BRATISLAVA, December 1, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia is the fifth worst country in the 27-nation European Union in terms of corruption perception, shows the latest Corruption Perceptions Table compiled by Transparency International. The country ranks 66th among 183 assessed countries. Among the top five EU countries with a worse situation are Italy, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. The outcome reflects the assessment of work of governments in 2010. As for the Visegrad Group platform, Poland did best (41st), followed by Hungary (54th) and the Czech Republic. The most transparent countries are New Zealand, Denmark and Finland, while North Korea and Somalia are at the tail-end.
The Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International is the most cited transparency index worldwide. Global companies often rely on the data when they decide on new investments. It also influences the shaping of ties between countries. The national reform program passed by the Iveta Radicova Cabinet uses the index as one of two indicators to measure the success of the government’s work.
Director of Transparency International Slovensko, Gabriel Sipos, reported that Slovakia’s position is not comparable to its previous performance as the structure of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) changed and in case of Slovakia, new indicators constitute up to 40 percent. However, the last position among the Visegrad Group countries sends a strong signal ahead of the elections that political parties should consider fight against corruption an important factor for their party lists and election programs.
sita