The percentage of Lithuanians who see corruption as a major problem is the ninth highest across the European Union (EU).
The respective rate in neighboring Latvia is 83 percent, and in Estonia – 73 percent.
The EU’s average rate is 73 percent, the European Commission reported.
Some 27 percent of those polled in Lithuania confirmed that they had been asked or expected to pay a bribe in the past year, as compared with 16 percent in Latvia, 5 percent in Estonia, and 8 percent across the EU.
“Almost three quarters of Europeans continue to see corruption as a major problem and think that it exists at all levels of government. Eight percent of respondents say that they have been asked or expected to pay a bribe in the past year,” the Commission said in a press release.
“It is disappointing to note that the practical results in tackling corruption across the European Union remain unsatisfactory. How many times have we said it was high time to act? Europeans expect national governments to take decisive steps. It’s time they did,” said Cecilia Malmstroem, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.
