Smaller more efficient public sector

"I bring you good news. The public sector appears to be shaping up. Structures are being set up, with are on a good path," Rakintzis said as he handed over the report.

According to the general inspector, the new "leaner" public sector appeared to be operating more efficiently as it shrank. "In other words, one million employees were probably too many. Now that we have reached 750,000 they are working better," he added.

He also noted that a stricter disciplinary process made civil servants more careful, bringing about "marked improvement".

"Both the numbers and the severity of disciplinary offenses, as well as performance, are better. The bureaucracy is starting to be reined in. The older generation of employees unfamiliar with computers is leaving. Now the new employees are all computer savvy," Rakintzis explained.