Swedish agency partied for millions: report
Published: 30 Jul 12 07:11 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/42302/20120730/
Since January 2010 the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) has spent some 7.5 million kronor ($1.1 million) on internal entertainment such as luxury dinners and ski trips, equating to 25,000 kronor per employee.
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The report included details of stays at castles and mansion, fine dining, wine and chocolate tasting, spa visits and excursions to islands and ski resorts.
In addition, a further 9 million was spent on internal training and other conferences.
The restaurant bill alone at the Grand Hotel indicated that dinner cost 428,225 kronor, equating to 1,476 kronor per head - more than double that stipulated in the agency's own guidelines.
In a similar event last year, the tax-payer funded agency hired the Cirkus arena in Stockholm and the dinner at nearby Hasselbacken ran to 200,000 kronor.
In 2010 the China Theatre was the venue and dinner was taken at the Sheraton.
The agency' director-general Christina Calm conceded that some of the costs incurred were unacceptable but mounted a defence of others.
"The Grand Hotel was actually the cheapest option," she told Dagens Nyheter.
Last year the agency was given an extra six million kronor to be able to cover its costs, although this year the government rejected a new request. The decision means that the agency will be forced to save 10 million kronor.
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Wo was in charge? Responsibilities? Accauntability? Sure that nobody, perfect Swedish system to cover this type of waste... under the table
Upside down, inside out.
2- Swedish government officials are notoriously poor at hiding their abuses,not as good as the Americans,yet though they think they are.
3-It appears that this came to light because of a civillian whistle-blower,not an official investigation.They don't really exist here,yet.
Oh please, give me a break. Total crap. I can certainly find somewhere way cheaper than that.
I'm with you on this.
No doubt there are many hard working regular folks on the ground level,servicing all of us when we need them,most of whom have modest salaries,to say the least.
Corruption is is higher in the chain of command,where the power is,naturally.
But there is no corruption in Sweden.
no law agaist it= no crime commited.
And they got to live out the ultimate Svensk drömmen of visiting the USA and getting a tan!
Next time they throw a party, they should contact me, I know a couple of excellent musicians who love to be paid well for live entertainment...