Tag: Transparency International

  • Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

    Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

    Romania continues to be among the EU countries with the worst results in combating corruption, according to Transparency International.

     

    Worrying for 2024 is the fact that the level of corruption globally is still very high, while efforts to combat this plague are decreasing, the non-governmental organization Transparency International reports. The lack of strong measures against corruption has serious repercussions globally in key areas, such as defending democracy, protecting the environment and combating climate change, and promoting and protecting human rights. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2024, anti-corruption efforts in EU countries are stagnating or even declining, which contributes decisively to compromising the rule of law, circumventing access to justice and reducing public integrity. All of these aspects have a negative impact on citizens’ daily lives, whether we are referring to the poor quality of public services, exposure to corruption or the damage to the environment through illegal practices, Transparency International says.

     

    The EU has among the highest scores in the CPI ranking, which is based on data from 13 independent sources, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. In 2024, the average is 62 points, down 2 points from previous years. At the top of the ranking are Denmark (90 points), Finland (88 points) and Luxembourg (81 points). At EU level, the biggest decline in the last year was experienced by countries such as Germany (75 points, minus 3 points compared to 2023), Austria and France (67 points, minus 4 points compared to 2023), Slovakia (49 points, minus 5 points compared to 2023) and Malta (46 points, minus 5 points compared to 2023).

     

    Although it is among the few countries that have remained with a stable score in the CPI ranking, Romania is well below the EU average. For the third year in a row, it is among the countries with the ‘worst’ results in combating corruption, with 46 points out of 100, the same as Malta.

     

    Transparency International Romania emphasizes the importance of cooperation between all societal actors, from academia, public institutions and the political class, to the private sector and civil society. At the same time, their constant involvement in the formation of an upstanding society is essential, each having its role and responsibility in combating corruption. At the national level, Transparency International Romania recommends measures such as improving awareness among citizens regarding the importance of applying the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers in the Public Interest, updating the legislation in the field of public integrity, the government’s commitment to an anti-corruption program that would lift Romania in the CPI ranking to a score of at least 50 points by 2027, and the development of non-formal and informal education programs dedicated to pupils and students.

     

  • February 11, 2025 UPDATE

    February 11, 2025 UPDATE

    RESIGNATION Romania’s outgoing president Klaus Iohannis is ending his mandate and Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan will be taking over as interim president. Klaus Iohannis stepped down on Monday after a suspension procedure had been initiated against him in Parliament. On Tuesday the Constitutional Court took note of President Klaus Iohannis’ resignation and ruled that Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan take over as interim president starting February 12. Bolojan had stepped down as president of the National Liberal Party (PNL). Klaus Iohannis served as president in two mandates and his last one was supposed to end in December 2024. However, the Constitutional Court ruled to cancel the first round of election in December due to interferences in the election process. Romania will have presidential election in two rounds, on May 4 and 18.

    TRADE The EU Polish presidency summoned the member states on Wednesday for talks over the effects and the response of the community bloc to the US decision to levy higher import taxes on all steel and aluminum entering the USA. According to our correspondent in Brussels, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen says the US decision will trigger a similar response from the EU. To similar decisions by president Trump in his first mandate, the EU responded by imposing taxes on a series of US products. The US taxes could trigger an inflow of steel and aluminum imports from the global market, and the oversupply could seriously affect the local producers, including from Romania.

    REAL ESTATE As of Tuesday ruling coalition MPs are holding public consultations in order to regulate protection measures addressing people who conclude sale-purchase deeds with real estate developers. Representatives of real estate developers, public notaries and the National Agency for Land Registry and Real Estate Advertising are also expected to take part. The goal is to complete the legal framework with regulations that will offer the end beneficiaries robust guarantees for the advances paid in real estate transactions and that will also ensure the development and proper functioning of the relevant market in Romania. The initiative comes after hundreds of people who got scammed in the Nordis case called for amending the relevant legislation. Former PSD deputy Laura Vicol, her husband, Vladimir Ciorbă, the main shareholder of the Nordis group, and three other people were put on pre-trial arrest as part of this investigation. The inquiry targets individuals and companies accused of having collected over 195 million EUROS from clients without handing over the apartments.

    112 The buildings of over 100 public and private institutions in Romania were lit in red on Tuesday, marking the European 112 Day. By means of a symbolic visual approach, the Special Telecommunications Service wants to draw attention to the instrumental role of the single emergency number and to encourage citizens to use it responsibly. Abusive emergency calls can jeopardize the swift intervention of specialized teams where it is needed the most, Service officials say. In 2024, as a result of the efforts of the relevant authorities and emergency response services, as well as other government partners and private telecommunications operators, the number of non-emergency calls decreased by nearly one million compared to previous years. 112 Emergency Service operators took over 9.7 million calls, of which 60.45% were actual emergencies, the Special Telecommunications Service also reports.

    (bill)

     

  • February 11, 2025

    February 11, 2025

    RESIGNATION – The Constitutional Court has taken note of president Klaus Iohannis’ resignation. The two chambers of Parliament in Bucharest have also decided to annul Tuesday’s plenary sitting, where the main point on the agenda was the debate on the impeachment of Klaus Iohannis, after the populist and isolationist parties POT, AUR and S.O.S. Romania, in addition to the pro-European USR party, filed a motion in that regard. According to the Constitution, Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan is expected to take over as interim president, after he has just stepped down as president of the National Liberal Party (PNL). Bolojan’s attributes remain limited: he will not be able to address Parliament on key political issues, he may not dissolve Parliament and will not be able to call a national referendum.

     

    BUDGET – Romania’s outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, on Monday signed a number of executive orders, including the ratification of state budget and social security budget laws for 2025. Last week, the two bills were adopted by Parliament. The budget is based on a deficit target of 7% of GDP and an estimated economic growth rate of 2.5%. The Energy, Education, Health, Transport, Environment, Defense and Investments and European Funds ministries will get additional funds. Finance Minister Barna Tánczos, stated that all the conditions have been met to “support the development of the country by means of record-high investments”, while Romania will have “the resources to ensure the payment of salaries and pensions and restore financial balance”.

