Commission seeks views on the EU Anti-corruption Strategy

Today, the European Commission launched an open public consultation and a call for evidence to gather feedback for the upcoming EU Anti-corruption Strategy. The feedback will help shape a reinforced approach to preventing and combating corruption across the Union.

The EU has already established a strong framework to combat fraud and corruption. This includes legislation on the protection of the EU’s financial interests, anti-money laundering, whistleblower protection, public procurement, and asset recovery and confiscation.  Earlier this year, the EU adopted a new Directive on combating corruption, introducing stronger rules and harmonised penalties for corruption offences, as well as measures to prevent corruption and render investigations and prosecution more effective. The EU also supports its Member States in making their national anti-corruption frameworks more robust. The recommendations issued in the Rule of Law Report and the reform commitments reflected in concrete milestones in the Recovery and Resilience Facility have supported important reforms at national level. The Strategy will aim at further strengthening the coordination of anti-corruption efforts in the EU.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, said: “Corruption erodes democratic institutions and undermines competitiveness that drives innovation and prosperity. This consultation and the future Strategy will strengthen our collective commitment to safeguarding democratic integrity, ensuring a level playing field for businesses, and protecting public interest and the rule of law. There is no room for corruption in Europe.”

Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, said: “Corruption undermines the principles on which our societies are built. It quietly erodes trust in public institutions, distorts fair competition, and weakens the democratic fabric of our Union. As corruption becomes more sophisticated and increasingly cross-border, Europe must respond with equal determination and unity. By working together at EU level, we can strengthen prevention, support effective enforcement, and reinforce the rule of law across the EU. We now invite stakeholders to help shape a Strategy fit for today’s challenges.”

The Strategy will complement a broader set of existing tools, including the EU Network against Corruption, the review of the EU Anti-Fraud Architecture, the Conditionality Regulation, and the European Democracy Shield. It will build on the annual Rule of Law cycle, which monitors developments in Member States and assesses the effectiveness of national anti-corruption frameworks.

Both the public consultation and the call for evidence will run for 8 weeks, until 6 July 2026. More information on how to participate is available online.