The magnitude and negative impact that corruption exerts on business is on the decline, according to an encouraging report of the World Bank.

The report shows that corruption – whether measured by the frequency of bribes, the cost of bribes, or the extent to which corruption is an obstacle to business is beginning to ease in many countries.

The accession or association process to the European Union, according to the results, made strong progress not only for the countries of Central Europe and the Baltics, but also for some of the countries of South Eastern Europe.

The second WB’s survey, titled Anticorruption in Transition, analyses trends in corruption in business-government interactions in 26 transition economies of Europe and Central Asia.

The findings are based on a survey among more than 6,500 companies approached for the first time in 1999 and 2002.

According to the results, from the first to the second survey, most of the countries in the region enjoyed three years of solid economic growth, political stability, and improved macroeconomic performance. Foreign and domestic investment began to recover in many parts of the region.

However the researchers point out that levels of corruption are still high in many countries and in many sectors, less prevalent for public services.

Some indicators of corruption suggest not so blooming a situation in South Eastern Europe. Business in most transition countries still view corruption as one of the most severe obstacles they face.

Encouragingly, the report finds that better policies and institutions can help to reduce corruption, including policies and institutional reforms undertaken in recent years.

Sofia News Agency, April 7, 2004