Globally Italy is viewed as equally corrupt as Brazil, Senegal and Swaziland. Corruption photo

Italy still one of Europe's most corrupt countries

Published: 03 Dec 2014 11:38 GMT+01:00

Italy has failed to improve its reputation as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe, ranking joint worst in the region in a Transparency International index released on Wednesday.

Lombardy chief probed over Expo corruption (14 Jul 14)
Ex-Finmeccanica chief arrested in bribery probe (30 Jun 14)
Italy battles crescendo of corruption scandals (23 Jun 14)

Showing no improvement on last year, Italy was ranked alongside Bulgaria, Greece and Romania out of 31 EU and western Europe nations in the Corruption Perception Index, based on expert opinion.

Globally, Italy came in 69th place out of 174 countries; being viewed as equally corrupt as Brazil, Senegal and Swaziland.

Scandinavia is perceived as the least corrupt part of the world, with Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway taking the top five spots alongside second-place New Zealand.

Valentina Rigamonti, Transparency International’s senior regional coordinator for Europe, told The Local that few improvements have been made in the past two years.

She drew on Milan’s Expo trade fair, being probed for contract rigging, as a high-profile example of the country’s corruption problem.

But Italy does have “very good legislation”, she said, such as the 2012 Severino law which was used to ban Silvio Berlusconi from office after a tax fraud conviction.

The government, however, needs to up efforts to implement existing anti-corruption laws, while new measures are also essential.

Rigamonti highlights Italy’s notorious statute of limitations, under which crimes “expire”, as a key area to work on. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said last month the law needed to change, after the conviction of a Swiss billionaire over thousands of asbestos deaths was overturned.

“The strengthening of whistleblowing legislation” is also a key ask from Transparency International.

“At the moment the whistleblowing rules are stronger in the private than public sector, but there is no legal protection,” Rigamonti said.

In a timely example of the reality behind Italy’s dismal score, the country’s financial police on Wednesday revealed a “cash for exams” scam at Rome’s largest university.

La Sapienza University’s architecture faculty is under investigation for handing out fake traineeship certificates, course credits and exam results in exchange for money. Those involved in the scam face charges including extortion, abuse of office and embezzlement.

The index also comes a day after authorities announced a probe into a mafia-type organization at Rome’s city hall. Former mayor Gianni Alemanno and ex-terrorist have been put under investigation, while €200 million worth of assets were seized by police.

Don't miss a story about Italy - join us on Facebook and Twitter

The Local (rosie.scammell@thelocal.com)

Promoted stories

Driven to Laughter – 16 Hilarious Road…

(Reader's Digest)

4 ways to retire with plenty of money

(TheStreet)

Who Will Pay for Mom's or Dad's Nursing…

(Fortune)

Who is the most powerful person in the…

(Forbes)

10 Worst Women To Ever Walk The Earth

(RantLifestyle)

Who Was Mike Brown? 13 Facts You Didn't…

(StyleBlazer)

Don't Be A Yuck Mouth, Try GoodMouth's…

(Second City Style)

The Least Educated States in America

(TheStreet)

Recommended by

Your comments about this article

Today's headlines

Migrants arriving in Sicily, where the people trafficking investigation was launched in May. Photo: Giovanni Isolino/AFP

Italy police bust Eritrean people trafficking ring

Italian police said on Wednesday they had busted an Eritrean trafficking ring accused of smuggling migrants into Europe on perilous Mediterranean boat crossings, including one in which 244 people died.READ

Matteo Salvini, head of the eurosceptic Northern League, will reportedly meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in January. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP

Italy's far-right leader to meet Putin in January

Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy’s far-right Northern League, will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in January, La Repubblica reported.READ

Costa Concordia

Francesco Schettino (L) on Wednesday testified for the second day in his manslaughter trial. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

Schettino claims his actions saved lives

Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino claimed on Wednesday that his decision to delay evacuation of the stricken cruise ship may actually have saved lives in the 2012 disaster. READ

Globally Italy is viewed as equally corrupt as Brazil, Senegal and Swaziland. Corruption photo

Italy still one of Europe's most corrupt countries

Italy has failed to improve its reputation as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe, ranking joint worst in the region in a Transparency International index released on Wednesday. READ 3 comments

The Local List

The organizers of Bolzano's Christmas market were advised by their counterparts in Nuremburg, Germany. Bolzano photo: Shutterstock

Top ten Christmas markets in Italy

From the best DIY nativity scene to where to find the most delicious hot tipple, The Local brings you Italy's top ten Christmas markets.READ

Italian film director and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini was murdered in 1975. Photo: Ralph Gatti/AFP

New DNA twist to Pasolini murder mystery

Nearly four decades after his murder, the mystery surrounding the death of acclaimed Italian film director and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini has been given a dramatic new twist. READ

Matteo Renzi with his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmalek Sellal. Photo: Farouk Batiche/AFP

Italy wants to help restore peace in Libya

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Rome is ready to contribute to international efforts to restore peace in strife-torn Libya, during a visit to neighbouring Algeria on Tuesday. READ

Costa Concordia

Francesco Schettino is accused of multiple manslaughter over the cruise ship disaster. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP

'Show off' Schettino testifies at trial

UPDATED: Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino told a court on Tuesday that he was showing off when he steered the cruise ship onto rocks off the Italian island of Giglio, triggering a disaster in which 32 passengers and crew died. READ

A man in Naples joins a protest against toxic waste in southern Italy. Photo: Mario Laporta/AFP

EU court hits Italy with giant illegal waste fine

The EU's top court slapped Italy with a giant €40 million fine on Tuesday for ignoring a seven-year-old ruling and failing to clean up illegal waste sites. READ

Opinion: Italy labour reforms

Several protests against Matteo Renzi's Jobs Act have been held in Italy in recent weeks. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Will Renzi really kick-start sclerotic Italy?

Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is pressing on with moves to make it easier for companies to hire and fire. But even supporters say the reforms are too modest - while sceptics claim that Italy can never be reformed. READ