Corruption in Eastern Europe and CIS

Although corruption affects the democratic process and stifles economic development - preprequisites for EU accession, corruption level per se seem to be an unimportant factor for accession to the European Union. The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2004 ranks new EU members like Poland 67 (64 in 2003), while EU hopeful Bulgaria takes 54 place. Ukraine - one of the strongest economies of the former Soviet Union republics - ranks 122, below war torn places like Serbia and Montenegro. That's why many are not surprised to hear recent reports that the opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned (BBC's Candidate 'poisoned' in Ukraine).

Top 3 in the World
1. Finland
2. New Zealand
3. Denmark/ Iceland

Bottom 3 in the World
145. Bangladesh/ Haiti
144. Nigeria
142. Myanmar/ Chad

New EU Members
25. Malta
31. Estonia/ Slovenia
36. Cyprus
42. Hungary
44. Lithuania
51. Czech Republic
57. Latvia and Slovakia
67. Poland (share spot with Croatia)

Countries On-course for EU Accession
54. Bulgaria
77. Turkey
87. Romania

Other EE and CIS
67. Croatia (share spot with Poland)
74. Belarus
82. Armenia/ Bosnia and Herzegovina
90. Russia
97. Macedonia/ Serbia and Montenegro
108. Albania
114. Moldova/ Uzbekistan
122. Kazakhstan/ Kyrgyzstan/ Ukraine
133. Georgia/Tajikistan/Turkmenistan
140. Azerbaijan