Transparency International Greece convened this year’s Europe and Central Asia Regional Meeting of the Global Movement, bringing together anti-corruption leaders from across the region at a time when democratic integrity faces mounting pressure.

The meeting featured frank discussions on the deepening challenges of corruption, rule-of-law backsliding, and the tightening space for civil society. Chapter and Secretariat Representatives underscored a troubling reality that has emerged across many countries: shrinking non-governmental organisations’ funding, diminished transparency, muted responses to scandals, and growing opacity in public decision-making.

In an atmosphere of solidarity and shared purpose, the meeting reaffirmed the network’s commitment to collective action and to defending those who stand at the frontlines of integrity across Europe and Central Asia.

Building on these discussions, the meeting outlined a clear path for concrete action, including enhancing public procurement processes, strengthening whistleblower protections, advancing the European Union’s anti-money laundering agenda, and promoting full transparency in beneficial ownership. The use of new tools in the movements methodology such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, and open-data methodologies was highlighted as a frontier in transforming accountability efforts into measurable results.

Transparency International Greece extends its appreciation to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his close associates, State Minister Christos Georgios Skertsos and Secretary General to the Prime Minister Stylianos Ioannis Koutnatzis, for receiving the organization at the Prime Minister’s Office

During the meeting, Mr. Skertsos and Mr. Koutnatzis presented a comprehensive and detailed roadmap outlining the government’s planned actions to reinforce democratic governance and transparency. Transparency International Greece welcomes this open dialogue and agrees to collaborate on the forthcoming 2026–2030 national anti-corruption plan, contributing policy input and proposals to support the effective implementation of the government’s initiatives and broader integrity reforms.

Transparency International Greece also extends its appreciation to Dr. Panayiotis Doudonis, Member of Parliament with PASOK – Movement for Change and First Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament’s Committee on Institutions and Transparency. Dr. Doudonis shared a series of concerns regarding issues related to democratic institutions, the justice system, and press freedom in Greece. He underscored the Committee’s ongoing work to promote greater transparency and accountability on matters that have long shaped the country’s democratic framework.

George Chatzigiannakis, Chair, Transparency International Greece:

“As hosts of this year’s Europe and Central Asia Regional Meeting, Transparency International Greece is proud to have convened our movement at a moment when integrity and the rule of law face real stress across the region. We are grateful to the Chair of Transparency International for his leadership and support, and to Greece’s public officials for engaging with us in good faith. Transparency International Greece will work collaboratively, yet independently, on the 2026–2030 national anti-corruption plan, focusing on transparent procurement, robust whistleblower protections, effective anti-money laundering and beneficial-ownership disclosure, and the responsible use of open data and artificial intelligence to turn accountability into measurable results.”