Finland was ranked second in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) compiled by the non-profit NGO Transparency International.
The 2022 index (siirryt toiseen palveluun) ranks Denmark top, with a CPI score of 90 out of 100. Finland scored 87, the same as New Zealand, and just ahead of Nordic neighbours Norway on 84.
However, despite Finland's high ranking, the Finnish branch of Transparency International noted that the CPI uses limited means to evaluate the level of corruption within a country.
"Finland has significant vulnerabilities in the fight against corruption, which are not taken into account by the international Corruption Perception Index. In particular, structural corruption risks may not be taken into account in the index," Ilkka Penttinen Fouto, chair of the Transparency International Finland board, told Yle.
Previous Transparency International assessments have underlined Finland's weaknesses in identifying corruption risks, especially in areas such as security policy and foreign trade.
Transparency International's Defence & Security unit moted that Finland was an average performer in terms of corruption risks in relation to security policy during 2021, according to the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index, which focuses on security policy.
The Exporting Corruption report, which assesses the implementation of the OECD's anti-corruption recommendations, also found that Finland had significant shortcomings in both legislation and anti-corruption measures.
"In the current security policy context, a credible fight against corruption is essential for national defence. Over the past year, Finnish politicians have shown themselves to be embarrassingly bad at assessing corruption risks in relation to their own activities, especially in areas that are sensitive for foreign policy," Penttinen Fouto said.
He further noted that a good performance in the CPI index does not provide good protection against corruption if there are significant gaps in legislation, anti-corruption measures as well as the prevailing political culture.
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