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Corruption in Austria: Wake-up call to action or just another warning signal?
Austria recorded an alarming decline to 25th place in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index and is calling for comprehensive reforms.
Corruption in Austria: Wake-up call to action or just another warning signal?
Vienna, February 11, 2025: Austria faces a dramatic decline in the corruption perception index for 2024. With only 67 points and the unfortunately historic 25th place, Transparency International (TI) has published alarming results that significantly worsen Austria's position in a global comparison. Last year the country was in 20th place, while three years ago it was even in 13th place.
The CEO of TI-Austria, Mag. Bettina Knötzl, describes the result as a “wake-up” signal. She emphasizes that Austria's reputation as a business location is suffering greatly from the numerous corruption scandals. In comparison, Switzerland occupies a significantly better position at 5th place. Flora Cresswell, regional advisor for Western Europe at TI, highlighted the need for comprehensive reforms and warned: "Austria's decline in CPI highlights the urgent need for effective anti-corruption measures."
Necessary reforms and best practices
In contrast, Germany shows a relatively stable position in the fight against corruption with 78 points and 9th place, as shown by the Corruption Perception Index for 2023. Nevertheless, there are challenges here that require meticulous consideration, as the Cum-Ex affair and the Graichen affair show. Transparency Germany has already published a list of demands to strengthen the fight against corruption. These include, among other things, tightening the law against bribery of members of parliament and reforming the lobby register.
Both countries are now under pressure to take measures that not only promote transparency but restore trust in public administration. While Austria urgently needs reformist approaches to get out of the negative spiral, Germany must ensure that it does not remain in its current routine, but actually takes effective steps against corruption in order to further consolidate its position. Transparent International's full report on the CPI 2024 can be found on their website, as can detailed information on the CPI 2023 from Transparency Germany.