Deusto Summer School 2020 – Fighting corruption in the management of EU finances

The EU is the most advanced international organization. Its policies cover a varying array of topics affecting the lives of citizens. While some of its policies aim at reducing disparities through regulatory measures (such as harmonised or uniform legislation), the EU budget (172.500 million € in 2020) finances initiatives in key policy ares such as urban and regional development, climate change, agriculture and fisheries, or research and innovation. Protecting the financial interests of the EU, therefore, is not just a technical issue regarding the EU. It mostly represents a substantial concern with important societal implications: to ensure that EU policies effectively improve citizens’ well-being and social justice, balancing economic and territorial inequalities across EU Member States.
White-collar crimes at the national level (such as political corruption, money laundering, grant or tax fraud) affect negatively the EU budget every year, creating gaps in revenue, as well as spending programs that do not achieve the expected results. When the funds support the implementation of EU policies are misspent or wrongly managed, citizens do not enjoy the benefits of EU membership and their trust in the EU integration process falls. Financial accountability and democratic legitimacy go hand in hand.

Further information: 

Website: Fighting corruption in the management of EU finances

Email: summerschool@deusto.es