While legal frameworks and democratic institutions are sound in many Western European and EU countries, there is still significant room for improvement across the region. While there is an EU legislative proposal to improve protections for whistleblowers, there is a question mark over whether it will be agreed by Member States and ever reach the statute books. The region must rally public support for the proposal and strengthen citizens’ ability to speak out against corruption.

Events of last year revealed how persistent corruption is in Western Europe and the EU, and how some European democratic institutions are exposed to corruption within their own ranks. An independent report from the Council of Europe confirmed that members of its Parliamentary Assembly were among the beneficiaries of the Azerbaijani Laundromat money laundering scheme, an effort by Azerbaijan to whitewash its international image.

In the last few years, several countries have also seen a rise in power of political leaders with populist tendencies, working to raise citizens’ fear of targeted groups. In particular, several countries have harnessed anti-immigration sentiment to promote and justify undemocratic principles. These groups have often used digital platforms that lack transparency, and which are open to interference and abuse by foreign agents, to undermine democratic elections and processes. Across Europe, citizens’ trust in democracy has been harmed as a consequence.

In fact, according to the Guardian, research shows that one in four Europeans vote for populists, with populist parties more than tripling their votes in the past two decades

In both Hungary and Poland, populist rhetoric is often used to discredit public scrutiny. In both countries, democratic institutions and values are at risk, and the government continually interferes and challenges the independence of both the media and judicial system. There are also several cases where the media is used in both countries to portray activists and independent thinkers as enemies of the nation, which deepens existing divisions among citizens and takes public focus away from politicians.

As a result of concerns about systematic violations of the rule of law, both Hungary and Poland are now subject to EU procedures that could see them stripped of their EU voting rights.

Even top scoring countries like Denmark are not immune to corruption. While the CPI shows the Danish public sector to be one of the cleanest in the world, corruption still exists, as seen with recent scandals involving Danske Bank. Specifically, the Estonian branch of Danske Bank used more than 30 different currencies to launder €200 billion (US$227 billion) over nearly a decade. One of the most serious cases of transnational money laundering, money flowed from Russia into the EU through Baltic bank branches using shell companies registered in the UK.

At the same time, the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights and good governance around the world may strengthen interregional anti-corruption efforts. During a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, the Dutch government proposed that the EU overhaul its sanctions regime to allow for targeted sanctions of individuals and entities outside the EU that are involved in serious corruption crimes and human rights abuses. This would be a welcome move if implemented, but one that should not distract from solving problems at home.