Denmark has taken over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, tasked with breaking a deadlock over stalled EU Anti-Corruption Directive negotiations. The directive aims to harmonise corruption offences and penalties across the bloc but has faced obstruction by some member states, notably Italy and Germany, while Denmark faces criticism for insufficient anti-corruption measures at home.
Denmark’s EU Presidency amid stalled anti-corruption talks
As Denmark assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it faces a critical challenge to revive the deadlocked negotiations over the EU Anti-Corruption Directive. Transparency International called for urgent leadership from Denmark to break the impasse after talks collapsed last week between the European Parliament and member states over key provisions. The directive’s objective is to harmonise definitions of corruption, offences, and penalties across the EU, setting a common standard for fighting corruption in all member states.
Nick Aiossa, Director of Transparency International EU, highlighted this moment as a key test of Denmark’s leadership. He said:
“Member states face a clear choice. They can show ambition and push for a strong Directive that delivers real protections for people across the Union or settle for a compromise that avoids hard truths. This will be a test of Denmark’s leadership – and a chance to prove that upholding integrity still matters in the EU”.
Negotiation breakdown due to member state resistance
The negotiations around the Directive have spanned several years but ultimately collapsed in the latest trilogue discussions. According to Kush Amin, Legal Specialist at Transparency International, some member states have obstinately resisted finalisation to protect national interests. Italy has demanded removing “abuse of office” as a criminal offence from the scope, undermining efforts at unified legal standards. Germany reportedly obstructed progress by rejecting measures such as binding anti-corruption strategies, long-term preventive tools, and constraints on data collection related to corruption enforcement by member states.
Amin stressed:
“Years in the making, the Directive was meant to demonstrate the EU’s leadership in tackling corruption. Instead, it is now paralysed by political resistance that puts the protection of power ahead of public accountability. If the political will isn’t found now, corruption will continue to erode trust, harm communities and undermine democracy across the Union”.
Civil society pressure for a strong Directive
Civil society organisations continue to push for a robust anti-corruption legal framework. In a recent open letter, 57 organisations, including 23 chapters of Transparency International, urged the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament to uphold and strengthen the Parliament’s version of the Directive. They emphasise that the Directive should impose meaningful and comprehensive anti-corruption measures across all EU countries.
Denmark’s own anti-corruption challenges
While Denmark leads the EU for the current term, its domestic anti-corruption record has come under scrutiny. The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption watchdog GRECO reported that Denmark has failed to sufficiently implement 11 out of 14 anti-corruption recommendations made in 2019, with no significant progress since a 2023 review. GRECO urges Denmark to take immediate concrete steps to develop stronger prevention systems, including codes of conduct for government officials, lobbying regulation, and financial interest disclosures for ministers and police.
GRECO’s latest report concludes Denmark is in “insufficient compliance” with international anti-corruption standards and demands a progress report from Danish authorities by June 30, 2026. The watchdog has also called on the Council of Europe’s Secretary General to notify Denmark’s foreign minister about these shortcomings.
Denmark’s potential role as a frontrunner in EU integrity
Denmark’s overall reputation in anti-corruption efforts remains positive; it ranked first in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International. This places the country in a unique position, as Director Nick Aiossa observed, to revive and push forward the EU Anti-Corruption Directive. The expectation is that under Danish leadership through the rest of 2025, the deadlock can be broken, and the EU can adopt a credible legislative framework to tackle corruption more uniformly and effectively.
EU institutions’ role and next steps
The proposed Directive would bring consistency to anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms across the EU, including harmonised definitions of offences such as bribery, abuse of office, and political corruption. It would also mandate member states to implement preventive measures, data collection on enforcement activities, and transparent procedures to combat grand corruption and foreign bribery.
The European Commission, along with civil society and international watchdogs, continues to advocate for a strong Directive, wary of any dilution of measures that would weaken the bloc’s overall integrity framework. Denmark’s Presidency will oversee further negotiations before the end of the year, aiming to broker an agreement acceptable to both member states and the European Parliament.
Denmark’s presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a pivotal moment to unlock long-stalled negotiations on the EU Anti-Corruption Directive. Despite internal resistance across some powerful member states and questions over Denmark’s own compliance with anti-corruption standards, the country’s strong public reputation and leadership mandate provide a chance to push the EU towards a historic step in combatting corruption across the bloc on a harmonised, effective basis. Civil society voices remain watchful and vocal, underscoring the significance of this directive as essential for public trust and democratic governance in Europe.
