Worst Result Yet: BiH Among the Three Lowest-Ranked Countries in Europe in Terms of Corruption

Sarajevo, 11 February 2025 Bosnia and Herzegovina has suffered a significant decline in this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), recording its worst score to date with 33 points, placing it alongside Belarus as the second worst-ranked country in Europe. This represents a drop of two points compared to last year and a decline of nine points since 2012, when BiH was among the better-ranked countries in the region. Today, it sits at the bottom of the Western Balkans, which on average shows slight progress.

The latest drop was heavily influenced by the collapse of integrity in the electoral process, as serious allegations of electoral fraud have plagued several election cycles. BiH now ranks alongside authoritarian regimes where governments have never changed through elections. Amendments to the electoral law imposed by the High Representative failed to address the issue, as the Central Election Commission effectively nullified most of the provisions meant to prevent abuse of public resources and manipulation of polling boards.

In a country with a façade of democracy, a government facing a legitimacy crisis is intensifying pressure on critics. This has been most visible in Republika Srpska through a series of attacks on civil society and the adoption of repressive laws aimed at silencing independent media and disabling associations not controlled by the government. This year’s TI report emphasizes that strong democratic institutions are key to effective anti-corruption efforts. Fully democratic states average a CPI of 73, flawed democracies 47, while non-democratic regimes average 33 – the exact score BiH received this year.

The focus of this year’s global CPI research is the impact of corruption on the environment. It shows how powerful individuals profiting from environmental destruction use their wealth and influence to buy government support and suppress dissent. This is highly relevant to BiH, where, following the tragedy in Jablanica and numerous ecological issues (such as Bistrica, Lopare, Ozren, Vareš, Livno, and the Gudron pit in Modriča), it has become clear that profits for a few matter more to authorities than the lives, safety, and health of local populations. TI BiH’s data on concessions show that the state earns modest revenues from significant natural resources, while individuals benefit due to weak laws and non-transparent governance, avoiding obligations and acquiring public assets at the expense of the public interest.

The dire state of the judiciary remains BiH’s weakest link. TI’s regional report notes that upcoming judicial reforms still contain many shortcomings. These reforms fail to improve the appointment process or ensure effective asset checks for judges and prosecutors. Last year’s amendments to the HJPC Law, intended to address these issues, have yet to be implemented. The captured judiciary continues to show poor results in prosecuting high-level corruption. Despite some convictions of senior officials in the Federation last year, the most serious corruption scandals remain unresolved.

Given all this, institutions must undertake urgent reforms. In its comprehensive National Integrity Study, Transparency International outlined anti-corruption steps across key sectors. These include regulating conflict of interest, systemic whistleblower protection, stronger oversight of the executive, electoral reform, and strengthening the independence of the judiciary and other law enforcement agencies – all of which align with BiH’s path toward EU integration.

Press rls_11.2.25

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