Brussels: Corruption in Europe is often framed as a problem rooted primarily in Eastern member states or fragile democracies, while Western Europe is portrayed as largely insulated from systemic abuse. Researchers and governance experts say that narrative is increasingly misleading, and politically convenient.
While petty bribery is less common in Western Europe, other forms of corruption, including influence peddling, opaque lobbying, political financing loopholes and regulatory capture, remain widespread and often attract far less scrutiny.
“In academic and scholarly debate, the assumption that corruption is exclusive to Eastern Europe or developing countries is long gone,” said Mihály Fazekas, director of the Government Transparency Institute and a professor at Central European University. “But that assumption still shapes public debate and, in some cases, political decisions.”
A politicised narrative
The persistence of an East, West corruption divide has gained renewed attention amid debates over continued European support for Ukraine. In several EU countries, concerns about corruption in Kyiv are frequently raised alongside calls to tighten or suspend financial and military assistance.
In Hungary, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has repeatedly cited corruption risks when arguing against sustained EU funding for Ukraine, accusing the country’s leadership of misusing Western aid, claims that Ukrainian officials strongly reject.
Experts argue that such arguments often overlook governance challenges closer to home.
Perception versus reality
Public opinion across Europe suggests a far more nuanced picture than political rhetoric implies. Surveys consistently show that citizens in major Western European economies see corruption as a domestic issue, not a distant one.
A 2024 Eurobarometer survey found that 68% of Europeans believe corruption is widespread in their own country, while 27% said they feel personally affected by it in daily life.
“If you look at surveys, there’s a widespread perception that corruption is just as common in countries like France or the UK,” Fazekas said. “The difference is not necessarily whether corruption exists, but how it manifests.”
In Western Europe, corruption is more likely to surface through political financing, procurement practices, lobbying networks and regulatory capture rather than direct bribery. These forms are harder to observe and easier to normalise within legal or semi-legal frameworks.
The visibility gap
The contrast in visibility plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions. Low-level bribery, such as paying for faster access to healthcare or leniency from police, is highly visible and socially condemned. Its relative absence in Western Europe has allowed governments to project an image of institutional cleanliness.
By contrast, complex influence networks operating through consultancies, law firms and lobbying structures attract less sustained public outrage, even when the financial stakes are significantly higher.
“Corruption in public procurement or lawmaking is not absent at all from Western Europe,” Fazekas said. “It may be less visible, but informal networks still play a role.”
Different histories, shared risks
In parts of Eastern Europe, corruption is often linked to weaker checks and balances following the transition from centralised governance systems. Oversight institutions struggled to assert independence, allowing informal networks to bridge political, bureaucratic and commercial spheres.
“These networks can override formal rules or institutional independence,” Fazekas said, describing them as a key driver of corruption in post-communist states.
Western Europe is not immune to similar dynamics. Research by Corporate Europe Observatory estimates that at least 62 corporations and trade associations spend a combined €343 million annually on EU lobbying, a figure that has grown significantly since 2020 and likely understates the true scale.
High-profile cases test credibility
Recent cases across Europe highlight how corruption allegations are interpreted differently depending on political context.
In France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen was convicted in 2025 of embezzling EU parliamentary funds, receiving a prison sentence and a ban from public office. Supporters dismissed the ruling as politically motivated, while critics pointed to it as evidence of accountability at work.
At the EU level, former foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was recently implicated in a procurement fraud investigation linked to an EU-funded training programme, reigniting debate over transparency and oversight in European institutions.
Beyond rhetoric
Analysts warn that treating corruption as a problem confined to “elsewhere” risks obscuring systemic vulnerabilities across the continent.
“Wherever you go, politicians talk about fighting corruption,” Fazekas said. “The real challenge is distinguishing rhetoric from concrete action.”
As Europe confronts growing geopolitical pressure, expanding defence budgets and large-scale public spending, governance experts argue that credible anti-corruption efforts, rooted in enforcement rather than narrative, will matter as much in Paris and Berlin as in Budapest or Kyiv.
