The Congress Spokesperson on Ethics and the Prevention of Corruption, Danela Arsovska, (North Macedonia, EPP/CCE), issued a statement on the occasion of 9 December, International Anti-Corruption Day.

“Across Europe, a combination of indicators, including public opinion surveys and declining voter turnout, shows that citizens are losing confidence in public institutions. In this context, it is essential for local and regional authorities to work closely with national governments to prevent corruption and strengthen integrity, transparency, and accountability.

“Corruption undermines the foundations of democratic societies by eroding public trust. When it occurs at the local level in social services delivery, issuance of construction permits, or public procurement, its impact is immediate and measurable. It causes unequal access to services, arbitrary or unfair treatment, administrative delays, inflated costs, and lower-quality infrastructure.

“Effective anti-corruption frameworks must include clear rules on preventing conflicts of interest, transparency standards, accessible public information, and strong legal protections for whistleblowers. Equally important is to foster a culture of integrity within public administrations, starting at the local level, which is crucial for improving the quality of governance and restoring citizens’ trust in democratic processes.

“As the Council of Europe advances work on a New Democratic Pact for Europe, the Congress is reinforcing its cooperation with the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), whose current monitoring focus on integrity and corruption prevention at the subnational level is an important contribution to this effort.

“Strengthening good governance and rebuilding public trust is a shared responsibility that can only be achieved through joint efforts.”

Contact: Congress Communication Unit, tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 38 90