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Greece has the lowest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of 3.5 (maximum of 10 points) among European countries according to Transparency International. This ranks it 78 of 178 countries and last among European countries. Bulgaria (3.6 points), Romania (3.7 points) and Turkey (4.4 points) surpass Greece.

While governments invest huge amounts to cope with global crisis – from instability of stock markets through climate change to poverty, corruption remains an obstacle to much needed development, according to the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index that assesses the corruption of local government administration but also of politicians.

The index rates vary between 0 and 10 as countries of less corrupt politicians and administration are rated 10 and the more corrupt countries are the more the rate falls down. According to the CPI 2010, three fourths of 178 countries are rated below 5, i.e. only 26% of the countries have jumped the threshold of 5 points which reveals serious problems with corruption, said the Chairman of Transparency International in Greece Costas Bakuris during the presentation of the last year's report at a conference in Athens today.

According to the CPI 2010, Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore share the first place rated 9.3 as countries of almost no corruption. Meanwhile, unstable governments in countries where there were clashes in the past continue to be rated last in the list. Afghanistan and Myanmar share the next to the last position rated 1.4 while Somalia is rated last with 1.1.

For various reasons, the index can not be used to compare the development of a given country over the years in relation to policies taken against corruption and how this has affected the index. But according to criteria that are always the same when calculating the Corruption Perceptions Index, improvement is recorded in Bhutan, Chile, Kuwait, Qatar, FYROM, Gambia, Haiti and Jamaica, while the situation in the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Madagascar, Nigeria and USA has worsen.

The countries which the economic crisis affected the worst and where it has become more serious due to the lack of transparency and integrity are among those where the situation has deteriorated. Greece is not exception to the rule and it is far from the target to jump over the threshold of 5 points, said Mr. Bakuris. "There is a need for complete intervention and bolder action against the problems as well as to use the control mechanism if we are to tackle corruption. I asked the parliamentary chairman to upload in the Internet the property tax returns of all politicians ever since they engaged in policy and although he promised to do it there are no results yet... Some time ago, a judge released a syndicalist that was arrested and charged with corruption. Just imagine what we are speaking about," summed up the Chairman of Transparency International.

"We found ourselves in this unpleasant situation despite the government’s attempts to intervene through legislation (protection of witnesses, a new law to control the costs of municipal elections, interference through the new administrative reform Kalikratis, etc.) These attempts are insufficient as it still has no influence on the daily lives of citizens and businessmen. The choice of the government, which announced its intention to legalize the illegally built buildings, leads to different responses and sends unclear message," said Mr. Bakuris.

Greece need to act to establish transparency to escape the crisis. Fighting corruption and improving the Corruption Perceptions Index will help to attract new investors was the message of Transparency International.