As the European Union’s institutions negotiate the final contours of a sweeping new anti-corruption directive, a powerful coalition of civil society organizations—led by Transparency International and joined by 56 other NGOs—has issued an urgent call for robust action. Their message, delivered in an open letter to EU leaders on June 2, 2025, is clear: only genuine political will and bold legislative choices can restore public trust and protect the integrity of European democracy.
The timing of this intervention is no accident. The EU is still reeling from a string of high-profile scandals, including the Qatargate affair and the recent Huawei lobbying controversy, which have laid bare the vulnerabilities of its institutions to foreign influence and illicit enrichment. These events have fueled public frustration, with Transparency International’s research revealing that
“only 21 percent of people believe officials face appropriate penalties for corruption in the EU, while 53 percent think the government is run by a few big interests serving themselves”.
For civil society, the stakes could not be higher: the credibility of the EU’s anti-corruption agenda—and the future of its democratic legitimacy—hangs in the balance.
A Directive at a Critical Juncture
The proposed EU Anti-Corruption Directive, first unveiled by the European Commission in May 2023, is now in the crucial final phase of interinstitutional negotiations. Its ambition is to harmonize anti-corruption laws across all member states, criminalize a wide range of corruption offenses, and set minimum standards for penalties and preventive measures. The European Parliament has already adopted bold amendments in February 2024, pushing for stricter rules, tougher enforcement, and stronger protections for whistleblowers. The Council of Ministers, however, has signaled a more cautious approach, seeking longer timelines and greater national flexibility.
As these negotiations reach their climax, civil society organizations are sounding the alarm. Their open letter urges EU leaders to
“preserve and strengthen the bold amendments proposed by the European Parliament” and warns that this is “no time for half-measures.”
The signatories insist that the final directive must not only punish corruption after the fact but also “put in place meaningful tools to prevent corruption across the Union to ensure no one country can be seen as a weak link”.
Civil Society’s Demands: Raising the Bar
The coalition’s demands are detailed and ambitious. They call for effective rules on the periodic and risk-based disclosure, verification, and publication of assets and interests of public officials, as well as open data access to information of public interest. The letter also highlights the need for “effective transparency of financial information of political parties, candidates and other third parties seeking to influence election outcomes,” including timely reporting and audit rules.
Another key demand is the proactive publication of lobby meetings and the establishment of minimum required information to be publicly disclosed regarding interactions between public officials and private entities. The coalition argues that “the cost of enforcing against corruption can reduce over time if these ideas are successfully implemented to disincentivise and deter corrupt actors”.
Andrea Rocca, Head of Policy & Advocacy at Transparency International, emphasized that
“this is a pivotal moment for ministers and EU policymakers to show they are ready to respond to citizens’ concerns. Your institutions have the power to set anti-corruption standards that resonate beyond the EU. A strong Directive not only reaffirms your commitment to tackling corruption across the Union but also proves you are seizing this political moment to confront a barrier that is undermining the bloc’s ability to meet global challenges”.
The Political and Social Context: Scandals and Public Distrust
The backdrop to these demands is a deepening crisis of confidence in EU institutions. The Qatargate scandal, which revealed alleged foreign bribes to European lawmakers, and the Huawei controversy, which exposed the risks of unchecked corporate lobbying, have both shaken public faith in the EU’s ability to police itself. As Nick Aiossa, director of Transparency International EU, put it,
“Citizens across the EU are demanding accountability and transparency, and it is now up to policymakers to answer that call”.
Civil society leaders warn that weakening the Parliament’s proposals would send the wrong message to citizens and the world. Andrea Rocca argued that the directive represents
“a test of the EU’s commitment to integrity and good governance”
and cautioned that
“watering down the Parliament’s proposals would send the wrong message to citizens and the world”.
Key Features and Recommendations for the Directive
Transparency International and its partners have welcomed many aspects of the proposed directive. They praise its inclusion of mandatory active and passive bribery offenses, misappropriation and abuse of functions in both public and private sectors, and the mandatory trading-in-influence offense. The directive’s provisions for minimum standards on sanctions, limitation periods, and the application of whistleblower protections are also seen as crucial steps forward.
However, the coalition is pushing for further improvements. Among their recommendations are:
- Addressing grand corruption by providing law enforcement with additional tools to investigate and prosecute the most serious offenses, especially those involving high-level public officials or systematic abuses.
- Ensuring victims of corruption are sufficiently represented and compensated before, during, and after legal proceedings.
- Bringing the definition of high-level public officials in line with international best practices and recognizing their involvement as an aggravating circumstance.
- Strengthening preventative measures, including regulatory gaps on lobbying and political finance, and ensuring high-value anti-corruption datasets are available for public scrutiny.
The Role of Whistleblower Protections and Transparency
One of the coalition’s central demands is robust protection for whistleblowers. The letter stresses that “strong whistleblower protections are essential to uncovering and deterring corruption, especially in cross-border cases”. The organizations also call for tougher penalties and safeguards against political interference, warning that the credibility of the EU’s anti-corruption efforts is at stake.
Their analysis further recommends that the directive ensure non-trial resolutions are subject to judicial oversight, that companies as well as individuals can be held liable for corruption, and that cooperation between competent authorities is enhanced to tackle cross-border crime.
EU Institutions Respond: A Moment of Reckoning
EU policymakers have acknowledged the pressure from civil society. The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has endorsed a draft negotiating mandate for tougher anti-corruption rules, seeking to expand the scope of existing regulations and impose stricter penalties on offenders. The European Commission, for its part, has reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law and supporting member states in implementing effective anti-corruption frameworks.
At the 16th session of the UNCAC Working Group on the Prevention of Corruption in June 2025, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to preventing corruption, stating,
“Ongoing EU action to prevent corruption remains a priority for EU institutions and EU Member States.”
The EU also highlighted its role in co-sponsoring the first UNCAC resolution on the interlinkages between organized crime and corruption, underlining the need for international cooperation.
What’s Next for the Directive and the Fight Against Corruption?
As trilogue negotiations continue, the outcome remains uncertain. If the Parliament’s position prevails, the directive could set a new global benchmark for anti-corruption legislation. If the Council’s more cautious approach wins out, the final text may fall short of the transformative change many are demanding. Once adopted, member states will have up to 36 months to transpose the directive into national law—a timeline that reflects both the complexity and ambition of the reforms.
For civil society, the message is clear: the EU must not miss this opportunity to lead by example. The coalition’s open letter concludes, “A strong Directive not only reaffirms your commitment to tackling corruption across the Union but also proves you are seizing this political moment to confront a barrier that is undermining the bloc’s ability to meet global challenges”.
The EU’s Integrity at Stake
The campaign led by Transparency International and 57 NGOs is a defining moment for the European Union’s anti-corruption agenda. As scandals continue to erode public trust, the pressure is on EU leaders to deliver a directive that is not only strong on paper but effective in practice. The coming weeks will reveal whether Europe’s policymakers are willing to meet the challenge and demonstrate that the EU is serious about upholding the rule of law, defending democratic integrity, and setting a new standard for anti-corruption worldwide.
