Malta has received its worst ever score in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
The CPI is published yearly by Transparency International.
While in 2023 Malta received a score of 51 out of 100, in the new edition, which is for the year 2024, the country's score dropped to 46.
The index scores 180 countries and territories around the world based on perceptions of public sector corruption, using data from 13 external sources, including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, private risk and consulting companies, think tanks and others, Transparency International said, adding that the scores reflect the views of experts and business people.
The Daphne Caruna Galizia Foundation, which is Transparency International's contact point in Malta, said that this is the first time Malta's score dipped under 50 since the country first featured in the index in 2012. "Since 2015, Malta's score has dropped by 14 points, and is now significantly below the Western Europe and European Union (EU) regional average of 64 out of 100," the foundation said. Malta, it added, is characterised as a flawed democracy in the Index.
Malta's score of 46 places it at par with Kuwait, Montenegro and Romania. The highest scoring country in the 2024 index, with a score of 90, is Denmark, and the lowest scoring country with a score of 8 is South Sudan.
Out of the European Union countries, only Bulgaria and Hungary rank lower than Malta in the 2024 index.
Regarding the Western Europe and European Union region, Transparency International states that in fragile times, Europe's ability to combat corruption is falling short, hindering the bloc's response to challenges that range from the climate crisis to fraying rule of law and overstrained public services.
The regional analysis reads that the Western Europe and European Union (EU) regional average on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has dropped for the second consecutive year to 64 out of 100. It says that major economies like Germany (CPI score: 75) and France (67) are declining, and even traditionally strong Nordic countries such as Norway (81) and Sweden (80) have recorded their lowest ever scores. Others like Slovakia (49), Malta (46) and Hungary (41), it said, have dropped "as the rule of law breaks down."
In the document regarding this region, it mentions that weak transparency and accountability in government procurement, including those involving EU funds, remain a major concern. It notes that according to the European Court of Auditors, competition for public contracts has worsened and that in response, the Commission's planned revisions to the EU's 2014 Public Procurement Directive is an opportunity to address transparency gaps. It said that systemic corruption in public procurement persists in several EU countries.
It mentions Malta and refers to the defunct hospitals deal, saying that the former prime minister, and former ministers and officials, are currently facing criminal charges relating to corruption concerning the transfer of three public hospitals to a private company in a deal estimated at €4 billion. It mentions other countries, for example saying that in Croatia, "the Health Minister was fired over suspicions he accepted bribes in exchange for the approval of procurement of robotic medical equipment from a specific company at inflated prices for several public hospitals."
Global picture
As for the global picture, Transparency International says that two of the biggest challenges humanity faces are strongly intertwined: corruption and the climate crisis.
"While billions of people around the world face the daily consequences of climate change, resources for adaptation and mitigation remain woefully inadequate. Corruption intensifies these challenges, posing additional threats to vulnerable communities."
It said that a lack of adequate transparency and accountability mechanisms increases the risk that climate funds may be misused or embezzled. "What is more, climate corruption can also take the form of undue influence, revolving doors between the public and private sectors, and regulatory capture by private actors. These factors have obstructed adoption of the ambitious policies and measures needed to address climate change, favouring the interests of narrow groups over the common good. The corruption crisis is a huge obstacle to solving the climate crisis."
François Valérian, Chair of Transparency International said: "Corruption is an evolving global threat that does far more than undermine development - it is a key cause of declining democracy, instability and human rights violations. The international community and every nation must make tackling corruption a top and long-term priority. This is crucial to pushing back against authoritarianism and securing a peaceful, free and sustainable world. The dangerous trends revealed in this year's Corruption Perceptions Index highlight the need to follow through with concrete action now to address global corruption."