Divergence between the Greek statistics agency and the Finance Ministry regarding the deficit for 2010 may bring new revenue measures.
Greek government should send a report of sovereign deficit to Eurostat, but there was no conciliatory agreement whether arrears and expenditure should be included.
Greece sends to Eurostat statements of accounts every six months through the now independent Hellenic statistical authority.
Government sources note that public deficit may exceed 10%, more than half a percentage point above initial estimates of 9.4%, because of the large deficits and arrears of public corporations.
The Finance Ministry has been trying for some time to “deal” part of the debts worth €2.5bn in each year of the period 2007-2009, so that 2010 deficit will not be increased.
Otherwise, new measures worth €18bn may be introduced. This amount will be added to the €1.74bn supplementary measures and the €22bn mid-term package.
The Ministry of Finance also faces the risk of the same corporations produce new arrears and debts, as they don’t respond to Treasury’s call for monthly financial reports.
Finance Minister Giorgos Papakonstantinou decided that presidents of the corporations should submit written explanation within fifteen days for not submitting the monthly reports. A fine equal to 1/25 of their salary for each day of delay is provided.
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