BRUSSELS – An independent report says official complacency, complex rules and spotty oversight have left the European Union's leading institutions vulnerable to corruption.
The report, from the watchdog organization Transparency International, claims to be the first comprehensive survey of how the European Commission, European Parliament and other EU institutions are acting to ensure standards of integrity, transparency and accountability. The 244-page document was made public Thursday.
Among its findings: secret so-called "trilogue" meetings where a lot of the details are written into EU regulations are on the increase. Just one EU agency has clear rules to protect whistle-blowers.
Transparency International officials said one major EU institution, the European Parliament, refused to cooperate for the study. According to one opinion poll, 70 percent of EU citizens believe corruption is present in EU institutions.
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