     

    CORRUPTION – The level of corruption remains very high at global level, while efforts to combat this phenomenon are decreasing, according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International. According to the organization, the lack of strong measures against corruption spells serious repercussions globally in key areas such as protecting democracy, observing the rule of law, protecting the environment and combating climate change, and promoting and protecting human rights. In 2024, the average score at EU level was 62, down by two points compared to previous years. For the third year in a row, Romania was rated with a score of 46 out of 100 possible points, the same as Malta. Romania also fares very poorly at EU level in terms of combating corruption. Transparency International Romania made a number of recommendations, such as the implementation of Integrity Pacts as a widespread tool for monitoring public procurement, improving citizens’ awareness of the importance of applying the Law on the Protection of Public Whistleblowers or updating the legislation in the field of public integrity. Transparency International Romania also recommends the government implement an anti-corruption program that would help Romania improve its Corruption Perceptions Index score to at least 50 by 2027.

     

    REAL ESTATE – Ruling coalition MPs are as of today holding public consultations in order to regulate protection measures addressing people who conclude sale-purchase deeds with real estate developers. Representatives of real estate developers, public notaries and the National Agency for Land Registry and Real Estate Advertising are also expected to take part. The goal is to complete the legal framework with regulations that will offer the end beneficiaries robust guarantees for the advances paid in real estate transactions and that will also ensure the development and proper functioning of the relevant market in Romania. The initiative comes after hundreds of people who got scammed in the Nordis case called for amending the relevant legislation. Former PSD deputy Laura Vicol, her husband, Vladimir Ciorbă, the main shareholder of the Nordis group, and three other people were put on pre-trial arrest as part of this investigation. The inquiry targets individuals and companies accused of having collected over 195 million EUR from clients without handing over the apartments.

     

    112 – The buildings of over 100 public and private institutions in Romania will be lit in red today, marking the European 112 Day. By means of a symbolic visual approach, the Special Telecommunications Service wants to draw attention to the instrumental role of the single emergency number and to encourage citizens to use it responsibly. Abusive emergency calls can jeopardize the swift intervention of specialized teams where it is needed the most, Service officials say. In 2024, as a result of the efforts of the relevant authorities and emergency response services, as well as other government partners and private telecommunications operators, the number of non-emergency calls decreased by nearly one million compared to previous years. 112 Emergency Service operators took over 9.7 million calls, of which 60.45% were actual emergencies, the Special Telecommunications Service also reports.

     

    GLOBAL TRADE – France’s Industry Minister, Marc Ferracci, told a TF1 interview that Europe should respond in a firm and united manner to the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, also expressing hope such a response would happen soon. On Monday, the U.S. president substantially increased tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 25%, “without exceptions or exemptions”, in the hope this step would help struggling U.S. industries. However, the measure risks triggering a trade war on several fronts, Reuters reports. (VP)

  • January 31, 2024 UPDATE

    January 31, 2024 UPDATE

    PROTESTS In Romania, local administration
    staff in rural areas were on a token strike on Wednesday, with demands
    primarily related to salaries. According to trade unions, almost 11,000
    employees in over 800 town halls in the country signed for the protest. Unionists threaten with an all-out strike
    starting on February 5 unless their demands are met. On the other hand, trade
    unions in the healthcare sector announced they would carry on protests, as the
    government’s current offer to raise salaries by 13.9% this year is not what
    they had expected. Solidaritatea Sanitară Union Federation notified the
    government of their plans to go on an all-out strike. According to the
    federation, under the law the government has 10 days to negotiate with the unions
    and avoid a labour dispute.






    DEFICIT Romania ended the year 2023 with a
    budget deficit of 5.68% of the GDP, as against the 4.4% originally forecast
    when the state budget for last year was drawn up. The deficit is however below
    the 6.3% estimated by the European Commission in its forecast. According to
    data supplied by the Finance Ministry, the difference between revenues and
    expenditure was almost EUR 18 bln.








    REPORT With 46 points out of 100, Romania
    remains one of the EU countries with the poorest results in the implementation
    of anti-corruption measures, according to Transparency International’s annual
    Corruption Perceptions Index. The organisation’s recommendations for Romania
    include updating the legislation in the field of public integrity, improving
    organisational and decision-making transparency, standardising and clarifying
    administrative procedures.






    EU
    Romanian President Klaus Iohannisis in Brussels to take part in a
    ceremony organised by the European Commission in memory of Jacques Delors (1925
    – 2023), a former European Commission president between 1985 and 1995, and to
    attend an extraordinary meeting of the European Council on Thursday. The
    Council meeting will focus on an agreement on the main elements of the proposed
    revision of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. The most important
    decisions are the support for Ukraine, including military support under the
    European Peace Facility, in keeping with the country’s needs. Klaus Iohannis
    will firmly plead for Ukraine to remain a top priority on the EU agenda.






    VISIT The Turkish foreign minister, Hakan
    Fidan, was on a visit to Bucharest, for a meeting with his Romanian counterpart
    Luminiţa Odobescu. The Turkish official also had talks with Prime Minister
    Marcel Ciolacu and the Senate Speaker, Nicolae Ciucă. According to the Turkish
    media, Hakan Fidan is meeting with his counterparts in Albania, Bulgaria and
    Romania ‘to discuss bilateral relations, as well as current regional and global
    developments’. Romania and Turkey signed a Strategic Partnership in 2011,
    followed by a joint action plan, signed in 2013 by the two countries’ foreign
    ministers. (AMP)

  • Corruption Perceptions Index 2023

    Corruption Perceptions Index 2023

    The Corruption Perceptions Index reflects how independent and business experts perceive corruption in the public sector in 180 states and territories. In a ranking drawn up by Transparency International by awarding points, from 0 to 100, where zero means very corrupt and 100 not corrupt at all, the continental and world champions are three Nordic states, Denmark, Finland and Norway, joined by New Zealand. Romania is ranked only on 63rd position, the same as last year. With 46 points, Romania is still among the European Union countries with the poorest results regarding the implementation of anti-corruption measures, which reflects significant deficiencies regarding the rule of law. Romania’s neighbors in the ranking and also geographically, Bulgaria and Hungary have 45 and 42 points respectively, being at the bottom of the ranking in terms of integrity. According to Transparency International, most states have made no progress at all or have made minimal progress in combating corruption in the public sector.



    It’s essential to have independent, transparent, and resourceful legal authorities and institutions to be able to keep corruption under control, the organization believes. In many countries, including Romania, there is still a big gap between the provisions of the laws and the way in which they are implemented, Transparency International noted. Therefore, constant actions and measures are necessary to ensure both the improvement of anti-corruption mechanisms and the strengthening of integrity. For Romania, Transparency Internationals recommendations include updating the legislation in the field of public integrity, to bridge the gaps and correct legislative inconsistencies and improve the clarity of regulation in this area. The organization also recommends improving organizational and decision-making transparency, including through effective public consultations and easy access to information of public interest, the standardization and clarification of administrative procedures by adopting the Code of Administrative Procedure.



