BRUSSELS, April 18 (UPI) -- The European Union's taxation commissioner said the financial crisis in Greece underscores the importance of obtaining reliable statistics about deficits.
Algirdas Semeta made the comment as the EU unveiled proposed new rules for shielding national statistics bureaus from political influence, the EU Observer reported.
The rules call on EU governments to sign written pledges that they will not make political appointments in the sector.
"We want to ensure that never again will we have any political influence on our statistics," Semeta said.
The new rules are being issued three years after Greece lied about its deficit triggering a bail-out and the start of the eurozone crisis.
Recently hidden deficits resurfaced in Spain where the new government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the deficit for 2011 is larger than previously stated.
Semeta said Athens backs the proposed reforms.
