Corruption Perceptions Worsening in Balkans, Central Europe, Transparency Says

Perceptions of public corruption worsened in most Southeast and Central European countries according to the newest Global Perceptions Corruption Index published by the international watchdog Transparency International, TI, on Thursday.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia against ranked worst in the Western Balkans, with 35 points out of 100 - 100 points being very clean and 0 being the opposite - and sharing 111th place in the list of 180 countries.

North Macedonia declined five places, down from 106th last year, while Bosnia and Hercegovina declined faster, by 10 places, from 101th place last year.

Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of 22 countries that TI said had seen a significant decline since 2012, together with Lebanon and Malawi.

Serbia's and Kosovo's rankings also worsened compared to 2019. Serbia declined by one point from 39 points to 38 and was ranked in 94th place in 2020, down from 91 the previous year.

Kosovo again scored 36 points and was ranked in 104th place, a decline of three places compared to 101 the previous year.

According to the report, Serbia earned its lowest score on the CPI since 2012, and "the country's biggest corruption challenges include serious rule-oflaw issues, continued democratic erosion and efforts to silence critical voices".

Referencing the recent pandemic, it noted that, "In response to COVID-19, Serbia took several controversial steps, including suspending parliament, implementing extensive curfews, and inciting violence against protesters.

"After years of neglect, the country's health system was tested by COVID-19, with dire consequences. Corruption remains an obstacle to medical specialisation and career advancement," it emphasized.

Croatia kept the same...