    Also in the case of Romania, it would be necessary to adopt legislation that should clarify the status, career and efficiency of public administration employees, as well as the use of Integrity Pacts as a monitoring tool for public procurement, especially for procurement procedures and contracts with high risks for the occurrence of irregularities, integrity incidents or fraud. Transparency International reiterates the fact that there is a need for a constant involvement of all representatives of society, from the political class and institutions to the private environment and citizens, each having their own role and responsibility in strengthening public integrity. Transparency International recalls that it contributed to the establishment or consolidation of institutions with a major role in combating corruption and developed and implemented ethics and integrity standards for the public sector and the business environment. (LS)

  • Indicele de percepţie a corupţiei 2023

    Indicele de percepţie a corupţiei 2023

    Indicele de
    Percepţie a Corupţiei reflectă modul în care experţi independenţi şi ai mediului
    de afaceri percep corupţia existentă în sectorul public din 180 de state şi
    teritorii.


    Într-un clasament întocmit de Transparency International prin
    acordarea de puncte, de la 0 la 100, în care zero înseamnă ‘foarte corupt’, iar
    100 ‘deloc corupt’, iar campioane la nivel continental şi mondial sunt trei
    state nordice, Danemarca, Finlanda şi Norvegia, cărora li se alătură Noua
    Zeelandă, România figurează abia pe locul 63, la fel ca anul trecut. Cu 46 de
    puncte, România se plasează în continuare în rândul ţărilor Uniunii Europene cu
    cele mai slabe rezultate în privinţa implementării măsurilor anticorupţie, ceea
    ce reflectă deficienţe semnificative în privinţa statului de drept. Vecine
    geografic şi de clasament sunt Bulgaria (45 de puncte) şi Ungaria (42 de
    puncte), codaşele Uniunii la capitolul integritate.


    Potrivit Transparency
    International, majoritatea statelor n-au făcut deloc progrese sau au făcut progrese
    minime în ceea ce priveşte combaterea corupţiei în sectorul public. Autorităţi
    judiciare şi instituţii independente, transparente şi cu resurse, sunt
    esenţiale pentru menţinerea corupţiei sub control, consideră organizaţia. În
    multe ţări, printre care şi România, există încă un decalaj mare între
    prevederile actelor normative şi modul în care acestea sunt implementate, a
    constatat Transparency. Sunt necesare, de aceea, acţiuni şi măsuri constante
    care să asigure atât îmbunătăţirea mecanismelor anti-corupţie, cât şi consolidarea
    integrităţii.


    Pentru România, recomandările Transparency International includ
    actualizarea legislaţiei în domeniul integrităţii publice, pentru remedierea
    lacunelor şi a inconsecvenţelor legislative şi îmbunătăţirea clarităţii
    reglementării în acest domeniu. Organizaţia mai recomandă îmbunătăţirea
    transparenţei organizaţionale şi decizionale, inclusiv prin consultări publice
    eficiente şi acces facil la informaţii de interes public, standardizarea şi
    clarificarea procedurilor administrative prin adoptarea Codului de procedură
    administrativă.


    Tot în cazul României, s-ar impune adoptarea unei legislaţii
    care să clarifice unitar statutul, cariera şi eficienţa angajaţilor din
    administraţia publică, precum şi utilizarea Pactelor de Integritate ca
    instrument de monitorizare a achiziţiilor publice, în special pentru procedurile
    de achiziţii şi contractele cu risc crescut de apariţie a neregulilor,
    incidentelor de integritate sau fraudelor.


    Transparency International
    reiterează faptul că este nevoie de o implicare constantă a tuturor
    reprezentanţilor societăţii, de la clasa politică şi instituţii, la mediul
    privat şi cetăţeni, fiecare având rolul şi responsabilitatea sa în consolidarea
    integrităţii publice. Transparency aminteşte că a contribuit la înfiinţarea sau
    consolidarea unor instituţii cu rol major în combaterea corupţiei şi a elaborat
    şi implementat standarde de etică şi integritate pentru sectorul public şi
    mediul de afaceri.


  • January 30, 2024

    January 30, 2024

    PRESIDENCY – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, will be in
    Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday for a ceremony paying tribute to Jaques
    Delors (1925-2023), former European Commission president over 1985-1995, and
    for a special meeting of the European Council. The main topic on Thursday’s
    Council meeting is securing consensus at community level over the main elements
    in the package set to reform the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. The
    most anticipated decisions regard support for Ukraine at all levels, including
    military assistance via the European Peace Facility, in line with Ukraine’s
    specific needs. President Iohannis will firmly argue in favor of Ukraine
    remaining a top priority on the EU agenda.




    IMF – A special IMF delegation led by Jan Kees Martijn is in
    Bucharest to conduct a new assessment of the economy. The mission takes places
    four months after the previous visit and has an advisory role. The IMF
    estimates a 2.3% economic growth for Romania this year and a budget deficit of
    6% of the GDP. IMF experts have urged Bucharest to implement additional
    reforms, particularly in the field of taxation. Last autumn, the IMF argued
    that Romanian authorities should first and foremost seek to eliminate tax
    exemptions and privileges, implement more efficient VAT-related measures,
    reform property taxes and encourage the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
    Romania has no standing agreement with the IMF at present.




    TRAINS – The Transport Ministry is today signing a 640-mln-EUR
    contract for the purchase of 62 new electric short-track trains. The contract
    will be signed with the Polish manufacturer PESA, the same company expected to
    deliver 20 long-track trains in early 2026, as per the contract signed in
    December 2023. The trains will enter circulation on the main electric rails or
    segments that underwent modernization works in western and northwestern
    Romania. Romania purchased another 37 electric trains from Alstom, France. On
    Monday, the Transport Ministry signed a contract with the French company worth
    150 mln EUR, for the purchase of 16 new electric engines.




    CPI – The 2023 Corruption
    Perception Index, published by Transparency International, shows that most
    countries have reported little to no progress in combating public sector
    corruption. The EU as a whole is either stagnant or showing signs of decline in
    this respect. The EU average in the last five years stood at 64. With a score
    of 46, Romania remains one of the underperformers at EU level, alongside
    Bulgaria (45) and Hungary (42), which reflects a dysfunctional rule of law.
    Anti-corruption measures continued to be undermined by weakened checks and
    balances. In several countries, including Romania, there are huge gaps between
    legal provisions and the way they are enforced, the document states. With
    respect to Romania, Transparency International recommends updating legislation
    in the field of public integrity, improving organizational and decision-making
    transparency, including through efficient public consultations and improving
    access to public information.




