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Peer-reviewed study in Trends in Organized Crime argues that corruption evolves over time as enforcement, legal reforms and shifting actors reshape the structure and behaviour of corruption networks

February 28, 2026

Using qualitative network and document analysis of corruption cases in Italy at two different points in time, the research shows that changes in the effectiveness of the criminal-justice system, governance reforms and the roles of key actors can alter how corruption schemes are organised and sustained. The authors propose a conceptual framework viewing corruption as a dynamic network phenomenon, where relationships between public officials, intermediaries and private actors adapt to institutional pressures, meaning anti-corruption policies can unintentionally transform—rather than eliminate—the ways corrupt networks operate.

European Court of Auditors in a report warns the €650B Recovery and Resilience Facility remains vulnerable to fraud, calling for stronger controls and clearer rules to safeguard EU funds

February 28, 2026

The audit finds that the RRF’s performance-based funding model, which releases payments when Member States meet milestones and targets rather than reimbursing actual project costs, limits the EU’s ability to detect and prevent fraud affecting the €650-billion post-pandemic recovery instrument. ECA recommends clearer guidance on fraud reporting, stronger national anti-fraud frameworks and improved coordination between Member States, the European Commission, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public…

OLAF reports that an EU-wide enforcement operation has seized over 3.1 million counterfeit or illicit pills and large quantities of illegal medical products

February 25, 2026

Under Operation SHIELD VI, OLAF coordinated customs authorities from 14 EU Member States to target the illegal trade in counterfeit medicines, anabolic steroids, doping substances and unregulated food supplements, leading to the seizure of more than 104,000 packages, 23,014 ampoules and flasks, and over 1,000 kg of illicit substances. The operation, conducted with partners including Europol and national enforcement agencies, aims to disrupt criminal networks supplying dangerous counterfeit medical products and protect consumers from substances that may contain unknown ingredients, incorrect dosages or no active pharmaceutical components.

GRECO’s 5th Evaluation Report praises Finland’s anti-corruption progress, with robust integrity and law enforcement reforms, while urging final steps on ministerial codes, training, and enforcement

February 12, 2026

The compliance addendum notes progress through a national anti-corruption strategy, integrity training and lobbying transparency measures, improving implementation of several Fifth Round recommendations. However, gaps remain in formal ethics rules, asset disclosure and legal embedding of reforms, meaning Finland remains under continued GRECO monitoring…

GRECO’s 4th Round Evaluation Report finds Romania has made progress on anti-corruption measures for MPs, judges, and prosecutors, but key gaps on conflicts of interest and transparency remain

January 22, 2026

GRECO’s latest report finds that Romania has implemented eight of 13 anti‑corruption recommendations relating to parliamentarians, judges, and prosecutors, with progress on lobbying transparency and disclosure rules for MPs, but it still hasn’t addressed conflicts of interest, restrictions on gifts and hospitality, or procedural transparency, leaving five key recommendations only partly or not implemented and prompting a deadline for further action by November 30, 2026…

Europol’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Report warns that quantum computing could break today’s encryption, urging FIs to act now to safeguard transactions, identities, and sensitive data from future FC

January 21, 2026

The report outlines a practical methodology that helps financial organisations assess and rank systems and use cases for post-quantum cryptography migration based on quantum-related risk, data sensitivity, and implementation complexity, enabling more effective planning and execution. It highlights early “no-regret” actions such as deploying hybrid cryptographic solutions for public-facing services and eliminating outdated encryption practices, and emphasises that readiness requires coordination across firms, vendors, standards bodies and risk management programmes…

GRECO 5th Evaluation Round Compliance Report on Croatia highlights improved police integrity and transparency but ongoing gaps in key anti-corruption measures, with a follow-up due by 30 Nov 2026

January 12, 2026

The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) reports that Croatia has fully implemented 11 of the 17 recommendations from its Fifth Round evaluation on preventing corruption in top executive functions and the police, with the remaining six only partially addressed. GRECO acknowledges progress such as new integrity training and the Lobbying Act but calls on authorities to step up efforts to complete outstanding reforms and strengthen anti-corruption measures across government and law enforcement…

GRECO’s 4th Evaluation Round report reveals that Belgium has partially implemented anti-corruption reform for parliamentarians, judges, and prosecutors, with limited progress in govt and law enforcement

January 6, 2026

CRECO published two new assessments showing that Belgium has acted on part of its earlier recommendations—implementing eight of 15 on parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors—but several remain only partly done. It also concludes that Belgium has fully implemented only eight of 22 recommendations on preventing corruption in central government and law enforcement, with many still at the stage of consultation or intent, and has asked for progress updates by November 2026…

EPPO arrests four suspects in Poland, including a senior official, over alleged procurement fraud and corruption linked to an EU-funded tram project

December 22, 2025

The official is alleged to have provided confidential information to a favoured company to secure a contract worth over €1 million and is also suspected of corruption. During searches, authorities seized approximately €38,000 in cash and a gold bar. One suspect remains in pre-trial detention, while the investigation continues to clarify the facts and determine potential criminal offences. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty…

OECD’s Phase 4 Anti-Bribery Report on Estonia finds that while the country has strengthened its foreign bribery laws, detection, enforcement, and prioritisation still need improvement to tackle significant gaps

December 18, 2025

The OECD Working Group on Bribery’s Phase 4 evaluation acknowledges Estonia’s progress in aligning its laws and corporate liability regime with the Anti-Bribery Convention. However, it highlights that enforcement activity is low relative to the risks, that awareness and proactive detection of foreign bribery are limited, and that authorities must improve prioritisation and investigation capacity to effectively combat these offences…

OECD’s Anti-Bribery Phase 3 Follow-Up report on Lithuania highlights reform progress but warns that enforcement of foreign bribery and corporate liability laws remains weak

December 18, 2025

The report assesses Lithuania’s progress against the recommendations from its Phase 3 evaluation of implementation of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. It concludes that although some legal and procedural reforms have been enacted, challenges persist in effectively investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning foreign bribery and in ensuring robust corporate liability, indicating the need for further targeted improvements…

GRECO’s 5th Evaluation Round report praises Iceland’s strong anti-corruption and integrity reforms but flags persistent gaps in enforcement, oversight, and transparency

December 17, 2025

The report finds that Iceland has satisfactorily or appropriately addressed a majority of the original recommendations, with several measures adopted to strengthen ethics frameworks, conflict‑of‑interest rules and awareness‑raising for senior officials, and improvements in law enforcement integrity policies. However, some recommendations remain only partly implemented and at least one is still unimplemented, with GRECO urging the Icelandic authorities to complete outstanding reforms—particularly in areas such as enforcement, monitoring…

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