EC ¦ Citizens' Attitudes Towards Corruption in the EU in 2025

Citizens’ Trust Under Strain – What the 2025 Eurobarometer Reveals About Corruption in the EU

The Special Eurobarometer 561 (fieldwork January–February 2025) offers a stark snapshot of how citizens across the EU27 perceive corruption today. With 26,354 interviews across the EU and 503 in Luxembourg, the survey reveals that large majorities believe corruption is widespread in their countries, see worrying ties between business and politics, and are reluctant to report wrongdoing. These attitudes matter for financial crime practitioners because perceptions shape reporting, enforcement appetite, regulatory reform, and ultimately the resiliency of financial systems to abuse.

How widespread citizens believe corruption is

Across the EU27, 69% of respondents consider corruption to be a widespread problem in their country, while only 26% regard it as rare. These figures underline a pervasive lack of public confidence. The view that corruption is common is reinforced by specific institutional assessments: sizable majorities agree that corruption exists in national public institutions and in local or regional public bodies. Citizens’ judgments are not abstract – they reflect everyday experiences and narratives that influence behaviour, ranging from reduced willingness to invest to lower trust in public procurement and regulatory outcomes.

Perceived hotspots of corrupt behaviour

When respondents were asked where bribery and abuse of power are most common, political parties and politicians rank prominently alongside officials responsible for public tenders and building permits. Sectors exposed to discretionary decision-making – permitting, public procurement, inspectors, and public services – are often perceived as vulnerable. The healthcare system, police and customs, banks and financial institutions, tax authorities and courts are also frequently mentioned. For those responsible for financial crime prevention, these perceptions highlight areas where transparency, oversight and audit trails are essential to deter and detect misuse.

Bastian Schwind-Wagner _Follow

"Citizens across the EU overwhelmingly perceive corruption as widespread, eroding trust in public institutions and creating barriers to fair competition. This widespread distrust makes it harder for authorities to secure cooperation and for businesses to operate on a level playing field.

Addressing these perceptions requires visible enforcement, stronger protections for whistleblowers, and transparency in high-risk public and private sectors. Combined reforms and consistent communication can rebuild confidence and reduce opportunities for financial crime."

Experience and personal exposure to corruption

Although only a minority report direct personal impact, the data show meaningful exposure: about 30% of EU respondents say they are personally affected by corruption in daily life. Younger cohorts (25–39) and men show slightly higher rates of personal impact. Knowing someone who takes or has taken bribes is reported by roughly one in ten respondents in the EU27, with variations by age and gender and higher reported rates in some national samples such as Luxembourg. These patterns point to an undercurrent of normalized corrupt practices in certain social networks, which complicates detection and anti-corruption outreach.

Attitudes toward business–politics links and impunity

A strong majority—around 69%—agree that too-close links between business and politics lead to corruption. Two-thirds think high-level corruption cases are not pursued sufficiently, and 65% believe favouritism and corruption hamper business competition. Half of respondents agree that political connections are the way to succeed in business. Such beliefs signal deep concerns about capture and impunity. For compliance professionals and enforcement authorities, this is a warning: perceived failure to investigate or punish high-level wrongdoing erodes both public trust and voluntary cooperation with investigations.

Reporting barriers and consequences for enforcement

The survey identifies multiple reasons why people avoid reporting corruption. The belief that reporting would be pointless because those responsible will not be punished is prominent. Fear of retaliation and the absence of protection for whistleblowers are major deterrents, as is uncertainty about where to report. Social factors such as reluctance to “betray” others and a sense that everyone already knows about cases and no one acts also discourage reporting. When asked whom they would trust most to handle complaints, respondents favour the police and judicial institutions, followed by specialised anti-corruption agencies and the media; NGOs and other channels rank lower. For authorities, the lesson is clear – strengthening protection for reporters, simplifying reporting channels, and visibly pursuing cases are essential to increase reporting and break cycles of impunity.

Tolerance and norms around corruption

The tolerance index and related items indicate that most citizens consider corruption unacceptable, though a notable minority view some forms as tolerated or unavoidable. This ambivalence matters because social norms influence the likelihood of accepting petty corruption or turning a blind eye to more systemic abuse. Anti-corruption strategies therefore need to combine enforcement with sustained public education and civic engagement to shift norms.

Implications for anti-corruption policy and financial crime prevention

The Eurobarometer findings point to several priorities for policymakers, regulators and financial crime professionals:

• Strengthen institutional independence and capacity: Perceptions that high-level cases go unpunished and that close business–political links drive corruption underscore the need for independent prosecutors, robust asset-recovery tools, and well-resourced anti-corruption bodies.
• Improve reporting frameworks and whistleblower protection: Fear of retaliation and a belief that reporting is pointless are major barriers. Clear, accessible reporting channels, legal protection, and confidentiality measures can increase reporting and tip-off rates for investigations.
• Target high-risk sectors with transparency measures: Public procurement, permitting, regulatory inspections and sectors requiring discretionary decisions need enhanced e-procurement, open data, audit trails and rotation of officials to reduce opportunities for abuse.
• Rebuild public trust through visible enforcement and communication: Prosecuting and publicising meaningful cases—while safeguarding due process—can help break cynicism. Coordinated public communication that shows consequences and reforms is necessary to restore confidence.
• Address business–politics capture: Robust lobbying transparency, conflict-of-interest rules, and restrictions on revolving-door practices between public office and private sector roles will reduce avenues for undue influence.

Conclusions

The 2025 Special Eurobarometer shows that citizens across the EU widely perceive corruption as a major problem that affects daily life, business competition, and trust in institutions. For those fighting financial crime, these perceptions are not just reputational concerns – they shape the environment in which detection, reporting and enforcement occur. Tackling this challenge requires a combination of stronger institutions, better protection and incentives for reporting, targeted sectoral reforms, and visible follow-through on investigations to restore public confidence and strengthen the integrity of financial systems.

Dive deeper

• European Union (EU) ¦ Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU in 2025 ¦ Link