    PROTESTS – Farmers’ protests
    continue across Europe. Farmers continue to voice complaints regarding
    environment policies, fuel excises and unfair competition. In France, farmers
    have blocked the main motorways in and out of Paris and other large cities,
    warning they won’t leave unless their demands are met. President Emmanuel
    Macron on Thursday is expected to present a number of proposals on the
    sidelines of the European Council summit in Brussels. Today, the French
    government is expected to take a number of decisions to help farmers. Paris has
    accused some EU partners such as Spain or Italy of unfair competition, France
    Presse and EFE report. German farmers on Monday blocked access roads on several
    segments across the country, particularly in the Hamburg region, disgruntled
    with the government’s decision to scrap diesel tax breaks. Farmers’ protests
    have also been reported in Greece and North Macedonia.




    CHAMPIONSHIPS – A total of eight
    athletes will represent Romania at the World Aquatics Championships hosted by
    Doha over February 2-18, five in swimming events and three in diving. The big
    absentee is swimmer David Popovici, European champion in the 100m and 200m
    freestyle events. Constantin Popovici, the defending high diving world champion,
    and Cătălin Preda, world vice-champion, will lead the Romanian delegation. (VP)



  • ECA sesizează deficienţele în prevenirea conflictelor de interese în cazul angajaţilor agenţiilor UE

    ECA sesizează deficienţele în prevenirea conflictelor de interese în cazul angajaţilor agenţiilor UE

    Uniunea Europeană are peste 40 de agenţii specializate în domenii precum asigurări, bănci, medicină, controlul frontierelor şi multe altele. Aceste agenţii aveau, anul trecut, în total, circa 14.500 de angajaţi, respectiv, circa 17% din totalul funcţionarilor europeni, iar bugetele lor însumate depăşesc patru miliarde de euro.

    În raportul său anual, dat publicităţii zilele trecute, Curtea Europeană de Conturi pleacă de la ideea că regulile europene stabilesc foarte puţine obligaţii pentru organismele Uniunii cu privire la monitorizarea actualului şi fostului lor personal în privinţa aşa-numitei practici a uşilor rotative. Curtea Europeană de Conturi admite că agenţiile Uniunii Europene – mai ales cele cu puteri de reglementare şi legături cu industriile – sunt în mod special expuse riscului, întrucât firme de lobby şi sectoare ale mediului de afaceri caută să angajeze oficiali care au contacte şi informaţii privilegiate, fiind astfel pusă sub semnul întrebării integritatea politicilor şi cheltuielilor europene.

    În acelaşi timp, însă, Curtea Europeană de Conturi constată că numai nouă agenţii ale Uniunii Europene au anumite reguli interne referitoare la practica de revolving doors, în cazul celorlalte existând un vid legislativ, iar în ansamblu, agenţiile nu au reguli uniforme la acest capitol, spre deosebire de cazul Comisiei Europene.

    Şi totuşi, deşi Comisia are astfel de norme, ele nu au împiedicat apariţia unor situaţii de potenţiale conflicte de interese, cum a fost cel al fostului preşedinte al Comisiei Europene, Jose Manuel Barroso, care după ce a părăsit acest post s-a angajat la banca Goldman Sachs, ori cel al fostului comisar european pentru Concurenţă Neelie Kroes, acuzată de activităţi de lobby pentru compania Uber – notează presa internaţională.

    De fiecare dacă când se întâmplă, reputaţia Uniunii Europene este afectată – subliniază ombudsmanul european Emily O’Reilly, care a amintit în acest sens că euroscepticii au exploatat cazul Barroso în campania pentru Brexit.

    Potrivit unui raport întocmit în 2017 de Transparency International, aproximativ jumătate dintre comisarii europeni de până atunci şi o treime dintre europarlamentari au lucrat după terminarea mandatului lor pentru entităţi de lobby din cadrul Uniunii Europene.


  • La perception de la corruption en Roumanie

    La perception de la corruption en Roumanie

    La Roumanie reste un des trois pays les plus corrompus de l’Union européenne dans le contexte de la pandémie de COVID-19, constate l’ONG Transparency International, qui vient de rendre public son classement 2021 sur la perception de la corruption dans le monde.



    L’Indice de la perception de la corruption, que l’ONG établit annuellement, reflète le degré de corruption perçue dans le secteur public de 180 États et territoires, sur la base de données fournies par des experts internationaux et du milieu des affaires. Ce classement repose sur l’octroi de scores compris entre 0, qui se traduit par « très corrompu » et 100, ce qui signifie « très peu corrompu ». Parmi les États membres de l’Union européenne, la Roumanie obtient un score de 45 points, n’étant devancée que par la Hongrie (43 points) et la Bulgarie (42 points). Le classement montre qu’il faut davantage de responsabilité et de transparence dans les institutions publiques. Selon Transparency International, en Roumanie, un domaine des plus vulnérables a été celui des acquisitions publiques, avec des effets sur la transparence des dépenses publiques engagées durant la pandémie.



    L’Indice de la perception de la corruption dans le monde met également en exergue le fait que la pandémie de COVID-19 a donné aux gouvernements l’occasion d’élargir le pouvoir exécutif, de cacher des informations publiques et de restreindre les droits des citoyens. C’est pourquoi Transparency International Roumanie revient sur le sujet des Pactes d’intégrité, qui sont, selon elle, une solution pour assurer la transparence, l’efficacité et un traitement égal en matière d’acquisitions publiques. L’ONG affirme avoir identifié, ces dernières années, plusieurs avantages de ces pactes, dont le suivi, par la société civile, des investissements publics, y compris du point de vue de leur utilité et de leur légalité. En même temps, grâce aux pactes d’intégrité, tous ceux qui sont intéressés par la réalisation des investissements publics en seront mieux informés et consultés. Enfin, mais pas en dernier lieu, les pactes permettent d’identifier les problèmes systémiques de la législation et des procédures en matière d’acquisitions publiques. Leur utilisation comme instrument de suivi est ainsi une solution viable pour réduire les risques de fraude et de corruption dans le domaine, conclut Transparency International Roumanie.



