New Transparency Report Gives Balkan Countries Poor Scores

Transparency International's new report on perceived levels of public-sector corruption says Balkan countries are seen as highly corrupt and all of them have below-average ratings.

Albania has the worst score of the Balkan states, closely followed by Kosovo and Macedonia.

"It is particularly worrying that across the region we see governments' interventions that are weakening the system of checks and balances, essential for successful anti-corruption efforts and functional democracy," Transparency International spokesperson for the Balkans, Lidija Prokic, told BIRN. "Instead, civic and political rights are being limited and holding governments to the account is becoming increasingly difficult."

Prokic also highlighted that commitment to democracy and the rule of law in the region needs to be improved across the region. 

The 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index, published on Tuesday, measures the perceived levels of public-sector corruption in 180 countries and territories.

Scores range from 0 (perceived as highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be the least corrupt), using expert assessments and opinion surveys.

Albania, with a score of 36, was only narrowly ranked worse than Kosovo and Macedonia, which were given scores of 37.

For Albania, which dropped two points since last year, Prokic says its score raises concern about the country's further progress, but added that with the ongoing vetting of judges in the country and anti-corruption institutional framework almost complete, it remains to be seen if its institutions will deliver on expectations in the coming year.

She also noted that Kosovo had dropped two points since 2017, with rule of law and lack of accountability of public officials remaining key issues...