A Short Note on Corruption in Telecommunications in Greece
21 Pages Posted: 18 Jan 2012
Date Written: January 18, 2012
Abstract
Greece had, largely as a result of clientele policies, delayed its privatization of the state-owned telecommunications operator, the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and the liberalization of markets.
For over a decade up to 2004 Siemens paid bribes to managers of OTE, to senior politicians and to political parties in order to obtain procurement contracts. It paid heavy fines for this to the prosecuting authorities in Germany and the USA.
For a much shorter period Comverse also paid bribes to OTE managers for procurement contracts.
An investigative committee of the Greek Parliament looked into the matter and identified some individuals, but claimed it lacked authority to follow funds paid to the two leading political parties. Very few prosecutions against bribe-takers have been undertaken in Greece.
Keywords: Europe, Balkans, Greece, Telecommunications, Siemens, Bribes, Corruption, Siemens, OTE, Comverse
JEL Classification: K10, K14, K23, K33, K42, L13, L96, O17
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation