Greece condemned for falsifying data

Greece was condemned by the European Commission on the 12 January 2010 for falsifying data about its public finances and allowing political pressures to obstruct the collection of accurate statistics.

In a damning report ­the Commission said figures from Greece’s were so unreliable that its budget deficit and public debt might be even higher than the new government had claimed in October 2009.

Council of the European Union: Press Release: Council conclusions on the Commission report on Greek government deficit and debt statistics, January 2010 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ecofin/112445.pdf

EurActiv, 19.1.10: Eurozone ministers confident on Greece's recovery http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eurozone-ministers-confident-gre-news-223274

EurActiv, 12.1.10: EU to take legal steps against fake Greek data http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-take-legal-steps-fake-greek-d-news-223255

BBC News, 13.1.10: EU casts doubt on Greece economic figures http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8456216.stm

European Commission: COM(2010)1: Report on Greek government deficit and debt statistics http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2010:001:FIN

ESO: Background information: Greece admits it is riddled with corruption http://www.europeansources.info/record/greece-admits-it-is-riddled-with-corruption/

ESO: Background Information: Brussels to rebuke Greece over budget deficit http://www.europeansources.info/record/brussels-to-rebuke-greece-over-budget-deficit/

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