On the ranking of 168 countries according to the Corruption Perception Index, Croatia is in 50th place with 51 points. Compared to last year, Croatia has improved by three points.
According to the Corruption Perception Index, the most influential indicator of corruption in the world, the least corrupt countries in 2015 were Denmark with 91 points, Finland with 90 points, Švedska with 89, New Zealand with 88, and the Netherlands and Norway with 87 points. The most corrupt countries are North Korea and Somalia with only 8 points.
– The Corruption Perception Index 2015 shows that progress in the fight against corruption is finally visible in Croatia. Transparency and determination of independent institutions and public authorities dealing with prevention and repression in the fight against corruption are the keys to success and achieved results. Here we primarily refer to the work of the State Attorney’s Office and the USKOK in the repressive apparatus in detecting and prosecuting corrupt actions. Then, there is the need for a decisive and effective judicial system in short, fair, honest, and timely processes, said Davorka Budimir, president of the Transparency International Croatia association.
In the European Union, the average index value is 67 points, što means that Croatia is far below this average, but above the world average of 43 points. Among the EU countries in 2015, according to the Corruption Perception Index, the most improved were the Czech Republic by 5 points, the Netherlands and Austria by 4 points, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Croatia, and Romania by 3 points. The largest decline was recorded by Hungary by 3 points, and Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Spain by 2 points.
In relation to the region, Croatia and Albania made the most progress by 3 points – Croatia from 48 to 51 points, and Albania from 33 to 36 points. Slovenia and Montenegro improved by 2 points – Slovenia from 58 to 60 points, and Montenegro from 42 to 44 points. Kosovo remained at the same 33 points, while all other countries recorded a decline. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina declined by 1 point – Serbia from 41 to 40, and Bosnia and Herzegovina from 39 to 38 points. The largest decline of as much as 3 points was recorded by Macedonia – it fell from 45 to 42 points.
– Preventive bodies in the fight against corruption such as: the State Audit Office, the Commission for Deciding on Conflicts of Interest, the Information Commissioner, and the State Commission for Control of Public Procurement Procedures need to be provided with sufficient financial resources and professional capacities, and political influence on their work must be prevented. It is particularly important to encourage citizen activism in daily efforts for positive social values such as trust, especially honesty. Citizens need to be freed from fear in reporting corrupt actions and all irregularities. The role of civil society organizations in these processes is significant and certainly, the work of these organizations should be encouraged through increased volunteering of its members. These are the basic prerequisites for corrupt behavior to provoke the general condemnation of society as a whole, not just of brave individuals. Citizens pay too high a price for the fight against corruption! We particularly emphasize that the public must not be led to believe that the exposure of corruption affairs is used for daily political reckoning among political actors. A society without corruption and corrupt behavior is a prerequisite not only for attracting foreign investments but also for the development of the Croatian economy and society as a whole, emphasizes Budimir.
