MEPs vote to "name and shame" countries soft on corruption

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 4th Dec 2003

EU countries which are soft on corruption should be named and shamed by the European Commission, according to a report on an EU anti-corruption policy adopted overwhelmingly by the European Parliament today. Their failure to implement European anti-corruption conventions would be highlighted.

Welcoming the proposal, Liberal Democrat MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford commented:

"This would send a clear signal to Member States that being lax on corruption is unacceptable. It is crucial for instance that Italy and Austria join the Council of Europe programme. How can we sanction the new EU countries joining next year when some existing EU Member States are not in line?

"It is shocking that some EU countries figure as low as 50th place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2003, which ranks countries by how free of corruption they are seen. Some Eastern European countries joining in 2004 are even lower down. Clearly we face an urgent challenge. "

"The fight against corruption is vital to safeguard trust in our democratic institutions and judicial systems. The signature next week in Mexico of the UN Convention against corruption is another welcome step forward.

"The new EU policy demonstrates the EU's determination to enforce an anti-corruption culture at all levels of political, public and private life; it must be more than words."