In today’s news we have the following item:
“Another Greek development — the EU’s task force dispatched to Greece has warned today that Athens has fallen behind its target of recovering ?2bn of outstanding tax receipts during 2012.
By the end of October, the taskforce said, Greece had only recovered ?1bn. Just 88 audits of large taxpayers had been conducted, against a target of 300, and just 467 of “high-wealth individuals”had been probed, versus a target of 1,300.
Despite the slippage, commissioner Olli Rehn declared that Greece was making progress, saying:
‘Greece is tackling deep-rooted structural problems with determination and resolve, as has been recognized by the Eurogroup.
The Task Force is working hard to help Greece implement essential reforms to boost its competitiveness, create a fairer and more effective tax system, and generate sustainable growth and employment.'”
How dare they spew out all this utter nonsense! Progress indeed! What, Mr Rehn would you call failure to achieve anything then?
“Reforms to boost its competitiveness”. This is short hand for Greece has not only slashed wages and incomes but has also abolished just about all labour rights. Has that helped “competitiveness”? Well, what would you say? With the unemployment rate rising exponentially, reaching the 25% mark? Not only no new businesses setting up shop but established ones racing for the door? As to all the other factors of competitiveness, nothing has been tackled, such as the prohibitive taxation system, exorbitant transportation costs (owing to hikes in indirect taxes on fuel and toll taxes) not to mention a total dearth in liquidity.
The creation of a “fairer and more effective tax system” This one is as close to hubris as a minor appratchik can get. Fairer? I am spluttering here. The new tax law provides for a hike in taxes on the middle incomes down. Punitive taxation for anyone who dares to have children, such taxes on Free Lancers as to be a complete disincentive. As to the brackets, exorbitant. 21% the lowest. So a more unfair tax system has never been devised. As to effective? Where? How? Through shielding all tax evaders in every way?
Now “generating sustainable growth and employment.” Well Mr Rehn, your own forecasts, those of the troika and the puppet Greek government have already stated quite the contrary. Recession is expected to continue in 2013, at a rate of 4.5% and unemployment is expected to reach the 30% mark. And yet again, we must point out, so far all such troika forecasts have been perpetually lower than what really happened.
As Commissioner for Economic Affairs (or whatever title they give this non job), Mr Rehn has presided over the worst economic catastrophe since the EZ was set up. Failure to diagnose the real problem and the consequent failure to provide an effective programme to solve the crisis has led to the whole of the EZ falling into recession. As to the peripheral states, their economies have not just fallen into recession but have collapsed.
And the worst failure of all on Mr Rehn’s part is that though all the plans and policies have failed miserably, all he can do is pile on more of the same and worse. And then cheer from the sidelines that Samaras and the task force are doing an excellent job!
If he had any shame he should resign on the spot. If he had any decency he would not come out with such false, misleading statements. If he had any humanity he should at least acknowledge the humanitarian crisis he and his ilk have engendered. And if he had any values he would not stand for the destruction of healthcare in peripheral countries like Spain and Greece, and soon to be elsewhere too.
It would appear he has none of these. And it would appear that none of the other powers that be currently lording it over the EU have either. Too happy to bask in their comfort, cut off from reality, or worse, not giving a damn about people, especially lesser mortals such as the Mediterranean south. Shame on you Olli Rehn. Shame on all the EZ assorted wheelers and dealers.
This is not the Europe we believed in. This is not the Europe we want. This is not the Europe of the Enlightenment, of the values of the French Revolution, of the social contract or the rights of man. This is a Europe of extreme right wing neo liberal dogma.
And Mr Rehn would serve both Europe and himself better, if he at least kept his mouth hermetically shut, instead of hemetically opening it to utter such hubris.