site.btaMost Bulgarians Believe Corruption Is Widespread, Yet They Do Not Know Anyone Who Has Taken Bribes

A total of 89% of Bulgarians believe that corruption is a widespread problem, yet most of them said that they do not personally know anyone who takes or has taken bribes, according to a Eurobarometer survey released by the European Commission on Wednesday.

The EU average is 64%. According to 26% of respondents in Bulgaria and 43% of Europeans, corruption is properly investigated. A total of 77% of Bulgarians and 71% of citizens in the rest of the EU agree that there are many cases where public officials and politicians making and applying laws are in situations of conflicts of interest and do not respect ethical standards.

Thirty-six percent of respondents in Bulgaria and 47% in the rest of the EU agree that public authorities take decisions free from favouritism, preferential treatment due to extra payments, a valuable gift, or political party donations. According to 56% of Bulgarians (41% of citizens in the rest of the EU), there has been an increase in corruption in the last year. According to 46% of Bulgarians, the giving and taking of bribes and the abuse of power for personal gain are widespread among parties, politicians, and civil servants. Eighty-three percent of respondents in Bulgaria (71% in the EU) believe that there is corruption in the national public institutions, while 53% (and 66% in the EU) said that they are personally affected by corruption in their daily lives.

Seventy-three percent of Bulgarians (51% of respondents in the rest of the EU) agree with the statement that the only way to succeed in business is to have political connections. A total of 80% of people in this country (88% of Europeans) said that they do not personally know anyone who takes or has taken bribes.

The majority of respondents (84% in Bulgaria and 86% in the rest of the Member States) said that courts in the EU must be impartial and media organizations must be able to operate freely. Fifty percent of Bulgarians (75% of respondents in the rest of the EU) believe that if their rights are not respected, they can have them upheld by an independent court, and 27% (53% of Europeans) said that judges are independent and are not under the influence of political or economic interests. Most of the participants in the survey (69% in Bulgaria, 58% in the rest of the EU) believe that public authorities and politicians often do not respect and apply court rulings.

Eighty-four percent of Bulgarians (89% of respondents in the rest of the EU) agree that all EU Member States must respect the core values of the EU, including fundamental rights, the rule of law, and democracy. A total of 60% of respondents in Bulgaria said that the EU plays an important role in helping to uphold the rule of law in the country. Thirty-five percent of Bulgarians (51% of respondents in the EU) said they feel informed about the EU’s fundamental values, and 41% (53% of Europeans) believe they are informed about the rule of law.