Statistical Governance in Greece – Recent Developments – Meeting of Financial Assistance Working Group on 22 November 2016

This briefing is provided in advance of the hearing in the Financial Assistance Working Group on 22 November 2016 on official statistics in Greece with Walter Radermacher (since August 2008 Director General of Eurostat) and Andreas Georgiou (between 2 August 2010 and 2 August 2015 head of the Greek Statistical Office, ELSTAT).

This briefing presents a summary of the legal proceedings before Greek courts against Andreas Georgiou, on the ground of the accusation that he has inflated 2009 Greek deficit figures. It also summarises opinions taken in the public domain by European and International Institutions pertaining to the court case in question.

Furthermore, it provides also an overview of the recent developments of Greek statistical system as well as an indication of the magnitude of revision of public finance data after their validation.

[Kathimerini reported on the 21 November 2016 that Prosecutor Ioannis Koutras had said that Andreas Georgiou, should not stand trial for the alleged offence as there was no evidence that any felony had been committed].

ESO: Background information: Commission defends Greek debt data after statistics scandal http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-defends-greek-debt-data-after-statistics-scandal/

Kathimerini, 21.11.16: Prosecutor says former statistics chief should not face charges http://www.ekathimerini.com/213840/article/ekathimerini/news/prosecutor-says-former-statistics-chief-should-not-face-charges

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