As there is no perfect model or even a template for democracy, one cannot avoid the realities that underlie the role of corruption in any country — realities which must be dealt with for transparency to become a national value. “Affecting all EU Member States, corruption costs the European economy around €120 billion per year.  Corruption undermines citizens’ confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law; it hurts the European economy and deprives States from much-needed tax revenue”, Cecilia Malmstrom, EU commissioner for Home Affairs, has recently stated.