    L’ONG fait aussi plusieurs recommandations, dont faire des Pactes d’intégrité un mécanisme obligatoire de suivi public des procédures d’acquisition, depuis leur mise en page jusqu’à leur finalisation, pour toutes les acquisitions qui dépassent les seuils prévus par la loi pour la publication au Journal officiel de l’UE. Une autre recommandation se réfère à l’introduction de ces pactes en tant que mesure dans les projets financés de fonds structurels et d’investissement, ainsi que l’intégration dans la législation nationale de la Directive européenne relative aux lanceurs d’alerte. Il faut une implication soutenue de tous les représentants de la société — classe politique, institutions publiques, secteur privé, citoyens — chacun ayant son rôle et sa responsabilité dans la lutte contre la corruption, signale une fois de plus Transparency International Roumanie.


    (Trad. Ileana Ţăroi)


  • Nachrichten 25.01.2022

    Nachrichten 25.01.2022

    Infektionsgeschehen: 114.000 Impfstoffdosen des Herstellers BioNTech-Pfizer für die Impfung von Kindern zwischen 5 und 11 Jahren sind am Dienstag in Rumänien eingetroffen. Die Impfung dieser Altersgruppe wird am 26. Januar beginnen. Unterdessen steigt die Zahl der Covid-19-Fälle in Rumänien weiter an. Die meisten täglichen Fälle werden in der Region Bukarest-Ilfov bestätigt, wo die Nachfrage nach Tests groß ist. Um diese Nachfrage so schnell wie möglich zu befriedigen, hat das Gesundheitsministerium beschlossen, 28 neue Testzentren zu eröffnen. In den letzten 24 Stunden wurden insgesamt 19.685 neue Fälle von SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen und 44 Todesfälle gemeldet. Der Druck auf die Krankenhäuser ist zwar nicht so groß wie bei der letzten Welle der Pandemie, doch die Zahl der stationär behandelten Patienten steigt von Tag zu Tag. In den spezialisierten Gesundheitseinheiten übersteigt die Zahl der mit COVID-19 ins Krankenhaus eingelieferten Personen 7.000. Auf der Intensivstation befinden sich 650 Patienten.



    Streik: Die Beschäftigten der Bukarester Verkehrsbetriebe haben ihre Protestaktion ausgesetzt und ihre Tätigkeit wieder aufgenommen, nachdem der öffentliche Nahverkehr in der Hauptstadt fünf Tage lang ausgefallen war. Der Streik war von einem Gericht für illegal erklärt worden, doch die Gewerkschafter haben die Entscheidung des Gerichts bisher ignoriert. Sie fordern Lohnerhöhungen und den Rücktritt von Adrian Criţ, dem Geschäftsführer des Unternehmens. Dieser erklärte gegenüber der Nachrichtenagentur Agerpres, dass die Beschäftigten nach fünf Tagen illegaler Proteste, die die Hauptstadt lahmlegten, endlich begriffen hätten, dass sie sich nicht über das Gesetz und ihre Verpflichtungen gegenüber der Bevölkerung von Bukarest hinwegsetzen könnten. Der Bürgermeister von Bukarest, Nicuşor Dan, gab seinerseits bekannt, dass die Gespräche fortgesetzt werden, um die Situation bei den Bukarester Verkehrsbetrieben im Rahmen der verfügbaren Haushaltsmittel zu verbessern. Zuvor hatte Nicuşor Dan den Vorwurf erhoben, der Protest sei politisiert worden.



    Ukraine: Die Ukraine entwickelt ihre Notfallpläne für jedes Szenario oder mögliche Maßnahmen Russlands. In einerMitteilung für Radio Romania sprach die stellvertretende ukrainische Ministerpräsidentin für euro-atlantische Integration Olha Stefanischina vom starken Wunsch der ukrainischen Bevölkerung der NATO beizutreten. Für uns ist es entscheidend, dass beim nächsten Gipfel die nächsten Schritte für unseren NATO-Beitritt erfolgen. Wenn das Dokument keine Hinweise auf den künftigen Beitritt der Ukraine enthält, sei es genau das, was Russland fordert, nämlich einen Stopp der NATO-Erweiterung“, sagte Olha Stefanischina. Westliche Führer beschuldigen Moskau, die Quelle der aktuellen Spannungen zu sein, und sagen, dass Sicherheit und Stabilität in Europa durch Verhandlungen gesichert werden können. Am Montag wurde die Situation, die durch Russlands aggressives Vorgehen in der Nähe der Ukraine und der Schwarzmeerregion entstanden ist, auf die Tagesordnung des Außenratstreffens in Brüssel gesetzt. Außenminister Bogdan Aurescu schlug vor, als Ausdruck der Solidarität der EU mit der Ukraine die Möglichkeit zu prüfen, ein Treffen des Rates Auswärtige Angelegenheiten“ in Kiew abzuhalten. Er bekräftigte, wie wichtig es sei, die Stärkung der Widerstandsfähigkeit der Ukraine und anderer östlicher Partner zu unterstützen und das Engagement der EU bei der Suche nach politischen Lösungen für die langwierigen Konflikte in der Schwarzmeerregion zu verstärken.



    Korruption: Der von Transparency International veröffentlichte Korruptionswahrnehmungsindex 2021 zeigt, dass 131 der 180 untersuchten Länder trotz offizieller Zusagen in den letzten zehn Jahren keine nennenswerten Fortschritte bei der Korruptionsbekämpfung erzielt haben. Dem Bericht zufolge ist Rumänien keine Ausnahme, und die Wahrnehmung der Korruption im öffentlichen Sektor ist seit 10 Jahren unverändert. Mit nur 45 von 100 Punkten bleibt Rumänien neben Ungarn (43 Punkte) und Bulgarien (42 Punkte) eines der korruptesten Länder in der Europäischen Union. Die Analyse von Transparency International zeigt, dass die Covid-19-Pandemie den Regierungen die Möglichkeit gegeben hat, ihre Exekutivgewalt auszuweiten, öffentliche Informationen zu verbergen und die Rechte der Bürger einzuschränken. In Rumänien war einer der anfälligsten Bereiche das öffentliche Auftragswesen, was sich auf die Transparenz der öffentlichen Ausgaben während der Pandemie auswirkte.



