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[Global corruption report 2003] Western europe
Pujas, Veronique
Pujas, Veronique
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"Corruption now occupies a central place as an issue of public concern on the political agenda in Western Europe. There is widespread diffusion of information about corruption and scandals involving politicians and political parties are subject to extensive media coverage. A central trend in 2001–02 was the increasing political and media attention given to issues of financial transparency and corporate governance. There was a marked increase in efforts to prevent money laundering, linked to the ‘fight against terrorism’ following the attacks of September 11th. Efforts to fight organised crime and control tax havens moved forward much faster in the new international climate, as did judicial and police cooperation between Western European countries. The primary stimulus for the rise to the top of the political agenda of corporate governance was the collapse of Enron in the United States. Governing parties confronted allegations of corruption in several countries in the region, notably France, Germany, Italy and Portugal. The political impact varied; while the German government took steps to introduce a corruption blacklist ahead of elections later in the year, the French president was re-elected in spite of allegations that continued to fuel the debate on whether presidential immunity should be removed. Corruption allegations in Italy provoked an extended conflict between the prime minister and the judiciary that is ongoing. At the same time, legislative changes introduced by the government of Silvio Berlusconi appeared to be primarily self-serving and undermined executive accountability. There was growing concern about the level of fraud and money laundering carried out in and through private sector financial institutions. In Spain, criminal investigations began into one of Europe’s largest banking sector scandals in years. The credibility of the private sector has become a central political theme across the region. In spite of the strength of civil society across the region, few NGOs focus specifically on anti-corruption advocacy. While corruption was regularly in the headlines, public reactions varied. Populist parties achieved electoral successes in some countries, partly because of disenchantment with corrupt political elites."
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Book chapter
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2003
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1861974760
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With permission of the license/copyright holder