EU Pays the Price: Corruption Costs 6% of GDP Annually, Zaharieva Warns

European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva warned that corruption poses a significant economic burden, costing the European Union up to 6% of its GDP annually. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she emphasized that corruption not only damages economies but also erodes democratic values, transparency, and the integrity of institutions.

Zaharieva highlighted that corruption is a hidden crime with widespread consequences, weakening public trust in governance and distancing citizens from democracy....