Corruption in the EU

[Unphased]

Am i bring unreasonable to not be surprised by Corruption in the EU, I would imagine it’s only the tip of the iceberg

We are squeaky clean. Just ask dear honest Boris Johnson and co? Be patriotic and believe the lies we are told. It’s them not us and that is why we are out in the cold. Heard Rees-Mogg on a question Time answering a member of the audience about his wait in the Spanish passport queue. His reply was to go to Portugal as they have a priority queue as they value our custom. There it is again this vision of the U.K. being something special that requires the EU to provide us with aid because we want our cake and eat it. If not it is all their fault.

Of course we can discuss corruption in the EU. But if you raise the issue in a disingenuous 'oh look how bad they are, aren't we glad we're out' way without mentioning corruption more widely then you're asking for comments. OP should have worded her post better.

Yes a thread about some corrupt officials in the EU, we know corruption exists, what matters is what is then done about it.

In this case, criminal investigation has taken place, arrests made by a member state police force.

What instead would you like to happen?

The way you are going on, you'd think VDL herself had called up the Belgium PM and then got the head of their police pushed of a balcony, with all investigations stopped.

On CPI index we are 9th in the corruption list compared to EU/EAA countries.

On the CPI we are close to the top, Denmark is first we are in 11 out of 180 countries

We’re not used to full on corruption that some countries suffer.

Down the bottom and you’d be seeing and probably not talking about some really bad corruption. The U.K. is amongst other comparable countries - not least that we can talk as we do on SM

Comparing UK to 180 countries is disingenuous, we are a 1st world European dev economy and as i said, we are 9th in EU/EAA... compare to similar democratic, developed countries, not Haiti or Iran.

Personally i think 9th is quite good and i do not see being able to discuss on SM as some sort of "bonus"

It is what i would expect from any Western country, the differences are small, though i do think some of the recent changes in uk law are concerning, look at the arrest of reporters covering climate protests or the police visits to 2 people who wrote to an MP about water quality.

Sunaks proposed no striking for pretty many workers is a huge erosion of freedom, the converse would be Unions demanding and getting no sacking of any worker, no sensible person would think that good.

Of course people will try to see the worst As per.

We are just below Germany, and above Japan, Ireland, France, Canada, Australia, USA and Spain.

It’s pointless trying to convince some. Just let them ponder why U.K. is above the countries I listed and leave them to it.

I just said that we are 9th in Europe and thats good, i don't see that as "Trying to see the worst"

But neither am i blinkered as some seem to be.

I know you wont like this pointed out but the CPI score is only looking at public sector perception not law or private sector, which is 80% of the economy
The UK has a small public sector as we have privatised so much.
Pays to look behind the headline:

Certain types of corruption such as money laundering or foreign bribery are not covered under CPI scoring

So the recent EU case wouldn't be included.

I’ve just listed all the countries below us. Many in Europe.

They are what I’d think of as having a decent reputation and we are above that.

It’s interesting though that perception lags reality on this issue.

Here is a lesser but perhaps similar case from the UK. MP talks positively on parliament about Middle East regime and gets £££ in return. (But cut a worse deal for himself than the EU politician)

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bahrain-human-rights-bob-stewart-mp-tory-b2237845.html?amp

The op is really demonstrating the much-lauded brexiteer articulacy.

Good to see the govt is looking to recover £100+ million from the company pushed by and partly owned (through a conveniently convoluted structure) by Michelle Mone. I don’t think we can officially call that corruption, though it smells like it and quacks like it.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/dec/19/ppe-medpro-uk-government-issues-breach-of-contract-proceedings Re Michelle Mone.