Data on EU citizens’ perceptions of corruption are presented in Special Eurobarometer 573, "Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU in 2026". Data on citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the candidate countries – Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – are presented in Flash Eurobarometer 581, "Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in selected enlargement countries and citizens’ perception of the independence of national justice systems in the EU and selected enlargement countries in 2026”. Questions on the independence of courts and judges and the digitalisation of courts and justice systems were asked both in the EU and in the candidate countries as part of the latter survey.

According to the published data, 71% of EU citizens consider corruption to be widespread in their country. This figure has increased by 2 percentage points since 2025. The highest levels of this perception were recorded in Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Spain, while the lowest were recorded in Finland and Denmark.

In the candidate countries, the perceived level of corruption is higher: 85% of citizens consider corruption to be widespread in their country, including 51% who say it is very widespread and 34% who say it is fairly widespread. The highest figure was recorded in North Macedonia, where 92% of respondents consider corruption to be widespread.

EU citizens most often associate corruption risks with public and political institutions. 76% of respondents consider corruption to be widespread in national public institutions, while 74% say the same about local or regional public institutions. In addition, 63% believe that corruption is part of the business culture in their country.

In the candidate countries, citizens most often point to widespread corruption in the healthcare system, police and customs, among politicians and political parties, in courts and tribunals, and among officials awarding permits, including for businesses, construction or public tenders.

The surveys show a high level of scepticism about the effectiveness of efforts to address corruption. In the EU, 69% of citizens think that high-level corruption cases are not pursued sufficiently. 54% think that government efforts to combat corruption in their country are not effective, while 47% think that measures against corruption are not applied impartially and without ulterior motives.

In the candidate countries, assessments in these areas also remain critical. 71% of respondents think that high-level corruption cases are not pursued sufficiently. 60% do not think that government efforts to combat corruption are effective, while 55% think that measures against corruption are not applied impartially and without ulterior motives.

At the same time, most EU citizens continue to consider corrupt practices unacceptable. 77% of respondents say that giving money to obtain something from public administration is unacceptable, 71% say the same about giving a gift, and 67% about doing a favour. However, compared with 2025, the share of those who consider these actions never acceptable has decreased.

In the candidate countries, attitudes towards such practices are less clear-cut. 72% of respondents consider giving money to be never acceptable, but only 51% say the same about giving a gift, and 48% about doing a favour to obtain something from public administration or a public service.

The surveys also show problems with reporting corruption. In the EU, 5% of citizens said they had experienced or witnessed a case of corruption in the last 12 months, but only 21% of them reported it, although 45% of EU citizens said they know where to report a case of corruption.

In the candidate countries, personal experience of corruption is much more common: 26% of citizens said they had experienced or witnessed a case of corruption in the last 12 months. However, only 15% of them reported it. At the same time, 46% of respondents know where to report a case of corruption, while 50% do not.

The Eurobarometer materials also examine perceptions of the independence of courts and judges and the digitalisation of courts and justice systems. In the EU, 59% of citizens rate the independence of courts and judges as good, while 35% rate it as bad. In the candidate countries, positive assessments of the independence of courts and judges are lower: 36% rate it as good and 55% as bad.

Perceptions of the digitalisation of justice systems also differ. In the EU, 72% of citizens believe that courts and justice systems are fully or partially digitalised. In the candidate countries, 55% of respondents share this view.