On 10 February, Transparency International published the results of its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025. The CPI ranks 182 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The CPI is one of the most cited ranking on corruption perception and anti-corruption measures. It reflects the perception of businesses and experts, using a scientifically based method.
CPI for Belgium
The evolution of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index shows that Belgium’s score has been declining since 2016, from 77 on the CPI ranking to 69 in 2024 and 2025. This means that experts and the business community believe that corruption in Belgium is on the rise and that there is no effective approach to tackling it.
This declining score comes as no surprise: almost every day, the media reports on powerful people in politics, administration, the judiciary, etc. who abuse their legitimate positions of power for personal gain or to benefit family, friends, a single company, etc. This means that these officials fail to uphold fundamental principles of good governance, such as “public interest, equality and fairness”, often resulting in harm to people and the environment, undermining fair competition and eroding trust in public institutions.
International analyses by GRECO, the Rule of Law Report, Eurobarometer, etc. also show that Belgium runs behind in its anti-corruption policy to prevent and detect corruption.
This includes preventing lobbying for personal gain, accepting gifts and presents, combining roles that results in conflicts of interest, creating revolving door arrangements, etc.
However, it is not sufficient to limit initiatives to regulation and codes of conduct. We must also apply them, monitor the impact of these measures and adjust them if necessary.
How can the tide be turned?
It is a collective effort:
Powerful people in politics, parliament, administration … must assume ethical leadership: “practice what they preach” and support and invest in anti-corruption measures.
The regulation must be completed (covering lobbying, gifts, cumulation of jobs, etc.), but we also need to implement these anti‑corruption measures, monitor their effectiveness, and adjust them when necessary.
We stress the importance of respect, protection and support for actors who report corruption and who monitor corruption measures, such as civic society, whistleblowers, the media, etc.
The implementation of the EU anti-corruption directive (that still must be voted in Parliament and by the member states), can be a turning point by forcing EU member states to set up a national strategic anti-corruption plan.
What can Transparency International Belgium do?
Transparency International is an international movement with chapters in more than 100 countries that fights for social and economic justice, human rights, peace and security by combating corruption.
As Transparency International Belgium, we work on three domains: Raising awareness of the harmful impact of corruption, conducting research in the field of corruption and supporting civic initiatives through partnerships.
