Brussels, 09/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - Tuesday 9 December was World Anti-Corruption Day, which provided an opportunity for European leaders and NGOs to flag up the problem and the need to have instruments for fighting it. Transparency International urged the EU to adopt the anti-money-laundering directive that will be on the negotiating table on 16 December. Anti-mafia associations in Italy have made a series of demands, including adoption of the European Prosecutor and the boosting of penal sanctions for corruption. They are also calling for a European law to protect whistle-blowers. Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos explains that corruption costs the European economy nearly €120 billion a year and urged the member states to step up their efforts. Every two years, the Commission publishes a report on corruption in the member states, on top of the special reports on Bulgaria and Romania. The next report will be published in 2016. (SP)