EU Task Force Reforms-Report costs Greek taxpayers €3 Million per year

The European Union Task Force under the leadership of Horst Reichenbach issued its 2012 report for Greece. In the 40-page report, tax collection deficiencies top the list of key issues that need to be met in order to reduce the government debt. Praising Greece for already making some progress, the Reichenbach-staff lists the steps that should be taken in  several sections like public administration, health, anti-corruption, tourism, migration and others in order to turn Greece into a perfect country.  “The European Union says that Greek tax collection is still falling well short of some key targets that need to be met to reduce the government’s staggering debt pile.

The EU’s task force to help Greece overcome the crisis that brought it to the brink of bankruptcy said in Monday’s quarterly report that Athens still has trouble to deal with old, outstanding tax claims. With 2 months to go in 2012, it was still about a billion euros behind the EU target of recovering 2 billion euros.

It said Greece made only 88 audits of large taxpayers, well short of a 2012 target of 300, and 467 of “high-wealth individuals,” below a 1,300 target.

Overall, though, EU Vice President Olli Rehn said Greece was tackling problems «with determination and resolve.” [AP via ekathimerini]

The EU Task Force for Greece (TFGR) organises the delivery of technical assistance to support a wide range of structural reforms to be implemented by the Greek government, primarily for reforms agreed in the context of the economic adjustment programme.

“The technical assistance provided by the TFGR is a resource available to the Greek authorities, as they seek to strengthen their public administration, modernise their regulatory system and lay the foundations for a new growth model based on enterprise and investment.”

My expensive TFGR:

 10,000 euro per day/ 250,000 euro per month/ 3 million euro per year 

What the full TFGR report does not say is the money their presence cost to the already broke Greek taxpayers. According to a recent official report members of TFGR get a daily compensation of 92 euro in addition to the salary they receive from the states they are employed to. Additionally, Greece pays for them tickets and accommodation.

Whether it is not officially clear how many people the TFGR sends to Greece or for what period of time, reports in the Greek press speak of a team of 40-45 people.

92euro x 45people = 4,140 euro per day. Adding accommodation of some 80-100 euro per night plus tickets expenses, Greece spends good 10,000 euro per day for the technical support. That makes at least 250,000 euro per month.

Assuming accomodation includes breakfast, coffee and snacks are offered to them at the various ministries and organizations they work through the day, and transportation is being paid by the Greeks, an exhausted member of TSGR must spend some 20-30 euro per day for food.

92 euro – 30 euro = 62 euro is the profit per day x30 = 1,860 euro per month and thus tax-free as it is considered ‘expenses’.

When it comes to own transparency TFGR pretends to be deaf.

PS I could offer my services for 2,000 euro per month  and I will be more quick and effective.