    Wetter: In ganz Rumänien ist das Wetter überwiegend kalt. Im Norden, Nordosten und Zentrum des Landes wird Frost verzeichnet. Leichte Schneefälle gibt es im Nordwesten, vereinzelt auch in der Landesmitte und im Osten sowie im Gebirge. Der Wind ist schwach bis mäßig, mit stärkeren Böen in den Südkarpaten und im östlichen Karpatenbogen, wo die Windgeschwindigkeit 70 bis 80 km/h erreicht und es zu Schneestürmen kommen kann. Die Tageshöchswerte am Dienstag liegen zwischen minus 9 und plu 3 Grad liegen. Auch in Bukarest bleibt das Wetter kalt. Zu Mittag wurde in der rumänischen Hauptstadt eine Temperatur von minus 1 Grad Celsius gemessen.

  • January 25, 2022

    January 25, 2022

    Covid – 19 Ro — 114,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer BioNTech Company for the vaccination of children between the ages of 5 and 11 arrive in Romania today. The vaccination of this age group will begin on January 26. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 incidence rate continues to rise in Romania. The most daily cases are confirmed in the Bucharest-Ilfov area, where the demand for testing is high. In order to respond to these requests as soon as possible, the Health Ministry decided to open 28 testing centers. A total of 19,685 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported in the last 24 hours along with 44 deaths. The pressure on hospitals is not as high as in the previous wave of the pandemic, but the number of hospitalized people is increasing by the day.



    Transport — The employees of the Bucharest Transport Company have suspended the protest action and have resumed their activity, after five days in which the surface public transport in the Capital was blocked. We remind you that the strike was declared illegal by the court, but the trade unionists have so far ignored the courts decision. They are asking for salary increases and the resignation of the company’s manager, Adrian Crit. The latter told Agerpres news agency that, after five days of illegal protest that paralyzed the capital, the employees have eventually understood that they cannot ignore the law and the obligations they have towards the people of Bucharest. The general mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, has said that the talks will continue in order to improve the situation at the Bucharest Transport Company, depending on the available budgets. Previously Nicusor Dan had accused that the protest had been politicized.



    Holocaust — Promoting the fundamental rights and freedoms, respecting the historical truth and understanding the causes of such atrocities give us assurances that such crimes against humanity will never happen again, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said today at the ceremony devoted to International Holocaust Remembrance Day. He underlined that the exacerbation of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, intolerance, racism and discrimination, the attempts to rehabilitate war criminals, as well as the relinquishing of the supreme values ​​of humanity could bring back the tragic experiences of history. The Romanian president recalled that, in the streets of Bucharest, in January 1941, criminals vandalized and burned synagogues, shattered the destinies of thousands of innocent people through the most horrific tortures, all these horrors being part of a diabolical plan of mass extermination. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the virulence of anti-Semitic attacks and created a framework that led to the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation, president Iohannis said. (…) In turn, the PM Nicolae Ciuca, present at the ceremony, has said that the Holocaust is a dark chapter of history, pointing out that it must not be forgotten and minimized. He has paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and presented the contribution of the Jewish community to the development of Romania.



    Ukraine – The leaders of the US and of several European countries expressed, on Monday, during a video conference, their full support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and promised that Russia would face very serious consequences in case of an aggression against Ukraine. The participants agreed that it was up to Moscow to take visible steps to de-escalate the conflict, said the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who attended the meeting with leaders from the US, France, Britain, Italy and Poland, among others. The Western leaders accuse Moscow of being the source of current tensions and say security and stability in Europe can be solved through negotiations. On Monday, the situation caused by Russias aggressive actions in the vicinity of Ukraine and the Black Sea region was included on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Brussels. The Romania Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu proposed his counterparts to consider the possibility of holding a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Kiev, as an expression of the EUs solidarity with Ukraine. He reiterated the importance of supporting the strengthening of the resilience of Ukraine and other Eastern partners, as well as of increasing the EUs involvement in finding political solutions to the prolonged conflicts in the Black Sea region.



    Corruption — The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International shows that, despite official commitments, 131 of the 180 countries surveyed have made no significant progress in fighting corruption in the past 10 years. According to the report, Romania is no exception, and the perception of public sector corruption has been unchanged for a decade. With only 45 points out of 100, Romania remains among the most corrupt countries in the European Union, alongside Hungary (43 points) and Bulgaria (42 points). Transparency International’s analysis shows that the Covid-19 pandemic has given governments the opportunity to expand their executive power, hide public information and restrict citizens rights. In Romania, one of the most vulnerable areas was public procurement, with effects on the transparency of the public expenses during the pandemic. (LS)

  • 25/01/2022

    25/01/2022

    Covid en Roumanie — 114 000 doses de vaccin Pfizer/BioNTech destinées à l’immunisation des enfants de 5 à 11 ans sont livrées aujourd’hui en Roumanie, et la vaccination dans cette tranche d’âge commence le 26 janvier. Entre temps, le taux d’incidence des cas ne cesse de croître dans le pays. La plupart des cas sont confirmés à Bucarest et dans le département limitrophe d’Ilfov, où la demande de la population de se faire tester est importante. Afin de répondre à cette demande dans les meilleurs délais, le ministère de la Santé a ouvert 28 centres de dépistage. 19 685 nouveaux cas de personnes infectées au virus SARS-CoV-2 ont été enregistrés ces dernières 24 h ainsi que 44 décès. La pression sur les hôpitaux n’est toutefois pas aussi importante que pendant la vague précédente de la pandémie, mais le nombre des personnes hospitalisées est à la hausse d’un jour à l’autre. Près de 7 000 malades de Covid sont hospitalisés actuellement en Roumanie, dont 650 en soins intensifs. Détails après nos infos.



    Transports – Les salariés de la Société des transports de Bucarest (STB) ont suspendu leur protestation et repris le travail, après cinq jours au cours desquels les transports publics de surface ont été bloqués dans la capitale roumaine. Rappelons que la grève a été déclarée illégale par la justice, mais les syndicalistes n’ont pas respecté la décision du tribunal jusqu’à ce jour. Ils demandent des augmentations de salaire et la démission du directeur de la STB, Adrian Criţ. Il a déclaré à l’agence de presse nationale Agerpres que suite aux cinq jours de protestation illégale qui a paralysé la capitale, les salariés ont compris qu’ils ne pouvaient pas ignorer la loi et les obligations qu’ils ont envers les Bucarestois. Le maire général de la capitale, Nicuşor Dan, a déclaré que les pourparlers se poursuivraient pour que les choses à la Société des transports de Bucarest s’améliorent, en fonction des budgets disponibles. Le maire avait accusé la politisation de cette protestation.



