Latvia needs to do more in fight against corruption, shows report

Latvia has made progress in preventing and addressing corruption, but it still needs to do more in several areas, according to the European Commission's Anti-Corruption Report.

The Commission notes that Latvia has established a searchable online database of political donations and is developing and refining its anti-corruption laws.

The ongoing work is positive, but there are concerns remaining about the implementation of the legal framework. The European Commission suggests to build on the achievements of the Corruption Prevention Bureau by strengthening its independence and protecting it from potential political interference.

Furthermore, promoting e-procurement techniques and greater competition for public contracts would help address risks in public procurement. Also, Latvia can improve transparency of state-owned companies, and apply Saeima's Code of Ethics more rigorously, says the Commission's report.