According to data from the latest Corruption Perception Index published by international anti-corruption organisation Transparency International, Latvia’s index has improved. However, it remains behind other member states of the European Union and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as LETA was informed by Society for Openness – Delna.
In 2021 Latvia’s corruption perception index increased by two points when compared to 2020, reaching 59 points out of 100. This puts Latvia on 15th place among 27 EU member states, which is an upgrade of two spots when compared to 2020. The average index in the EU is 64 points, however.
Latvia is 26th among 37 OECD member states, which is an upgrade of two spots when compared to 2020. The average corruption perception index is 67 points.
Globally Latvia is 36th with its corruption perception index, sharing the spot with Israel and group of islands in the Caribbean – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2020 Latvia was 42nd with its index.
Although the increase of the index can be considered a step in the right direction, it is important to keep in mind that Latvia remains behind other EU and OECD member states. Additionally, the recent increase does not inspire confidence that the country will be able to reach the goal listed in the National Development Plan 2021-2027 – 64 points by 2024 and 67 by 2027, Delna notes. According to this organisation, to improve Latvia’s results, institutions should act bravely, put an end to delays with decision-making and improve the situation in sectors such as prevention of wasting of public resources, promotion of political and business honesty. The private sector also plays a major role in preventing corruption.
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Delna points to the fact that Latvia’s indexes for recent years should be viewed across years.
Since 2012 Latvia’s index has increased by ten points, demonstrating a positive long-term trend.
Estonia has demonstrated a ten-point growth since 2012. The difference here is that Estonia’s index was already 15 points above Latvia’s. Lithuania’s progress was slower over the course of the last several years – seven-point growth.
«Latvia’s chosen direction is considered generally good, but the speed of change is insufficient for Latvia to reach the level of countries in the lead or accomplish its own goals,» Delna reports.
According to Delna Director Inese Tauriņa, analysis of the 2021 index clearly indicates that Latvia’s weakest point is the honesty of the political and private sector, as well as prevention of the wasting of public resources and trust in honest usage of EU financing.
«But we cannot forget about other sectors: criminal prosecution procedures and trials of corruption cases still require improvements. We had outlined this sector last year as well – analysis of 2020 index showed then and we know that Latvia has implemented numerous improvements on the index, and we will likely see results of these improvements in the coming years,» explains Tauriņa.
She adds it is important to keep in mind that the result of the corruption prevention index is one of the primary indexes foreign investors take not of when deciding to open a business in Latvia.
Delna director says that
improving the index is a long-term task that includes not only formal improvements on paper but also the ability to implement them in the process.
Based on the analysis from Delna and considering the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on political and social processes in the country, as well as the government’s work, the organisation recommends decision-makers and institutions to enhance work on unfinished tasks and implement several new initiatives this year.
Among the recommendations provided by Delna for 2022 is the improvement of the system in place to control conflict of interest system and risk assessment and prevention in management. The organisation suggests creating a system that is modern and based on recommendations from Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).
According to Delna, this year Latvia should adopt a comprehensive interest representation (lobbying) transparency regulations, which is expected to further promote transparency and fairness in government decision-making processes, as well as evaluate ways to improve the state budget approval process, prevent systematic violations of regulations and promote responsible use of public and EU financing.
Delna recommends for the Saeima to review the initiative submitted on ManaBalss.lv that suggests providing the State Audit with the authority to audit the parliament’s budget.
Delna also recommends the government to work on promoting honesty in entrepreneurship and motivate entrepreneurs to be proactive in efforts aimed at preventing and uncovering corruption.
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Corruption perception index is published every year by Transparency International. It is the world’s most widely used public sector corruption level indicator. Delna is this organisation’s branch office in Latvia.
Corruption perception index improves in Latvia but remains behind EU and OECD levels