    Holocauste — Promouvoir les droits et libertés fondamentales, respecter la vérité historique et comprendre les causes qui ont déterminé la survenue de ces atrocités nous assurent que de tels crimes contre l’humanité n’auront plus jamais lieu, a déclaré le président Klaus Iohannis, à la cérémonie consacrée aujourd’hui à la Journée internationale de commémoration des victimes de l’Holocauste. Il a souligné qu’exacerber l’antisémitisme, la xénophobie, l’intolérance, le racisme et la discrimination, tenter de réhabiliter les criminels de guerre ainsi que déroger de la défense des valeurs suprêmes de l’humanité peuvent faire revenir dans l’actualité les expériences tragiques de l’histoire. Le chef de l’Etat roumain a rappelé que, dans les rues de la capitale, en janvier 1941, les criminels ont vandalisé et mis le feu à des synagogues, ont brisé les destins de plusieurs milliers de personnes innocentes par les tortures les plus atroces, toutes ces horreurs faisant partie d’un plan diabolique d’extermination massive. La pandémie de Covid-19 a amplifié la virulence des attaques antisémites et a créé un cadre propice à la dissémination des théories de la conspiration et de la désinformation, a ajouté M Iohannis. A son tour, le premier ministre Nicolae Ciucă, présent à la cérémonie, a déclaré que la Shoah était un « chapitre sombre » de histoire, notant qu’elle ne devait pas être oubliée ni minimisée. Il a rendu hommage aux victimes de l’Holocauste et a présenté la contribution de la communauté juive au développement de la Roumanie.



    Ukraine — Le leader américain et ceux de plusieurs Etats européens ont affirmé, lundi, au cours d’une visioconférence, leur soutien sans réserves à l’intégrité territoriale de l’Ukraine et ont promis à la Russie des conséquences très lourdes en cas d’agression contre ce pays. Les participants ont convenu qu’il appartenait à Moscou d’adopter des initiatives visibles de désescalade de ce conflit, a indiqué le porte-parole du chancelier allemand Olaf Scholz. Ce dernier a pris part à la réunion ainsi que les leaders des Etats-Unis, de la France, du Royaume-Uni, de l’Italie et de la Pologne, entre autres. Les dirigeants occidentaux accusent la Russie d’être à l’origine des tensions actuelles et ont affirmé que le problème de la sécurité et de la stabilité en Europe pouvait être solutionné par des négociations. Lundi, la situation engendrée par les actions agressives de Moscou à proximité de l’Ukraine et dans la région de la mer Noire avait été incluse à l’agenda de la réunion du Conseil Affaires étrangères qui a eu lieu à Bruxelles. Le ministre Bogdan Aurescu a proposé l’examen de la possibilité d’organiser une réunion du Conseil Affaires étrangères à Kiev, pour exprimer la solidarité de l’UE avec l’Ukraine. Il a réitéré l’importance de soutenir le renforcement de la résilience de l’Ukraine et des autres partenaires de l’Est ainsi qu’une implication accrue de l’UE afin de trouver une solution politique aux conflits prolongés de la région de la mer Noire. Détails après nos infos.



    Corruption – L’indice de perception de la corruption 2021 publié par Transparency International montre que, malgré les engagements pris au niveau officiel, 131 États sur les 180 examinés n’ont pas fait de progrès significatifs dans la lutte contre la corruption, au cours des 10 dernières années. Selon le rapport, la Roumanie ne constitue pas une exception et la perception de la corruption dans le secteur public reste inchangée depuis une décennie. Avec seulement 45 points sur 100, la Roumanie demeure parmi les pays les plus corrompus de l’Union européenne, aux côtés de la Hongrie (43 points) et de la Bulgarie (42 points). L’analyse de Transparency International indique que la pandémie de COVID-19 a donné aux gouvernements l’occasion d’étendre leur pouvoir exécutif, de dissimuler des informations publiques et de restreindre les droits des citoyens. En Roumanie, l’un des domaines les plus vulnérables a été celui des marchés publics, avec des effets sur la transparence des dépenses publiques effectuées au cours de la pandémie.



    Météo — En Roumanie, temps froid pour cette période de l’année, glacial dans le nord, le nord-est et le centre du pays et sur des zones moins étendues dans le reste du territoire. On signale la présence de quelques flocons sur le nord-ouest, par endroits dans le centre et l’est ainsi qu’en montagne. Vents légers à modérés, avec des rafales dans la zone élevée des Carpates méridionales et dans la Courbure des Carpates, où les rafales dépassent les 70-80 km/h, et où le blizzard sévit. Les maximales se situeront entre -9 et 3 degrés. A Bucarest, le temps reste froid aussi, et nous avons -1°.

  • Transparency International on corruption in healthcare

    Transparency International on corruption in healthcare

    One of the consequences of the coronavirus
    pandemic is an increase in corruption in the healthcare system. A study
    published Transparency International points out that the COVID-19 pandemic led
    to an increase in the perception of corruption amongst EU citizens. 40,000
    inhabitants in 27 EU member states took part in the Eurobarometer held over October-December
    2020. Less than half of the participants believe the crisis was managed in a transparent
    manner by the authorities. Over 60% of respondents in France, Poland and Spain
    believe their governments lacked transparency in managing the pandemic.

    Health
    services are particularly affected by corruption. Medical care services were a fertile
    ground for corruption, while the governments were trying to keep the COVID-19
    pandemic in check, Transparency International points out in its report. Whereas
    only 6% of respondents said they had to pay bribes to obtain access to medical
    care, 29% said they used their personal connections to obtain privileged access.
    According to the aforementioned study, lives can be lost when people with contacts
    on the inside get a COVID-19 vaccine or medical treatment ahead of medical
    emergencies. Bribes in the healthcare sector are the most widespread in Romania
    -22%, Bulgaria, 19%, and the use of private connections is the most frequent in
    the Czech Republic – 54% and Portugal, 46%. On the other hand, Hungary and
    Poland are seen as the countries that used the health crisis to undermine
    democracy by introducing measures that weakened democratic institutions. In
    Germany, MPs of the Conservative Party in power (CDU) were accused of having
    intervened in this sector.

