Click here to access the online Western Balkans anti-corruption pledges monitor

Corruption is one of the main challenges to the rule of law, life chances and people’s livelihoods in the Western Balkans. It is both a cause and consequence of a criminal culture that permeates the region, and the way that corruption is linked to politics suggests a degree of organized corruption, and even elements of state capture in the region.

In the Western Balkans there is little research on corruption and organized crime, and there is near silence within academia and intelligentsia on the subject. Regionally, there is also limited engagement by civil society on the topic of corruption. Many initiatives, including this report, rely on external support.

This report is based on analysis provided by experts who examined corruption and its impact on governance in the WB6, and reviewed the anti-corruption frameworks as well as government efforts to tackle corruption. In particular, it looks at how the governments are implementing their own anti-corruption pledges made in the context of the Berlin Process, an initiative aimed at stepping up regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and aiding the integration into the European Union. This report is designed to contribute constructively to the implementation and review process of the anti-corruption pledges made as part of the Berlin Process, and highlight areas where further progress is needed.

Cover design: Jocelyn Ramasseul, from a design concept by Ugljesa Ugi Zvekic