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Why measuring transparency isn’t as simple as it sounds – and how BridgeGap is changing that
When we talk about accountability and anti-corruption, one word shows up again and again: transparency. But here’s the problem: for years, researchers have struggled to measure transparency in a meaningful, comparable way across countries. Laws may look good on paper, but what actually happens in practice can be very different. That challenge is exactly what…
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From our Experts: BridgeGap at the 6th edition of the 24-hour Conference on Global Organized Crime
On 3 December 2025, the global fight against transnational crime convenes online for the sixth edition of the 24-hour Conference on Global Organized Crime (OC24). This streamlined, 16-hour event remains a premier forum for uniting the world’s leading researchers, journalists, and frontline practitioners to dissect the most pressing threats from global criminal networks. This year’s…
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Call for contributors: Help mapping transparency in Europe
How transparent are European countries in practice? The latest research for the European Transparency Map is underway, and we need your expertise. Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, in collaboration with MA students, have expanded the project to assess over 40 countries, now including two critical new dimensions: political finance and lobbying transparency. They are inviting country experts to…
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Andrej Babiš’s Return and Europe’s Corruption Dilemma
Massimo Privitera, University of Antwerp Photo Credits: Financial Times Czech voters have once again placed their trust in Andrej Babiš, a billionaire populist whose career has been shadowed by protracted legal battles over allegations of defrauding European Union funds. His ANO party brought him back to power, despite a fraud trial looming over him and…
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EU Funding in time of crisis: Is there a trade-off between swiftness and accountability?
Massimo Privitera, University of Antwerp The pattern has become drearily predictable: the European Union creates massive funding mechanisms to address pressing crises, only to see them become breeding grounds for fraud and corruption. As new allegations emerge about misused recovery funds, Brussels now proposes yet another instrument – the Security and Defence Facility (SAFE) –…
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Seeking Reviewers with Criminal Law Expertise
Photo Credits: rnnlawmd.com BridgeGap is currently mapping and comparing criminal law frameworks on corruption in 40 different countries across the European area. To ensure consistent data collection, we have developed and completed a structured questionnaire covering four key dimensions of analysis, aiming to assess the structure of relevant offences, applicable sanctions, and certain procedural aspects. On 31…
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Working Paper: Impact of Sanctions on Infiltration of Russia in Europe: The Kremlin’s Malign Influence Through Strategic Corruption
Photo Credits: US Naval Institute The BridgeGap Working Paper Series showcases cutting-edge research that bridges critical gaps in our understanding of corruption, its regulation, and the real-world impact of anti-corruption policies. Our latest publication, Working Paper 25-03, “Impact of Sanctions on Infiltration of Russia in Europe: The Kremlin’s Malign Influence Through Strategic Corruption” by BridgeGap…
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Disablers of Corruption: How Courts, Media, and Digital Citizens Shape Integrity in Europe
Massimo Privitera, University of Antwerp When it comes to curbing corruption, rules on paper are only part of the story. What truly matters is whether societies have the constraints—or “disablers of corruption”—that limit governments from abusing power or handing out public resources to favored groups. Recent research using the Index for Public Integrity (IPI) highlights…
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Working Paper: Digital Solutions Against Corruption? Leveraging Technology in (EU) Humanitarian Aid Operations in the MENA-region
Credits: European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations The BridgeGap Working Paper Series showcases cutting-edge research that bridges critical gaps in our understanding of corruption, its regulation, and the real-world impact of anti-corruption policies. Our latest publication, Working Paper 25-02, “Digital Solutions Against Corruption? Leveraging Technology in (EU) Humanitarian Aid Operations in the MENA-region” by…
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Greece’s Enduring Struggle with Corruption: Why Systemic Change Remains Elusive
Massimo Privitera, University of Antwerp Greece’s relationship with corruption represents one of the most persistent and puzzling cases in modern Europe. Despite multiple financial crises, international bailouts, and decades of reform promises, the country continues to grapple with systemic corruption that permeates its political and economic institutions. According to the 2025 Eurobarometer survey on Citizens’ attitudes towards corruption…
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Working Paper 25-01: Report Maps Public Procurement Data Across Europe
The BridgeGap Working Paper Series presents the first edition by BridgeGap members Andrea Longobucco and Joras Ferwerda of the University of Utrecht, part of the Work Package 6 on Artificial Intelligence on “Fighting Corruption with Artificial Intelligence: Searching for Suitable Public Procurement Data in the EU”. This report provides a groundbreaking comparative analysis of the…
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Data Story: How do Countries in Europe Compare in terms of Corruption?