    Over 60% of German interviewees believe their
    governments to be under the influence of groups with private interests. At EU
    level, over half of respondents feel the same about their own governments. A
    third of EU citizens who took part in the survey believe corruption stagnated
    or increased in their countries. The authors of the report highlight the fact
    that politicians saw the crisis as an opportunity to profit, invoking lobby activities
    to purchase face masks. They are asking on EU governments to intensify their
    efforts to ensure a fair and just exit from the pandemic. The results should represent
    a warning for both governments and EU institutions, Michiel van Hulten, Transparency
    International EU director has said. (VP)



  • Mehr Korruption im Medizinsystem nach Pandemie

    Mehr Korruption im Medizinsystem nach Pandemie

    Die COVID-19-Pandemie soll demnach die Bürger der Europäischen Union aufmerksamer auf Korruption gemacht haben. 40.000 Einwohner der 27 EU-Länder haben an diesem Europäischen Korruptionsbarometer teilgenommen, das von Oktober bis Dezember 2020 durchgeführt wurde. Weniger als die Hälfte von ihnen glaubt, dass die Krise von den Behörden “transparentˮ gehandhabt wurde. In Frankreich, Polen und Spanien glauben mindestens 60 % der Befragten, dass es ihrer Regierung im Umgang mit der Pandemie an Transparenz mangelt, so die Umfrageergebnisse. Die Gesundheitsdienste seien besonders von Korruption betroffen.

    “Das Gesundheitswesen ist ein Nährboden für Korruption, während die Regierungen versuchen, die COVID-19ˮ-Pandemie in den Griff zu bekommen”, stellt Transparency International in seinem Bericht fest.



    Obwohl zwar nur 6 % der Befragten angaben, Bestechungsgelder gezahlt zu haben, um Zugang zum Gesundheitswesen zu erhalten, erklärten 29 % , persönliche Verbindungen genutzt zu haben, um privilegierten Zugang zu erhalten.

    Laut der Studie können Leben verloren gehen, wenn gut vernetzte Menschen eine COVID-19-Impfung oder eine medizinische Behandlung vor denen mit dringenderen Bedürfnissen erhalten. Bestechung im Gesundheitssektor wird am häufigsten in Rumänien – 22 % und Bulgarien – 19 % gemeldet, und die Nutzung persönlicher Beziehungen ist am häufigsten in der Tschechischen Republik – 54 % und Portugal – 46 %. Auf der anderen Seite gelten Ungarn und Polen als Länder, die die Gesundheitskrise als Vorwand genutzt haben, um die Demokratie zu untergraben, indem sie neue Ma‎ßnahmen einführten, die zur Schwächung der demokratischen Institutionen führten. In Deutschland wurden Mitglieder der regierenden CDU beschuldigt, auf dem Markt eingegriffen zu haben und mehr als 60 % der befragten Deutschen glauben, dass die Regierung unter dem Einfluss privater Interessengruppen steht. Im Übrigen haben auf EU-Ebene mehr als die Hälfte der Teilnehmer an der Umfrage die gleiche Meinung über ihre eigene Exekutive. Tatsächlich glaubt ein Drittel der befragten Europäer, dass die Korruption in ihrem Land entweder stagniert oder zugenommen hat.



    Die Autoren des Berichts weisen darauf hin, dass die Politiker die Krise als “Profit-Gelegenheit gesehen habenˮ und zitieren dabei die Lobbyarbeit für den Kauf von Schutzmasken. Sie fordern die Regierungen der EU-Länder auf, ihre Anstrengungen zu verstärken, um einen fairen und gerechten Ausstieg aus der aktuellen Pandemie zu gewährleisten. “Diese Ergebnisse sollten als Weckruf für Regierungen und EU-Institutionen gesehen werden”, so Michiel van Hulten, Direktor von Transparency International in der Europäischen Union, in einer Erklärung.



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  • Transparency International sur la corruption dans le secteur de la santé

    Transparency International sur la corruption dans le secteur de la santé

    La pandémie de coronavirus a eu pour conséquence,
    entre autres, l’amplification de la corruption dans le secteur de la santé. L’organisation
    non gouvernementale Transparency International vient de publier les résultats d’une
    enquête qu’elle a menée au sein de l’Union européenne et qui montre une
    perception accrue de la corruption parmi les citoyens des 27. Ce baromètre
    européen de la corruption a été réalisé, entre les mois d’octobre et de décembre
    2020, sur un échantillon de 40 000 habitants des États du bloc
    communautaire.

    Moins de la moitié des personnes interrogées considère que les
    autorités ont fait preuve de transparence dans la gestion de la crise. En France,
    en Pologne et en Espagne, 60% des répondants ou plus estiment que la gestion de
    la pandémie par leurs gouvernements respectifs a manqué de transparence. Les
    services de santé sont particulièrement touchés par la corruption. Selon le
    rapport de Transparency International, « les soins médicaux ont été
    un terrain propice à la corruption,alors que les gouvernements s’efforçaient de
    gérer la pandémie de Covid-19 ». Bien que 6% seulement des personnes interrogées
    aient déclaré avoir versé des pots-de-vin pour accéder à des soins, 29% disent avoir
    recouru à leurs relations personnelles pour obtenir un accès privilégié. Selon l’étude mentionnée, le fait de recevoir un
    vaccin contre la Covid-19 ou un traitement médical avant ceux qui en ont besoin
    d’urgence met en danger d’autres vies.

    Les pots de vin dans le secteur de la santé sont le plus souvent
    rapportés en Roumanie (22%) et en Bulgarie (19%), tandis que le recours aux
    relations personnelles était le plus fréquent en République tchèque (54%) et au
    Portugal (46%). Par ailleurs,
    la Hongrie et la Pologne sont perçues comme ayant utilisé la crise sanitaire
    comme prétexte pour miner la démocratie, en mettant en place des mesures qui
    affaiblissent les institutions démocratiques. En Allemagne, plus de 60% des
    répondants estiment que le gouvernement est sous l’influence de groupes d’intérêts
    privés. À l’échelle de l’UE, plus de la moitié des personnes interrogées
    pensent la même chose à propos de leur propre gouvernement.

    D’ailleurs, un
    tiers des Européens interviewés par Transparency International considèrent que
    la corruption s’est maintenue au même niveau ou s’est creusée dans leurs pays
    respectifs. Les auteurs du rapport soulignent le fait que les acteurs de la
    scène politique ont perçu la crise comme une occasion de faire du profit, l’argument
    étant le lobbying pour l’achat de masque de protection. L’ONG demande aux gouvernements
    des 27 de redoubler d’efforts afin de garantir une sortie de la pandémie
    équitable et juste. Michiel van Hulten, directeur de Transparency International
    pour l’Union européenne, attire l’attention sur le fait que les résultats de l’enquête
    sur la perception de la corruption à l’intérieur du bloc communautaire doivent
    être vus comme un signal d’alarme à l’adresse des gouvernements nationaux et
    des institutions de l’UE. (Trad. Ileana Ţăroi)