About: corruption
Montenegro PM: ‘We are looking for a new opportunity with the EU’
EU membership candidate Montenegro is carrying "a heavy legacy, plagued with low standards and weak institutions", but it has already made progress and its EU orientation is "clear and strong", its prime minister told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
European mainstream politicians see hope in downfall of Austrian far right leader
Politicians from Europe's mainstream parties called on voters to stand against the far right, after a video sting brought down the leader of Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ), hurting the momentum of nationalists days before a European parliamentary election.
#EU2019 – Bulgaria’s Borissov says won’t resign if he loses EU elections
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, who has governed the country with small interruptions for ten years, said on Wednesday (8 May) he will not resign following the European elections. According to opinion polls, Borissov’s GERB party (EPP-affiliated) may lose to his arch-rivals, the socialists.
Montenegro court to deliver verdicts over ‘pro-Russian coup plot’
A Montenegro court is set Thursday (9 May) to deliver verdicts to 14 people accused of planning to violently overthrow the government with Russian help in 2016, an alleged plot whose details remain murky even after a lengthy trial.
Juncker looks back on 15 years of ‘big bang’ EU enlargement
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker offered interesting comments on present-day leaders of member states from Central Europe, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the 1 May 2004 accession of 10 countries, known as “the big bang”.
The Juncker Commission won’t lift the monitoring on Bulgaria
Vĕra Jourová, the EU Commissioner for justice, said on Friday (26 April) that the Juncker Commission will not lift the monitoring on Bulgaria under the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM).
Iohannis: Teach Romanian ruling party a lesson at referendum
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis urged the nation Thursday (25 April) to vote next month in a referendum on judicial reforms, calling it a chance to teach the ruling left-wing social democrats "a lesson".
Flagship study exposes decline of press freedom in Europe
Reporters Without Borders published their flagship annual ‘World Press Freedom Index’ on Thursday (18 April), revealing that worldwide, authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on the media, while in Europe, decline of press freedom goes hand in hand with...
Police recommend indicting Czech PM for fraud
Czech police believe billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš should be indicted for alleged involvement in EU subsidy fraud worth two million euros, a spokesman said Wednesday. “The investigation is over and the complete file has been submitted to the state...
Not an April spoof: Comedian races ahead in Ukrainian presidential election
A comedian with no political experience raced ahead in Ukraine’s presidential election on Sunday (31 March), offering a fresh face to voters fed up with entrenched corruption in a country on the frontline of the West’s standoff with Russia.
Serbs keep protesting, opposition and authorities announce mass rallies
Serbian citizens have been protesting for four months, asking the government to ensure media freedom, crack down on corruption and tackle issues like unemployment, poverty, and the young generation's brain-drain. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
EPPO nomination – a ticking time bomb?
The focus throughout Laura Codruța Kövesi’s stewardship of Romania's anti-corruption directorate has been on ‘getting scalps’ rather than on serving justice, writes Norica Nicolai.
Romania indicts Kövesi for a second time while MEPs back her for EU prosecutor
The European Parliament officially backed Romanian magistrate Laura Codruța Kövesi to become the EU’s first-ever top prosecutor on Thursday (7 March), while in Bucharest, she was summoned to court and indicted for a second time.
Political alternative in Montenegro: few pros, many cons
Montenegro is facing Sophie's Choice - sacrificing its statehood or abandoning corrupt authorities, writes Vlado Vurušić, a journalist with EURACTIV.hr, in an analytical report from the country's capital Podgorica.
If you can’t beat them, ban them: Romanian electoral bureau rejects Ciolos’s alliance
The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) rejected on Thursday (7 March) the joint application for the European elections of the “Alliance 2020 USR PLUS”. The news had the effect of a bomb in Romania, writes Dan Alexe, who runs a blog called EUelectionsRomania.com.
Thousands in Montenegro rally against President Djukanovic
Thousands protested in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica on Saturday (2 February), the fourth such rally in as many weeks, demanding that President Milo Djukanović and his government resign over alleged corruption, cronyism and abuse of office.
Romania summons Kövesi in court in attempt to thwart her designation
Romanian magistrate Laura Codruța Kövesi, a hot favourite to become the EU's first-ever top prosecutor, is due to appear in court in Bucharest next week over allegations of corruption, media reports said Thursday (28 February).
Comedian takes centre stage in Ukraine’s presidential race
In a popular Ukrainian TV series, comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy plays a president who is scrupulously honest and outwits crooked lawmakers and shadowy businessmen who try to stand in his way.
Albanian police disperse opposition protest with teargas
Albanian police used teargas Tuesday (26 February) to disperse hundreds of opposition protesters who tried to prevent ruling Socialist MPs from entering parliament.
Kovesi tells MEPs: I know you received negative information about me
Laura Codruţa Kövesi, the former chief of Romania’s anti-corruption agency (DNA) who is one of the three shortlisted candidates to become the EU's first-ever chief prosecutor, emerged as the favourite after a hearing in the European Parliament on Tuesday (26 February).
Ukraine President’s associate quits in corruption probe ahead of vote
A close associate of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stepped aside from a senior government role on Tuesday (26 February) pending a corruption investigation involving his son a month before the incumbent faces a tough battle for re-election.
Thousands of Romanians protest against judicial changes
Thousands of Romanians protested across the country on Sunday (24 February) after the government passed an emergency decree that critics said chipped away at prosecutors' independence in one of the European Union's most corrupt states.
Moldova looks set for hung parliament as opposition threatens protests
Early results pointed to a hung parliament in Moldova's election on Sunday (24 February), splitting the vote between pro-Western and pro-Russian forces at a time when the ex-Soviet republic's relations with the European Union have soured.