Labour MEP Prof. Edward Scicluna was recently appointed as the European Parliament’s statistical governance rapporteur. “The Times” journalist Kurt Sansone talked to Prof. Scicluna seeking the background of the issue and the way forward.
The Times carried Sansone’s report on Monday, October 31, 2011, titled “Getting to grips with statistics and damn lies”. Full report follows:
Greece’s debt mountain was not born overnight but an “understanding to look the other way” by other eurozone countries in the past hid brewing problems, according to Labour MEP Edward Scicluna.
Whether it was Greece or any other country, the understanding was to look the other way since the euro could not be harmed
Talking to The Times after his recent appointment as the European Parliament’s statistical governance rapporteur, Prof. Scicluna partly blames the current problems afflicting the eurozone on the lax attitude adopted by Germany, France and Italy soon after the single currency was born.
“In 2003 when Germany and France broke the stability and growth pact no fines were imposed and then EU Commission president Romano Prodi said the criteria were stupidly and unnecessarily restrictive,” he says.
At the time, he adds, only the head of the European Central Bank, Jean Claude Trichet, stood his ground and opposed revising the criteria.
“In this environment, whether it was Greece or any other country, the understanding was to look the other way since the euro could not be harmed,” he says.
When Greece finally came round to admitting the true nature of its debt, the country was practically insolvent and had to be bailed out by other eurozone countries last year. It was not enough and a second bailout followed this year until last week’s eurozone summit accepted that banks had to write-off half of the loan exposures they had in Greece.
It is this backdrop that accompanies Prof. Scicluna’s new appointment as he tries to answer the pertinent question raised by many on how Greece was allowed to present false accounts that flaunted the eurozone’s stringent deficit and debt criteria.
Prof. Scicluna says that the success of the euro for so many years up to the aftermath of the financial crisis succeeded in hiding the trouble that started brewing but went unnoticed.
Low inflation in Germany translated into low interest rates for the whole eurozone and peripheral countries such as Greece, Portugal and Italy were rewarded with a low interest rate despite low productivity levels and higher inflation rates.
The bad experience has led the eurozone to seek closer integration and the Six Pack rules adopted this year on better fiscal and economic governance are expected to change the previous attitude.
Under the new rules the Commission could, among others, almost automatically impose stiff penalties on defaulting countries.
However, the question remains: how will statistical information, supplied by member states, be verified?
Prof. Scicluna says that the cosy relationship between some governments and their statistical agencies will end.
“Even economic forecasting models will be scrutinised and the EU’s statistical agency Eurostat is being given powers which were previously withheld from it by the Council of Ministers,” he says.
The list to ensure greater fiscal discipline is longer and also includes the approval of national budgets by the Commission.
It is under this umbrella that Prof. Scicluna will report on the way statistics are being collected in the individual member states and suggest ways to ensure the data is accurate and reliable.
Asked what Malta’s failings are, Prof. Scicluna says the National Statistics Office is still not as independent as it should be despite “enormous efforts to deliver”.
He cites the “frequent significant revisions” to some statistical data such as GDP as a reflection of the need to invest more resources and strengthen the institution.
“We also need to collect more data to avoid the situation where various EU-wide studies leave Malta out of the equation for lack of data collection.”
But the wish-list for change also encompasses the Finance Ministry’s accounting methods and standards. “We must stop having two standards, one for Malta and another one for Brussels.”
Prof. Scicluna says the government’s economic forecasters have to be realistic and avoid being so much more optimistic than the Commission or the International Monetary Fund.
