The Challenges of Combating Corruption Through Systemic/Strategic Approach in the EU Law

This article examines the persistent challenges posed by corruption, highlighting the slow development of its conceptualisation and the long-standing difficulty governments have faced in fully understanding its impact on human rights, democratic institutions, and the rule of law. While corruption constitutes both a social and cultural phenomenon and a criminal offence, its detection and repression continue to encounter significant obstacles despite extensive international and European regulatory efforts. The study analyses the global response to corruption, with particular attention to the European Union’s evolving strategy, which integrates internal and external actions to address the phenomenon through a systemic approach. The paper explores recent developments in EU anti-corruption policy, including the proposed Anti-Corruption Directive of March 2023, whose adoption has revealed divergent approaches among Member States. The findings demonstrate that the complexity of corruption requires a multifaceted response combining criminal law enforcement, institutional action, and preventive social measures. The article’s original contribution lies in its critical assessment of the EU’s systemic anti-corruption strategy, emphasizing the need to accommodate the diversity of legal traditions and cultural attitudes within Member States. By highlighting how these differences shape the implementation and effectiveness of anti-corruption policies, the study contributes to the broader debate on strengthening democratic resilience and the rule of law across the European Union.