EUROPEISKA INVESTERINGSBANKEN (EIB) OCH ”TRANSPARENS SOM FÖRTROENDETS VALUTA” En studie av policy och praktik inom EIB

Abstract

This thesis explores how the concept of “legal corruption” manifests itself within the European Investment Bank with a modern approach to the theoretical understanding of anticorruption efforts. This approach conceptualises the idea of complementing theories based on contextual applicability rather than focusing on their competing qualities. The European Investment Bank (EIB), as the world’s largest multilateral lender, is an underexplored yet vital organ of the European Union, which has recently faced criticism for its alleged lack of transparency and dubious application of policy. This thesis’s approach is to operationalise legal corruption and transparency around earlier research and theories, compared with governing documents, resolved cases from the European Ombudsman, the European Parliament, as well as a recently leaked internal report on whistleblowing. In doing so, it has managed to exhibit discrepancies between policy and practice based on four categories for efficient and sustainable policies: culture, power, responsiveness, and trust. This thesis concludes that, although formally correct policies are in place, informal institutions and the need for empowered independent auditors play a crucial role in policy compliance.