“I wish we could carry out these reforms before we are told to do so by the Commission,” he says.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com
Getting to grips with statistics and damn lies
![](http://www.edwardscicluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PROFS-FIT-TIMES-31-10-2011.jpg)
227 responses to “Getting to grips with statistics and damn lies”
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
https://cmqpharma.com/# medication from mexico pharmacy
mexican pharmaceuticals online
india pharmacy: india pharmacy mail order – pharmacy website india
world pharmacy india best online pharmacy india best online pharmacy india
https://canadapharmast.com/# pet meds without vet prescription canada
purple pharmacy mexico price list: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
buy medicines online in india Online medicine order india online pharmacy
https://indiapharmast.com/# indian pharmacy
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs: mexico drug stores pharmacies – reputable mexican pharmacies online
mail order pharmacy india: Online medicine order – cheapest online pharmacy india
https://canadapharmast.com/# canada online pharmacy
paxlovid pill: Paxlovid over the counter – paxlovid covid
Paxlovid buy online: paxlovid price – paxlovid pharmacy
paxlovid buy: п»їpaxlovid – п»їpaxlovid
paxlovid generic: paxlovid for sale – Paxlovid over the counter
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy cipro online without prescription
doxycycline without a prescription: how to get doxycycline prescription – doxycycline 20
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# ciprofloxacin generic
where can i buy amoxicillin online: antibiotic amoxicillin – amoxicillin 875 mg tablet
paxlovid pharmacy: paxlovid pharmacy – paxlovid pharmacy
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: п»їbest mexican online pharmacies – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
https://mexicandeliverypharma.com/# buying from online mexican pharmacy
reputable mexican pharmacies online: purple pharmacy mexico price list – medication from mexico pharmacy
buying from online mexican pharmacy: mexican mail order pharmacies – medicine in mexico pharmacies
http://mexicandeliverypharma.com/# mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs: buying prescription drugs in mexico – mexican drugstore online
mexican pharmaceuticals online mexico pharmacies prescription drugs mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs: п»їbest mexican online pharmacies – mexican pharmaceuticals online
https://mexicandeliverypharma.online/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – medicine in mexico pharmacies
purple pharmacy mexico price list: mexican rx online – mexican drugstore online
buying from online mexican pharmacy medication from mexico pharmacy mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexican rx online
mexico drug stores pharmacies: medication from mexico pharmacy – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa п»їbest mexican online pharmacies pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexican pharmaceuticals online
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – purple pharmacy mexico price list
buying prescription drugs in mexico: mexican drugstore online – mexican drugstore online
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa buying prescription drugs in mexico online mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexican pharmaceuticals online: mexican drugstore online – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies: п»їbest mexican online pharmacies – medicine in mexico pharmacies
mexican pharmaceuticals online: medicine in mexico pharmacies – reputable mexican pharmacies online
buying from online mexican pharmacy mexican pharmacy buying prescription drugs in mexico
purple pharmacy mexico price list: mexican rx online – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
buying prescription drugs in mexico online: mexican pharmaceuticals online – best online pharmacies in mexico
buying prescription drugs in mexico: mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs – п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: purple pharmacy mexico price list – п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
mexican drugstore online: mexican mail order pharmacies – medication from mexico pharmacy