Massimo Privitera, University of Antwerp Corruption remains a persistent challenge across Europe, manifesting in different forms depending on a country’s economic development, governance structures, and regulatory frameworks. While petty bribery is relatively rare in the European Union (averaging just 7% among the general population), more systemic issues like government favoritism in public procurement and cross-border…
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How Corruption Convictions Help Leaders Gain Support
by Manoel Gehrke & Feng Yang, The Loop July 9, 2025 We often attribute populism’s rise to structural factors — economic insecurity, digital technology, and cultural backlash. But Manoel Gehrke and Feng Yang reveal a more immediate trigger: former leaders’ conviction for corruption. In less democratic contexts, these rulings open the door for governments to…
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Leading EU Anti-Corruption Projects to Speak at Kyoto University Symposium
On July 19, 2025, two prominent Horizon Europe projects, BridgeGap and RESPOND, will participate in “Anti-Corruption Revisited: Institutions, Integrity, and Global Change,” a symposium held at Kyoto University. This global discussion will convene experts discussing the landscape of anti-corruption efforts worldwide. BridgeGap, a project dedicated to bridging gaps in evidence, regulation, and the impact of…
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Resisting Autocratization in Polarized Societies: BridgeGap and RESPOND at the 28th IPSA World Congress
BridgeGap will actively participate in the 28th IPSA World Congress of Political Science, taking place in Seoul, South Korea, from July 12-16, 2025. This premier international gathering, organized biennially by the International Political Science Association (IPSA), brings together leading academics, researchers, and consultants to discuss the latest research under the timely theme of “Resisting Autocratization…
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Europe: Guarding Integrity with Data-Driven Action Against Corruption
Against a backdrop of rising global tensions, Europe’s leadership in fighting corruption and defending democracy and public trust is more important than ever. As negotiations on a new anti-corruption directive progress, the European Union is stepping up with concrete actions—leveraging legal reforms and digital innovation to reinforce the rule of law and institutional integrity. Yet…
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Why money alone won’t cure corruption in healthcare
This is post from LSE European Politics and Policy blog Corruption in healthcare is an enduring problem in many countries across Europe. Iva Parvanova argues that while investing in institutional reforms can achieve results, even well-designed policies will fall short if they fail to address the social norms that sustain corrupt practices. Corruption – the…
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Clean at Home, Dirty Abroad? Europe’s Anti-Corruption Agenda Faces a Foreign Policy Test
Adina Dudau & Alvise Favotto, University of Glasgow As the European Union negotiates its ambitious Anti-Corruption Directive, it is taking a major step toward aligning Member States under a common framework to combat corruption. The directive’s focus on harmonising definitions, expanding corporate criminal liability, and creating dedicated anti-corruption bodies signals a serious commitment to clean…
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Corruption and Social Norms: How Behavior Shapes Institutions
Corruption isn’t just about shady backroom deals or greedy officials, it’s often a reflection of the social norms that govern a society. The paper “Corruption and Social Norms: A New Arrow in the Quiver” (Kubbe et al., 2024) explores how corruption becomes embedded in daily life through shared expectations, and how shifting those expectations is…
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DATA STORIES: The Nord Stream Case Study: A Deep Dive into Energy, Geopolitics, and Infrastructure
The Nord Stream case study explores the project in detail, shedding light on the multifaceted political, environmental, and economic implications that accompany such a massive and strategically sensitive initiative.