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The European Union and the Fight Against Corruption: A Pre- and Post-Accession Study

Lundin, David LU (2025) STVK04 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis investigates whether corruption levels in European Union (EU) member states have changed following their accession, with a particular focus on countries joining after the establishment of the Copenhagen Criteria in 1993. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study first conducts a quantitative analysis of corruption trends on a year-by-year basis across all post-1993 accession countries. This is followed by qualitative case studies of Slovakia and Romania, selected for their similar accession timelines but divergent post-accession corruption trajectories. Grounded in the theories of Europeanisation and principal-agent frameworks, the research explores how EU membership influences domestic anti-corruption reforms and the role... (More)
This thesis investigates whether corruption levels in European Union (EU) member states have changed following their accession, with a particular focus on countries joining after the establishment of the Copenhagen Criteria in 1993. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study first conducts a quantitative analysis of corruption trends on a year-by-year basis across all post-1993 accession countries. This is followed by qualitative case studies of Slovakia and Romania, selected for their similar accession timelines but divergent post-accession corruption trajectories. Grounded in the theories of Europeanisation and principal-agent frameworks, the research explores how EU membership influences domestic anti-corruption reforms and the role of institutional capacity, political will, and societal trust in shaping these outcomes.
Findings reveal that accession generally corresponds with improvements in corruption scores, underscoring the EU’s conditionality mechanisms and normative influence as important drivers of governance reforms. However, these improvements vary significantly across member states, with some countries experiencing persistent challenges linked to domestic political resistance and institutional weaknesses. The qualitative analysis highlights how Slovakia’s reforms benefited from sustained political commitment and rising social trust, whereas Romania’s experience illustrates the limits of external pressure in the face of entrenched corruption networks and democratic backsliding.
This study contributes to the literature by integrating quantitative trends with in-depth qualitative insights, emphasizing that EU accession is a necessary but insufficient condition for lasting corruption control. It underscores the need for continuous monitoring, tailored policy interventions, and enhanced support for independent institutions and civil society engagement to consolidate democratic governance in new member states. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lundin, David LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK04 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Corruption, Copenhagen Criteria, Principal-Agent Theory, Europeanization, Post-Accession Compliance
language
English
id
9189834
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:08:28
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:08:28
@misc{9189834,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates whether corruption levels in European Union (EU) member states have changed following their accession, with a particular focus on countries joining after the establishment of the Copenhagen Criteria in 1993. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study first conducts a quantitative analysis of corruption trends on a year-by-year basis across all post-1993 accession countries. This is followed by qualitative case studies of Slovakia and Romania, selected for their similar accession timelines but divergent post-accession corruption trajectories. Grounded in the theories of Europeanisation and principal-agent frameworks, the research explores how EU membership influences domestic anti-corruption reforms and the role of institutional capacity, political will, and societal trust in shaping these outcomes.
Findings reveal that accession generally corresponds with improvements in corruption scores, underscoring the EU’s conditionality mechanisms and normative influence as important drivers of governance reforms. However, these improvements vary significantly across member states, with some countries experiencing persistent challenges linked to domestic political resistance and institutional weaknesses. The qualitative analysis highlights how Slovakia’s reforms benefited from sustained political commitment and rising social trust, whereas Romania’s experience illustrates the limits of external pressure in the face of entrenched corruption networks and democratic backsliding.
This study contributes to the literature by integrating quantitative trends with in-depth qualitative insights, emphasizing that EU accession is a necessary but insufficient condition for lasting corruption control. It underscores the need for continuous monitoring, tailored policy interventions, and enhanced support for independent institutions and civil society engagement to consolidate democratic governance in new member states.}},
  author       = {{Lundin, David}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The European Union and the Fight Against Corruption: A Pre- and Post-Accession Study}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}