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: п»їbest mexican online pharmacies – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: medicine in mexico pharmacies – mexican pharmaceuticals online
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican drugstore online – medication from mexico pharmacy
mexican pharmaceuticals online: buying prescription drugs in mexico – buying from online mexican pharmacy
buying prescription drugs in mexico online: mexican rx online – п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
mexican mail order pharmacies medicine in mexico pharmacies medication from mexico pharmacy
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: mexican pharmaceuticals online – best online pharmacies in mexico
purple pharmacy mexico price list: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – reputable mexican pharmacies online
mexican mail order pharmacies: mexican pharmaceuticals online – mexican pharmaceuticals online
mexico drug stores pharmacies medicine in mexico pharmacies pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
mexican rx online: mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
reputable mexican pharmacies online mexican mail order pharmacies mexico drug stores pharmacies
buying prescription drugs in mexico online: mexican pharmaceuticals online – mexican pharmaceuticals online
mexican rx online: medicine in mexico pharmacies – medication from mexico pharmacy
reputable mexican pharmacies online: medicine in mexico pharmacies – п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
medicine in mexico pharmacies: buying prescription drugs in mexico – mexican mail order pharmacies
buying from online mexican pharmacy: mexican pharmaceuticals online – medication from mexico pharmacy
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies: purple pharmacy mexico price list – mexican pharmaceuticals online
reputable mexican pharmacies online best online pharmacies in mexico mexican pharmaceuticals online
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: reputable mexican pharmacies online – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
mexican rx online: purple pharmacy mexico price list – п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
mexico drug stores pharmacies п»їbest mexican online pharmacies purple pharmacy mexico price list
best online pharmacies in mexico: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
mexican mail order pharmacies purple pharmacy mexico price list mexican drugstore online
reputable mexican pharmacies online: buying from online mexican pharmacy – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
buying prescription drugs in mexico online: reputable mexican pharmacies online – best online pharmacies in mexico
Abortion pills online buy cytotec online fast delivery buy cytotec
does tamoxifen cause joint pain: tamoxifen and depression – how to prevent hair loss while on tamoxifen
http://zithromaxbestprice.pro/# zithromax online australia
https://prednisonebestprice.pro/# prednisone generic cost
cost propecia no prescription generic propecia without rx get cheap propecia pill
zithromax over the counter: buy zithromax online with mastercard – purchase zithromax z-pak
https://cytotecbestprice.pro/# cytotec buy online usa
https://prednisonebestprice.pro/# prednisone for sale online
buy prednisone 20mg buy cheap prednisone buy prednisone online australia
zithromax 1000 mg pills: zithromax online – can i buy zithromax over the counter in canada
https://zithromaxbestprice.pro/# generic zithromax 500mg india
can i buy zithromax over the counter in canada: zithromax for sale usa – zithromax cost canada
buy zithromax 1000 mg online: zithromax 500mg price in india – zithromax 500 tablet
canine prednisone 5mg no prescription: prednisone 20 mg purchase – how to purchase prednisone online
prednisone 2.5 tablet: can you buy prednisone over the counter in mexico – prednisone 2 5 mg
https://nolvadexbestprice.pro/# tamoxifen breast cancer prevention
prednisone 50 mg price: prednisone without a prescription – prednisone 10mg for sale
tamoxifen generic: nolvadex half life – tamoxifen generic
http://cytotecbestprice.pro/# buy misoprostol over the counter
tamoxifen and bone density: where to get nolvadex – tamoxifen chemo
Farmacia online miglior prezzo: avanafil in farmacia – farmacie online autorizzate elenco
farmacie online affidabili: Farmacie che vendono Cialis senza ricetta – farmaci senza ricetta elenco
comprare farmaci online all’estero: Farmacie on line spedizione gratuita – Farmacia online piГ№ conveniente
