So by the same standard, if China, for example, were to lift 800 million people out of poverty, a little corruption would be okay?

As lobbying is a fact throughout Europe, yes, I think the fact of gains and the fact of corruption can happen at the same time.

For another look at a contradictory unity of opposites, here's a look at how the corrupt EU is willing to fund research into combatting excessive PFAS in water while at the same time allowing companies to pump excessive PFAS into the water: https://www.uva.nl/en/content/news/news/2023/02/pfas-in-drinking-water.html?cb