Giving bribes has become an even more widespread practice in Romania, almost one in three Romanian households paying bribes in the last 12 months to access basic public services, according to a study from Transparency International.

The Global Corruption Barometer first asks respondents whether they or another member of their household has used any of the eight key public services in the past 12 months. If they have then they are asked whether they made an unofficial payment or gift when using that service.

The study reveals that a total of 29% of Romanian households have paid bribes to have easier access to public services, this being the highest rate in the European Union. Romania was followed by Lithuania, which had a rate of 24%.

“Since the 2013 survey, Romania’s bribery rate has increased and it has overtaken Lithuania to achieve the highest bribery rate of the member states surveyed. Lithuania’s bribery rate has hardly changed,” reads the report.

When it comes to neighbouring countries, Bulgaria had a much lower rate than Romania – 17%, and so did Poland – 7%, the Czech Republic – 9%, and Serbia and Hungary – 22% each. Find the full report here.

The study also shows that citizens from Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania are the most likely to think that the members of parliament are highly corrupt. In these countries over a half or more say that their representatives are very corrupt. The figure increases to three-quarters in Moldova (76%).

Romania ranks better in corruption index

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com