James Debono The perception that corruption is rife in the granting of building permits is highest in Malta, a European wide survey has now confirmed.
Coming hot on the heels of a Transparency International index that dropped Malta three spots in the corruption perceptions index, the Eurobarometer survey showed that 73% of the Maltese – compared to an EU average of 51% – think bribes and abuse of power for personal gain are widespread in the issue of building permits.
The rating has gone up by 12 percentage points since a similar survey was held in November 2007.
When it comes to perceptions of corruption in planning decisions, Malta surpassed Greece and Bulgaria where corruption is perceived to be more widespread than Malta in most other areas. The European wide survey, which included 500 Maltese respondents, showed that some 95% of Maltese citizens consider corruption as “a major problem” in their country.
Perception of corruption as a major national problem also increased by 11 percentage points since 2007 – up from 84% to 95%. Only 4% think that corruption is not a serious problem, down from 9% in 2007.
The Maltese were only surpassed by Greece (98%), Bulgaria (97%) and Hungary (96%) in considering corruption as a major national problem.
On the other hand the Danes (22%) and the Swedes (37%) are the least likely to think that corruption is a major problem in their country.
Significantly over the past two years the number of Maltese who think that corruption “is rife in national institutions” has increased by 23 percentage points from 66% in 2007 to 89% now.
The number of those who “totally agree” that corruption is rife in national institutions has also increased from 27% to 52%. “This is likely to be in part a reaction to the corruption allegations surrounding the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, as well as the VAT department scandal,” the Eurobarometer report states.
Significantly 58% think that corruption exists in the judiciary, compared to just 37% in the rest of the European Union. The perception that corruption exists in the judiciary has increased by 12% in the past two years. This increase comes in the wake of bribery convictions for former chief Justice Noel Arrigo and former judge Patrick Vella.
Perceptions of corruption in the judicial system was highest in Bulgaria (82%).
Surprisingly the Maltese are also more likely than other Europeans to perceive corruption in the issue of public tenders: 61% compared to 52% in the rest of the European Union.
Perceptions of corruption in the public service and in customs are also higher in Malta than in other European countries.
On the other hand the Maltese were the fourth least likely to perceive corruption at EU level. Only the Poles, the Bulgarians and the Romanians had a better perception of the European Union. While 66% of Europeans think that corruption exists at EU level, only 47% of the Maltese think so.
Do you think the giving and taking of bribes and abuse of positions of power for personal gain are widespread in the issuing of building permits?
%
Malta 73
Greece 72
Cyprus 70
Bulgaria 66
Germany 61
EU Average 51
How Maltese perceptions on corruption compare with other EU countries
Malta EU Average Corruption is a major problem in our country 95 78
There is corruption in national institutions 89 83
There is corruption among officials granting tenders 61 52
There is corruption in the judiciary 58 37
There is corruption at customs 60 36
There is corruption in public service 56 39
There is corruption in the EU 47 66
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