Germany "one of the least corrupt countries in the eu"

Transparent: The Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, where people can look down upon its Parliament. Photo: Aganderson

Corruption continues to be a problem for Europe, costing around €120 billion every year. Some countries are less corrupt than others, as member states introduce a range of anti-corruption and transparency initiatives, but there is work to be done in most cases, says the report.

The popular expat destination Spain, for example, faces a "certain number of deficiencies", highlighting party funding and codes of conduct for elected officials as issues and recommending that ongoing reforms should continue.

France, another popular destination for emigrants, has tackled political corruption signifcantly, although international business transactions remain a concern.

Corruption remains a "serious challenge in Italy", adds thereport, with ethical codes recommended for elected officials.

The UK and Germany, though, are both commended for having strong anti-corruption records, with Britain promoting "high ethical standards of public service".

The Commission suggests to cap donations to political parties in the UK, while Germany should tackle its "revolving door" tradition, which Sees officials leave office to work for companies they have recently aided.

Although there have been some positive steps taken in Greece, including the development of sectoral strategies and the appointment of a national anti-corruption coordinator, corruption poses "considerable challenges", says the report, with anti-corruption framework described as "complex" and "[struggling] to deliver results".

Alongside an analysis of the situation in each EU Member State, the European Commission also presents two extensive opinion polls. More than three quarters of European citizens agree that corruption is widespread in their home country. Amongst Greeks, that number is 99 per cent. Four per cent of Europeans, and 7 percent of Greeks, say that they have been asked or expected to pay a bribe in the past year.