Crime in Hungary is combated by the Hungarian police and other agencies.
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Between 2010 and 2021, the total number of registered crimes in Hungary fell from approx. 447,000 per year to 154,000. [1]
Crime in Hungary is combated by the Hungarian police and other agencies.
Between 2010 and 2021, the total number of registered crimes in Hungary fell from approx. 447,000 per year to 154,000. [1]
Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index scored corruption in Hungary as the highest of any European Union member state. Referring to Hungary's 2023 score of 42, Transparency International wrote, "Over a decade of systemic breach of the rule of law in Hungary (42) has created a system where high-level corruption thrives unsanctioned. The rule of law reforms, coupled with a recent legislative initiative to silence remaining critics, reveal the government’s commitment to protect the status quo." [2] In 2021, a European Commission report expressed frustration at Hungary's lack of progress in fighting corruption: "Risks of clientelism, favouritism and nepotism in high-level public administration, as well as risks arising from the link between businesses and political actors, remain unaddressed." [3] In 2019, Freedom House downgraded Hungary's status from Free to Partly Free "due to sustained attacks on the country's democratic institutions by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party, which has used its parliamentary supermajority to impose restrictions on or assert control over the opposition, the media, religious groups, academia, NGOs, the courts, asylum seekers, and the private sector since 2010". [4] This was the first time a member of the European Union was designated as Partly Free. [5] In response the Hungarian government stated that "Freedom House is a member of the Soros-empire, is funded by Soros, and is now supporting Soros's electoral campaign. They are attacking Hungary with other Soros-organisations because the Hungarians have decided that they do not want their country to become a migrant haven." [6]
Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, which scores 180 countries on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"), shows that Hungary's score has decreased by thirteen points over the last twelve years. The 2023 Index scored Hungary at 42. When ranked by score, Hungary ranked 76th among the countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector. [7] For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 11 (ranked 180). [8] For comparison with regional scores, the highest score among Western European and European Union countries [Note 1] was 90, the average score was 65 and the lowest score was 42. [9]
In 2019, Hungary had 60 intentional homicides at a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 according to the office of the prosecutor general. [10] In 2020, the homicide rate was 0.83 per 100,000. [11]
Between 2008–2013, there were an average of 4,000 crimes against every 100,000 members of the population, of which at least 50% were considered serious crimes. [12] As of 2017 the number of crimes had fallen to 2,315 per 100,000. [10]
Jozsef Hatala of the National Police (ORFK) stated in 2011 that the criminal underworld is strongest in Budapest and its surrounding counties. The murder rate is similar across the counties. [13] In 2016, northern Hungary had the highest number of registered perpetrators of crime per 100,000 inhabitants and Western Transdanubia the lowest. [14]
Estonia is a relatively safe country, and the risk of being a victim of crime in Estonia is small by international standards. As in other post-Soviet states, crime has increased in the 1990s, but then it has gradually decreased in the 21st century.
Crime in Bulgaria is combated by the Bulgarian police and other agencies. The UK Government ranks Bulgaria as a low crime area and crime there has significantly decreased in recent years.
Corruption in Albania is a very serious problem. According to Global Corruption Barometer 2013, 66% of respondents indicated that level of corruption has increased in Albania.
Corruption in France describes the prevention and occurrence of corruption in France.
In general, Belgium has a well-developed legal and institutional framework for fighting against corruption.
Corruption in Sweden has been defined as "the abuse of power" by Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå). By receiving bribes, bribe takers abuse their position of power, which is consistent with how the National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Swedish Prosecution Authority specifies the term. Although bribes and improper rewards are central in the definition of corruption in Sweden, corruption in the sense of "abuse of power" can also manifest itself in other crimes such as misuse of office, embezzlement, fraud and breach of trust against a principal.
Corruption in Cyprus is a salient concern for people in Cyprus: As of 2022, 94% considered that corruption was widespread in the country.
Corruption in Denmark is amongst the lowest in the world.
Corruption in Switzerland describes the prevention and occurrence of corruption in Switzerland.
Corruption in Iceland describes the prevention and occurrence of corruption in Iceland.
Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index scored Germany at 78 on a scale from 0 to 100. When ranked by score, Germany ranked 9th among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector. For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90, the average score was 43, and the worst score was 11. For comparison with regional scores, the highest score among Western European and European Union countries was 90, the average score was 65 and the lowest score was 42.
Corruption in the Netherlands is minimal in all major areas—judiciary, police, business, politics—as the country is considered one of the least corrupt within the European Union.
Corruption in the Czech Republic is considered to be widespread by a majority of the Czech public, according to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer 2013.
Corruption in Slovenia is examined on this page.
Austria has a well-developed institutional and legal system, and most corruption cases under investigation by a parliamentary committee end with judicial trials and effective judgments. However, there are several significant Austrian corruption cases which have taken place during the past decade involving land and regional officials, high-level public officials, the central government and, in one instance, the former Chancellor.
Corruption in Slovakia is a serious and ongoing problem.
The government in Moldova has in recent years taken several steps to fight corruption, including law enforcement and institutional setups. The prosecution of officials who are involved in corruption has also increased in recent years. However, businesses consider corruption a serious problem for doing business, and the business environment continues to be one of the most challenging in the region.
As of the early 2020s, Croatia has severe problems with systemic and political corruption. Among European Union member states, it is generally ranked as one of the five most corrupt states.
Corruption in Bulgaria has decreased in recent years, after a series of reforms implemented through EU guidance. Among recent improvements, amendments to the constitution in 2015 brought about a reform of the Supreme Judicial Council and a stronger judicial inspectorate. Furthermore, the broader legislative framework has seen a number of reforms over the years, in particular through the amendments of the Judicial System Act in 2016 and of the Criminal Procedure Code in 2017.
Transparency International defines corruption as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain". Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index scored the United Kingdom at 71 on a scale from 0 to 100. When ranked by score, the United Kingdom ranked 20th among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector. For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90, the average score was 43, and the worst score was 11. For comparison with regional scores, the highest score among Western European and European Union countries was 90, the average score was 65 and the lowest score was 42. The United Kingdom's score has fallen six points over the last five years and is now at its lowest point in the twelve years that the current version of the Index has been published.
