DENMARK Trends and Developments Contributed by: Christian Monberg, Simon Evers Hjelmborg, Ann Sophie Juul Hird and Linn Dyrgaard Stinus, Accura Advokatpartnerselskab
Denmark’s Corruption Paradox Denmark continues to rank among the least corrupt countries in the world in Transparency International’s annual rule of law survey, The Corruption Perceptions Index – CPI. In the 2024 CPI, Denmark was ranked number one out of 180 participating jurisdictions (2024 Corruption Perceptions Index). At the same time, Denmark has received repeated criticism for insufficient follow-up on external recom - mendations to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards. Nonetheless, successive governments have refused to implement measures to make change. According to Transparency International, corruption is defined as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”, which includes practices such as bribery. How - ever, bribery is not widespread in Denmark as only 1% of public service users paid a bribe in 2024. Instead, the criticism against Denmark pertains to provision - al rules or the absence thereof concerning integrity standards and transparency in lobbying practices. Denmark faces pressure from international reports In 2019, the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) issued 14 recommen - dations that Denmark was encouraged to implement in order to strengthen its framework for preventing corruption. According to the Addendum to the second compliance report, adopted by GRECO in June 2025, Denmark has fully implemented only two out of the 14 recommendations issued by GRECO. Several of GRECO’s recommendations concern the need for a comprehensive assessment of integrity- related risks involving members of the government and special advisers. GRECO has specifically called for the development and implementation of a strat - egy to safeguard the integrity of individuals holding top executive functions. However, Denmark has yet to adopt such a strategy. Moreover, GRECO has expressed concern that Denmark’s anti-corruption efforts remain too nar - rowly focused on criminal offences, as reflected in the frequent references to provisions of the Criminal Code, such as those on bribery and confidentiality. According to GRECO, this narrow approach overlooks
integrity-related risks that fall below the threshold of criminality, including conflicts of interest, transparency in lobbying, and ethical standards of ministers and advisers. GRECO regrets the continued lack of action on several recommendations and notes that Danish authorities have questioned the relevance or necessity of some proposals. GRECO has called on Denmark to take concrete steps without delay to address these concerns and align its integrity framework with inter - national standards. Likewise, Transparency International Denmark issued a report in March 2025, in which it raised concerns and broadly presented the same criticism as GRECO. The report highlights that corruption in Denmark is not limited to isolated incidents but reflects systemic vulnerabilities. It shows the presence of corruption- related practices in both the public and private sec - tors. Furthermore, the report highlights an absence of a national anti-corruption strategy or centralised oversight mechanism and a lack of transparency in the handling of corruption cases, many of which never become public knowledge. The report concludes that corruption exists in Denmark – and in greater volume than commonly perceived. Revolving doors and lobbying It is thus evident from these reports that Denmark fac - es issues related to corruption – though not necessar - ily in the conventional sense typically associated with the term, although such instances may also occur. Denmark has been subject to considerable criticism from international organisations and the media, as well as from the general public, regarding the lack of regulation of lobbying and the phenomenon known as the “revolving door”. This refers to situations in which ministers, members of the Danish Parliament and sen - ior civil servants have moved between roles or sec - tors, for example, by moving into executive positions in major private companies or organisations. Since the most recent general election in 2022, more than five members of parliament have left Danish politics to pursue careers in large organisations or private com - panies. This was most clearly illustrated by the former leader of Denmark’s historically largest centre-right party, who served as Minister of Defence and Vice Prime Minister, and who is now Vice Director of one of Denmark’s largest business organisations. This trend
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