In response to the EU-NATO joint declaration on co-operation in responding to common security threats, Josie Stewart, Director of Transparency International Defence and Security, said
The war in Ukraine has renewed focus on collective defence. The security of the European Union depends on effective, transparent and accountable defence institutions, capable of guarding against corruption risks and consolidating mutual trust among member states.
While EU member states have in place many strong structures for enabling good governance in defence sectors, our Government Defence Integrity Index highlights vulnerabilities that exist in defence procurement systems in nations as diverse as France, Hungary and Poland.
The EU-NATO Declaration made this month acknowledges the importance of transparency in terms of joint decision making between the two organisations and member states. To ensure opportunity for oversight and civil society engagement, it is crucial that these principles of transparency and openness are fully upheld.
The EU as an institution also has a responsibility to ensure understanding and mitigation of corruption risk is built into its security processes and actions.
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