Cyprus-Forum.com

[Me Ed]

Some years ago a small rural town in Spain twinned with a similar town in Greece.

The Mayor of the Greek town visited the Spanish town.

When he saw the palatial mansion belonging to the Spanish mayor he wondered how he could afford such a house.

The Spaniard said; "You see that bridge over there? The EU gave us a grant to build a two-lane bridge, but by building a single lane bridge with traffic lights at either end this house could be built".

The following year the Spaniard visited the Greek town. He was simply amazed at the Greek Mayor's house, gold taps, marble floors, it was marvelous.

When he asked how this could be afforded the Greek said; "You see that bridge over there?"

The Spaniard replied; "No."

[kurupetos]

[Hermes]

Actually one of the criticisms you can level at Greece is that it hasn't been spending enough of the EU money allocated towards it. Greece has spent only a quarter of the 20 billion-euro package provided as part of the EU's regional aid programme because Greece is unable to pay its contribution to projects which the aid is meant to co-finance.

There are lots of blocked programs in Greece because of this, not just bridges but five motorway projects. Because infrastructure spending is a good way to kick-start economic growth you should expect the EU to be looking at ways to make sure Greece builds lots more bridges as well as roads!

[kurupetos]

Hermes, your joke is good too.

[Hermes]

Hermes, your joke is good too.

Bridges are good, kurupetos. Here is the Rio-Antirio bridge in Greece funded by the EU. Finished ahead of schedule and within budget. Beautiful, don't you think?

[GreekIslandGirl]

Hermes, your joke is good too.

Bridges are good, kurupetos. Here is the Rio-Antirio bridge in Greece funded by the EU. Finished ahead of schedule and within budget. Beautiful, don't you think?

That's a phenomenal bridge. Driven over it once and it was awesome. Stunning to sail close to as well . Love it - can't beat the Greeks when they set their minds to things.

As for the infrastructure; they may have some blocked projects at the moment, but they certainly made some hefty improvements within the Peloponnese (despite the extra setbacks from the year of devastating fires).

[supporttheunderdog]

Remand for alleged EU-fund scammers
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/crime/remand-alleged-eu-fund-scammers/20111118

and

Step up in fight against EU budget fraud

http://ec.europa.eu/news/eu_explained/111003_en.htm

[Hermes]

Someone really ought to do something about those corrupt Germans:

How Corrupt Is Germany?

Germany is reeling. Deutschland GmbH, famed for the quality of its products rather than the largesse of its bribes, has been rocked by scandal after scandal. Nowhere is this more evident and more surprising than in the case of Siemens, the Bavarian power and communications giant embroiled in the largest bribery case in the history of the Federal Republic.

Siemens is not alone, however. Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler, Deutsche Bank, Infineon, Deutsche Bahn, GM/Opel, Linde and Ratiopharm have all been the subject of stories about questionable practices that management either knew nothing of or actively participated in.

http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/how-c ... many/85/1/

[kurupetos]

Someone really ought to do something about those corrupt Germans:

How Corrupt Is Germany?

Germany is reeling. Deutschland GmbH, famed for the quality of its products rather than the largesse of its bribes, has been rocked by scandal after scandal. Nowhere is this more evident and more surprising than in the case of Siemens, the Bavarian power and communications giant embroiled in the largest bribery case in the history of the Federal Republic.

Siemens is not alone, however. Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler, Deutsche Bank, Infineon, Deutsche Bahn, GM/Opel, Linde and Ratiopharm have all been the subject of stories about questionable practices that management either knew nothing of or actively participated in.

http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/how-c ... many/85/1/

That's old news (April 2007).

[Hermes]

Someone really ought to do something about those corrupt Germans:

How Corrupt Is Germany?

Germany is reeling. Deutschland GmbH, famed for the quality of its products rather than the largesse of its bribes, has been rocked by scandal after scandal. Nowhere is this more evident and more surprising than in the case of Siemens, the Bavarian power and communications giant embroiled in the largest bribery case in the history of the Federal Republic.

Siemens is not alone, however. Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler, Deutsche Bank, Infineon, Deutsche Bahn, GM/Opel, Linde and Ratiopharm have all been the subject of stories about questionable practices that management either knew nothing of or actively participated in.

http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/how-c ... many/85/1/

That's old news (April 2007).

Is it?

The year is 2011, how corrupt is Germany?
http://www.hellenesonline.com/go/2011/0 ... s-germany/

In The Fight Against Corruption Germany Falls Behind
http://blog.transparency.org/2011/05/16 ... ls-behind/