https://viagragenerico.site/# viagra consegna in 24 ore pagamento alla consegna
Farmacia online miglior prezzo: avanafil senza ricetta – farmacia online senza ricetta
acquistare farmaci senza ricetta: farmacia online migliore – farmacie online sicure
acquisto farmaci con ricetta: Cialis generico controindicazioni – comprare farmaci online all’estero
farmacia online: farmacie online affidabili – farmacia online piГ№ conveniente
Farmacia online piГ№ conveniente: farmacia online migliore – Farmacia online piГ№ conveniente
п»їFarmacia online migliore: sildenafil oral jelly 100mg kamagra – acquisto farmaci con ricetta
comprare farmaci online con ricetta: Farmacie che vendono Cialis senza ricetta – farmacia online senza ricetta
https://farmait.store/# Farmacia online piГ№ conveniente
acquisto farmaci con ricetta: kamagra gel – farmacia online piГ№ conveniente
miglior sito dove acquistare viagra: acquisto viagra – viagra generico recensioni
buy cialis through pay pal: Generic Tadalafil 20mg price – cialis soft tabs canadian pharmacy
https://sildenafil.llc/# canadian viagra
how long does viagra last: Cheap generic Viagra – canadian viagra
https://sildenafil.llc/# ed pills that work better than viagra
viagra cost: buy sildenafil online usa – cost of viagra
cialis a domicilio new jersey: cialis without a doctor prescription – can i take cialis with daxpoteine
http://tadalafil.auction/# bph cialis dosage
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: Best pharmacy in Mexico – mexican mail order pharmacies
https://mexicopharmacy.win/# mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
http://edpillpharmacy.store/# pills for erectile dysfunction online
ed meds on line
pharmacy website india: Online pharmacy – top 10 pharmacies in india
http://edpillpharmacy.store/# online ed medication
https://indiapharmacy.shop/# india pharmacy mail order
ed online pharmacy
india pharmacy: Best Indian pharmacy – world pharmacy india
http://indiapharmacy.shop/# india online pharmacy
cheap boner pills
http://mexicopharmacy.win/# buying prescription drugs in mexico
mexican rx online: Mexico pharmacy online – buying from online mexican pharmacy
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: Best online Mexican pharmacy – mexico drug stores pharmacies
http://indiapharmacy.shop/# indian pharmacy
ed meds on line: ed pills online – cheapest online ed treatment
indianpharmacy com: Online pharmacy – india pharmacy
http://indiapharmacy.shop/# world pharmacy india
mexican pharmaceuticals online: Mexico pharmacy online – buying from online mexican pharmacy
world pharmacy india: Top online pharmacy in India – indian pharmacy online
https://mexicopharmacy.win/# purple pharmacy mexico price list
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies: Purple pharmacy online ordering – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
http://edpillpharmacy.store/# cheap ed pills
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: mexican pharmacy – medication from mexico pharmacy
buying prescription drugs in mexico: Medicines Mexico – mexican rx online
https://indiapharmacy.shop/# indian pharmacy paypal
indian pharmacy: mail order pharmacy india – top 10 online pharmacy in india
http://indiapharmacy.shop/# best online pharmacy india
mexico drug stores pharmacies: Purple pharmacy online ordering – buying from online mexican pharmacy
online erectile dysfunction medication: Best ED meds online – order ed pills online
https://mexicopharmacy.win/# best online pharmacies in mexico
mexican drugstore online: buying from online mexican pharmacy – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
online ed medicine: online ed prescription same-day – buy ed meds online
pharmacy website india: Online medicine home delivery – india online pharmacy
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: buying from online mexican pharmacy – mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
world pharmacy india: Top mail order pharmacies – п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india
buy cytotec online fast delivery: buy misoprostol tablet – buy cytotec in usa
https://tamoxifen.bid/# liquid tamoxifen
buy cytotec over the counter http://cytotec.pro/# buy cytotec pills
furosemida
buy cytotec over the counter: buy cytotec – buy cytotec online fast delivery
Abortion pills online https://furosemide.win/# lasix
lasix side effects
http://furosemide.win/# lasix medication
does tamoxifen cause menopause: Purchase Nolvadex Online – tamoxifen for men
