Corruption is a pan -European problem, as confirmed by the details of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vassilis Korkidis in the weekly newsletter of the Chamber.

More specifically, Mr. Korkidis states:

The “big picture” of corruption in Europe in terms of sizes, overall and by country, begins to become known by the European Prosecutor’s Office “European Public Prosecutor’s Office”. Eppo’s role is to prosecute crimes against the EU budget, such as PIF grants and supplies, as well as VAT frauds.

It cannot, of course, measure all over corruption overall and generally, but it shows real criminal cases and financial damage per participant-member state. After 2024 and the accession of Poland and Sweden, 24 of the 27 EU member states participate in EPPO, with the exception of Hungary, Denmark and Ireland.

Significant assistance is given by Corruption Percepts Index’s perception index issued annually since 1995 by the Transparency International International International Organization. The CPI index rains the perceptions of corruption in the public sector, from 0 = high, to 100 = low, providing a comparable “table of grades” for all countries.

The average of the CPI in 2024 in Europe was 64.3/100, with the best performance in the world with 90 with 90, Finland with 88, Luxembourg with 81, and the lowest performance in the EU Romania with 46, Bulgaria with 43 and Hungary with 41.

In total estimated corruption costs in the EU economy, according to an earlier and conservative estimation of the Commission, is estimated at at least 120 billion euros per year, and according to newer Rand Europe studies in prosperity/GDP, much higher losses of up to € 990 billion are estimated.

According to official figures in 2024, Eppo conducted 2,666 active investigations with estimated damage under investigation of € 24.8 billion, of which 53% of € 13.15 billion from VAT fraud. Also for TAA there is 311 cases with a loss of 2.8 billion euros. He received 6,547 reports of financial crimes, launched 1,500 new investigations, issued a 2.42 billion -euro commitment orders and sent 205 indictments.

In criminal cases in EU funds and revenue, 764 active cases are carried out in Italy with an estimated loss of € 4.65 billion, of which EUR 7.05 billion in 149 VAT cases are € 605.3 million and € 605 million.

Romania followed by 380 active cases with estimated loss of EUR 195 million, of which 2.57 billion euros from VAT and 18 indictments. Tuesday with 295 active cases and second estimated loss with 3.89 billion euros is Germany, including 179 VAT cases worth 5 billion euros and 23 indictments. Bulgaria is completed by the Bulgaria with 254 active cases and estimated loss of € 1.13 billion. In Greece we have 84 active cases with estimated loss of € 489 million, 15 VAT cases for € 1.71 billion and 5 indictments.

The recent presence of the head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Laura Kovesi in our country, has given the news of the agenda against corruption and passed messages about Eppo’s independence, as well as zero tolerance for interventions. He met with the Minister of Justice from whom he requested reinforcement of the Greek office with 3 additional prosecutors and administrative staff, as well as the Minister of Citizen Protection and the ELAS Chief. For operational cooperation in customs and cross -border affairs.

He visited the Customs Office at the port of Piraeus as part of the “Calypso” survey regarding the seizures of thousands of China containers for duties and VAT violations. Finally, he said that corruption is not only a Greek problem, but a pan -European, as confirmed by the detailed data of the EPEROS annual report.