German state offers Greece help with administration                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Reuters - 19/09/2011 18:13:10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      BERLIN,  Sept 19 (Reuters) - 
The northern German state of  Lower Saxony offered  Greece help to restructure its public  administration on Monday, aiming  to combat inefficiencies  dragging on efforts to pare back its mountain  of debt.
State Economy Minister Joerg Bode told Reuters his state is  in contact  with Berlin over the idea and "stands ready" to  provide consulting, a  move which would require approval from an  EU task force aiding Athens  in tax collection.
"Those who want to get back on their feet must also be ready  to say: let's do it together," Bode said.
Greek officials themselves admit inefficiencies in the  country's public  sector, but have yet to spell out how they will  carry out the reforms  in public administration sought by  international lenders.
As German states are particularly experienced in tapping  regional aid  funds from the European Union, it is hoped the  consulting could help  Athens receive some 15 billion euros of EU  development funds available  in the next three years.
International lenders told Greece on Monday it must shrink  its public  sector and improve tax collection to avoid default  within weeks as  investors spooked by political setbacks in  Europe dumped risky euro  zone assets. (
news)