buy cytotec pills cytotec best price Cytotec 200mcg price
buy cytotec online fast delivery https://furosemide.win/# furosemide 40mg
lasix dosage
https://lisinopril.guru/# lisinopril tabs 4mg
furosemida: buy furosemide online – lasix furosemide
lipitor cost: cheapest ace inhibitor – lipitor 40 mg price india
http://lisinopril.guru/# prinivil 25 mg
lasix 40mg: lasix generic name – lasix 100mg
п»їlipitor price comparison buy atorvastatin online lipitor over the counter
http://cytotec.pro/# buy cytotec over the counter
buy cytotec online: buy cytotec online – cytotec abortion pill
buy cytotec over the counter https://furosemide.win/# lasix tablet
furosemide 40mg
buy cytotec in usa: Misoprostol price in pharmacy – purchase cytotec
http://lisinopril.guru/# lisinopril 20 mg canadian
lasix 40 mg: furosemide online – lasix 100 mg tablet
Abortion pills online https://lipitor.guru/# lipitor 80 mg daily
furosemide
tamoxifen cancer: buy tamoxifen citrate – tamoxifen depression
lisinopril brand name in usa: cheap lisinopril – lisinopril pills
buy cytotec pills https://cytotec.pro/# buy cytotec in usa
furosemide
buy cytotec online fast delivery: buy misoprostol tablet – order cytotec online
Misoprostol 200 mg buy online http://lipitor.guru/# lipitor brand
lasix 20 mg
Abortion pills online: cytotec best price – buy misoprostol over the counter
purchase cytotec http://lisinopril.guru/# order lisinopril online
lasix dosage
cytotec buy online usa: cytotec best price – purchase cytotec
buying prescription drugs in mexico online: mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs – buying from online mexican pharmacy
https://easyrxindia.shop/# Online medicine order
best online pharmacies in mexico mexican pharmaceuticals online mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
https://easyrxindia.com/# online shopping pharmacy india
reliable canadian pharmacy canadian pharmacy canadian pharmacy oxycodone
п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india: indian pharmacy – online shopping pharmacy india
https://easyrxcanada.online/# canada drugs reviews
http://easyrxcanada.com/# canadadrugpharmacy com
prescription drugs canada buy online canadian online pharmacy canadian pharmacy online ship to usa
canada drugs: canadian drugs – maple leaf pharmacy in canada
http://mexstarpharma.com/# medicine in mexico pharmacies
mexican pharmacy: medication from mexico pharmacy – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
https://mexstarpharma.com/# best online pharmacies in mexico
mail order pharmacy india: Online medicine order – top online pharmacy india
https://easyrxcanada.com/# canadian pharmacy no rx needed
indian pharmacy online: top 10 pharmacies in india – buy medicines online in india
http://mexstarpharma.com/# reputable mexican pharmacies online
mexican mail order pharmacies: mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs – medicine in mexico pharmacies
Online medicine order: buy medicines online in india – online shopping pharmacy india
sweet bonanza slot: sweet bonanza slot – sweet bonanza 100 tl
slot oyun siteleri: slot kumar siteleri – en iyi slot siteler
https://sweetbonanza.network/# sweet bonanza 100 tl
en guvenilir slot siteleri: slot oyun siteleri – casino slot siteleri
sweet bonanza yorumlar: sweet bonanza slot demo – sweet bonanza 100 tl
en cok kazandiran slot siteleri: 2024 en iyi slot siteleri – oyun siteleri slot
http://denemebonusuverensiteler.win/# bahis siteleri
slot casino siteleri: slot siteleri 2024 – slot siteleri guvenilir
http://slotsiteleri.bid/# deneme bonusu veren siteler
yeni slot siteleri: en yeni slot siteleri – slot casino siteleri
https://slotsiteleri.bid/# oyun siteleri slot
2024 en iyi slot siteleri: yeni slot siteleri – en yeni slot siteleri
http://denemebonusuverensiteler.win/# bonus veren siteler
yasal slot siteleri: slot oyun siteleri – slot siteleri guvenilir
https://pin-up.diy/# пин ап вход
пин ап: пинап казино – пин ап вход
1хбет: 1хбет официальный сайт – 1xbet официальный сайт мобильная версия
пин ап казино пин ап вход pin up
пин ап вход: pin up – пин ап
https://1xbet.contact/# 1xbet зеркало
vavada online casino: казино вавада – vavada зеркало
пин ап: пин ап казино – пин ап вход
вавада: вавада – казино вавада
https://1xbet.contact/# 1хбет официальный сайт
1хбет: 1xbet – 1xbet официальный сайт
1хбет: зеркало 1хбет – 1xbet официальный сайт
1xbet зеркало рабочее на сегодня: 1xbet зеркало – 1xbet зеркало
https://vavada.auction/# вавада казино