Serbia "improves slightly, but still highly corrupt"

It's not really a problem with Brussels, it's just another 'principle' that can be discarded when it is in their interests, hence allowing Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU in 2007 despite being manifestly unprepared. Give them money first, and then they will reform. Well that worked out really well considering that both countries are still being monitored by the Commission to make sure they implement the EU's most basic rules. As for corruption:

euractiv: Foreign businesses denounce Bulgarian corruption
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/foreign-business-denounces-bulgarian-corruption-321298

EU Observer: Romania MPs too soft on corruption, says report
https://euobserver.com/justice/131954

Those fat bastards across the road at the European Parliament don't give a flying f. They are demanding EU standards against non-EU states that want to join at the same time that current EU members can't implement them.

Loyalty to Brussels is their first priority, the EPP demanding that Greece be thrown out of Schengen because it isn't proving to be a reliable prison to keep refugees and economic migrants away from the rest of the EU. Neither the Commission nor the Council is any better.

Now they are squealing that the European project is under threat. Well that's what happens if you stuff the institutions with second hand politicians and the EU's golden 'Rule of Law' is allowed to be flouted wily nily. It's not much more than a marketing scam.

"We are closer to African and Asian countries than to Scandinavian and Western European ones."

Yes, from the numbers, but a bit exaggerated. If you look at the list, Serbia on #76 is following South Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, The FYR of Macedonia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Jamaica.

If you want a something closer to Africa and Asian countries, take Kosovo on #103, following Philippines, Bolivia, Djibouti, Gabon, Niger,Dominican Republic and Ethiopia.

But Kosovars are probably proud because their 'country' is less corrupt than Russia on #119.

Find here the complete table: https://www.transparency.org/cpi2015#results-table

It's not really a problem with Brussels, it's just another 'principle' that can be discarded when it is in their interests, hence allowing Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU in 2007 despite being manifestly unprepared. Give them money first, and then they will reform. Well that worked out really well considering that both countries are still being monitored by the Commission to make sure they implement the EU's most basic rules. As for corruption:

euractiv: Foreign businesses denounce Bulgarian corruption
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/foreign-business-denounces-bulgarian-corruption-321298

EU Observer: Romania MPs too soft on corruption, says report
https://euobserver.com/justice/131954

Those fat bastards across the road at the European Parliament don't give a flying f. They are demanding EU standards against non-EU states that want to join at the same time that current EU members can't implement them.

Loyalty to Brussels is their first priority, the EPP demanding that Greece be thrown out of Schengen because it isn't proving to be a reliable prison to keep refugees and economic migrants away from the rest of the EU. Neither the Commission nor the Council is any better.

Now they are squealing that the European project is under threat. Well that's what happens if you stuff the institutions with second hand politicians and the EU's golden 'Rule of Law' is allowed to be flouted wily nily. It's not much more than a marketing scam.

"We are closer to African and Asian countries than to Scandinavian and Western European ones."

Yes, from the numbers, but a bit exaggerated. If you look at the list, Serbia on #76 is following South Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, The FYR of Macedonia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Jamaica.

If you want a something closer to Africa and Asian countries, take Kosovo on #103, following Philippines, Bolivia, Djibouti, Gabon, Niger,Dominican Republic and Ethiopia.

But Kosovars are probably proud because their 'country' is less corrupt than Russia on #119.

Find here the complete table: https://www.transparency.org/cpi2015#results-table