A Eurobarometer survey reveals that one in four people in Malta knows someone who has taken or accepted a bribe, with a quarter of the population believing that “everyone knows about these cases and no one reports them.”
The main reason for not reporting corruption is the belief that it would be pointless, as the culprits would not face consequences. The survey shows that 26% of Maltese personally know someone involved in bribery, a significant increase of nine percentage points since 2023. Additionally, 35% fear repercussions if they report corruption.
The survey, which included 26,000 participants across 27 EU countries, highlights that 79% of Maltese think high-level corruption cases are not sufficiently pursued. When asked who they trust to handle corruption reports, 59% chose the police, 21% the national ombudsman, and 14% journalists.
The report, titled “Citizens’ Attitudes Towards Corruption in the EU in 2024,” indicates that 95% of Maltese believe corruption is widespread, up from 92% last year.
Bribery is perceived to be most prevalent in political parties (73%), building permit offices (67%), and among politicians (63%). Half of the Maltese think corruption affects their daily lives, significantly higher than the 27% EU average.
The survey shows strong disapproval of corruption, with the majority against giving favours, gifts, or money to achieve goals. Moreover, 88% believe that close ties between business and politics lead to corruption, and 80% think favouritism hampers business competition. Finally, 54% said that political connections are essential for business success in Malta.
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