The European Commission estimates that up to 120 billion euros could be lost each year to corruption in the 27 Member States of the EU. This was revealed by Cecilia Malmstrom, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, during the Second Regional Workshop on the EU Anti-Corruption Report held in Gothenburg in March.

The EU is planning to publish the first Anti-Corruption Report in June 2013 and subsequent reports will be published every two years.

CoST Executive Director Petter Matthews attended the workshop in Gothenburg. Speaking after the event he said: “Corruption is a problem that affects both high and low income countries. We have always been clear that transparency initiatives are as relevant amongst EU Member States as they are in any part of world. We welcome the Anti-Corruption Report and are ready to work with EU countries.”