Transparency International

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is playing the corruption card to strengthen his control over the country, according to Transparency International co-founder Frank Vogl.

Costas Bakouris, a prominent businessman who served twice as the director of the Greek chapter of Transparency International, died Tuesday at the age of 81 after suffering a stroke.

Bakouris remained on the managing board of Greek manufacturing company Viohalco until his death.

The European Commission declined on Thursday to comment on claims that it has "silently postponed" a regular anti-corruption report against the background of large-scale protests against the amendments to the Penal Code in Romania, reported the online edition of EuroActiv, cited by Focus agency.

The decision caused criticisms on the part of activists for transparency.

Greece's anti-corruption agency has dismissed Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, published last week, which said that the country's performance in 2016 worsened, falling to 69th place out of 167 countries, from 58th in 2015.

Turkey has ranked 75th in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2016, falling nine places from 2015 and adding to its dramatic decline over the past four years.

According to the results, Turkey scored 41 in the index, a one-point decrease from 42 in 2015. It shared the 75th rank with Bulgaria, Kuwait and Tunisia, decreasing from its 66th rank in 2015.

Bulgaria has ranked 75th in the world in terms of corruption perception and is singled out as the EU state perceived as "most corrupt" by its citizens in the latest Transparency International ranking.

Transparency International on Wednesday published its annual global report on perceived corruption in society, indicating that governments in Balkan states have a lot of work to do to eradicate graft, with Macedonia singled out as one of the countries in which the situation has significantly worsened over the year.

According to International Transparency’s Corruption Perception Index, Greece dropped 11 spots on the list of countries seen as corrupt in 2016 compared to 2015. Greece fell to 69th spot from 58 in 2015, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

Greece's performance in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index worsened last year with the country rising to 69th place out of 167 countries, compared to 58th the year before.

Some 45 percent of Turkish respondents of an annual Transparency International survey think corruption has gotten worse over the last four years, while 29 percent think there is less corruption.