information about the EU's fundamental values and the rule of law. The general perception of the justice system on a national level and the improvements of national justice systems over the past five years. The perception of the anti-corruption framework within the respondents' country and the improvements made with regard to the situation of corruption and anti-corruption measures. The media freedom and pluralism within the Member States and the improvements made regarding media freedom and pluralism. The situation of checks and balances on a national level. Again, the survey gathers the perceived improvements made in this regard.

European Parliament, Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services, Fernandes, M., Jančová, L., European Parliament, 2023.

Corruption poses a significant threat in the European Union and can contribute towards an erosion of democracy and the rule of law, especially during times of crisis. The European Union can do more to tackle corruption and curb its negative impacts on society. This report presents a quantitative analysis of the potential gains from further EU action to tackle corruption, estimating that it could generate up to €58.5 billion per year. Other gains could also be expected in terms of reinforcing democracy and promoting international credibility and long-term growth.

European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.

The present study to strengthen the fight against corruption in the EU aims at providing recommendations for possible EU measures in the area of corruption prevention and repression and to assess and compare the impacts of the identified policy options. The core problems, drivers and issues of the EU anti-corruption acquis, the need for and added value of EU action and the relevant policy objectives were identified through detailed desk research and numerous consultation activities. Overall, the assessment pointed to legislative and operational barriers that hinder both the prevention and the fight against corruption in the EU.

European Commission: European Anti-Fraud Office, Charitakis, S., Faion, M., Gounev, P., Vasileva, V. et al., Study in support of the Union Anti-Fraud Programme (UAFP) interim evaluation – Final study report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

The Union Anti-fraud Programme (UAFP) is crucial to protecting the EU's financial interests by combating irregularities, fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity detrimental to those interests. This study evaluates the UAFP's relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, and EU added value. The UAFP integrates programme activities and IT tools, such as technical assistance and training (Hercule component), the funding of the Anti-Fraud Information System (AFIS) and of the Irregularity Management System (IMS), in order to streamline resources and enhance strategic fund use. Study data were collected through desk research, document reviews, stakeholder consultations, and case studies, engaging stakeholders from the European Commission, the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF), and UAFP applicants and beneficiaries.

European Parliament, Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union, Ryngaert, C., European Parliament, 2023.

Momentum is building globally for the establishment of an International Anti-Corruption Court, which would have jurisdiction over acts of grand corruption and fill the domestic accountability vacuum in kleptocratic regimes. Before such an institution can become reality, though, a number of practical, political and legal concerns will have to be addressed, for instance in relation to state ratification and cooperation.