“With the bill that we will submit for voting in July, we are putting into practice our commitment, to support disposable income in practice and to reduce the tax burden for households and businesses, when public finances allow it,” said the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis during the Parliament session on the program statements of the government.

“Our pre-election commitments will be included in the bill, as noted by the Prime Minister. In addition to what Kyriakos Mitsotakis mentioned”, he said and added “I want to note the following:

THE an average civil servant will have a benefit amounting to 1,292 euros gross per year. Whereas, if the additional increases or exemptions applied from 2023 are taken into account (abolition of the special solidarity levy, abolition of the 1% special levy in favor of the Civil Servants Welfare Fund, etc.) then the benefit for the average civil servant increases to 2,084 euros gross time!

In this context, each Civil Servants will have an increase of 70 euros per month, the child benefit increases from 20 to 50 euros, and position of responsibility allowance are increased by 30%.

In addition, special arrangements for salary increases are being promoted for the officers of the armed forces and security forces, and for members of the Teaching and Research Staff of the Universities.

According to Mr. Hatzidakis “the civil servants who will benefit proportionally more will be the low-paid, those who have children and those who receive a position of responsibility allowance!”.

He also reminded that the government has already committed to increase exports to 60% of GDP by 2027 and 70% by 2030, with a focus on exports of high-tech products and services, and to increase investment by 70% by 2027.

Regarding fiscal stability, he emphasized: “Our international commitments are valid for primary surpluses of 2.1% of GDP in 2024, 2.3% of GDP in 2025 and 2.5% of GDP in 2026, as included in the Stability Program”.

Regarding the public debt, he pointed out, among other things, “the recovery of investment grade within 2023; which will reduce the borrowing costs of the economy, facilitate investments and increase liquidity”.

Concerning the fight against tax evasion Mr. Hatzidakis stated that they will be running until the first months of 2024:

-The interconnection of cash registers with POS and the expansion of POS use in more professions.
– The obligation to transmit data from payment service providers located outside Greece to AADE.
-The payment of welfare benefits through debit cards.

He also pointed out that within 2024 they will run with digital measures such as the automation and digitization of AADE controls, using the most modern digital technologies and, the introduction of penalties for the non-transmission of data to MyDATA, after a reasonable adjustment period.

At the same time, as he said, the reformation of subsistence allowances, the codification of tax legislation and the doubling of controls are progressing.

Mr. Hatzidakis explained that it is not in his intentions to proceed with new debt arrangements to the tax authorities. As he said, “both the revival of the 120 installments for old debtors and the 72 installments for relatively recent debtors have recently been legislated. I therefore call on all our fellow citizens who may benefit, to hurry up to the end of July and take advantage of the opportunity. After all, for the 120 installments, what is the State asking for? The payment of two monthly installments, which automatically revive a status to which they lost access. So, let them hurry to settle the related outstanding issues with obvious benefits for themselves!”.

Concerning the Market Pass, he emphasized that every possibility will be used both at the level of the controls of the profiteering and at the level of the strengthening of the competition. Afoun mentioned that the previous government of New Democracy allocated significant resources to support businesses and households in the face of the inflationary crisis, stressing that the support continues with the market pass. However, he avoided giving details.

According to Mr. Hatzidakis, there will still be a series of initiatives that will contribute in strengthening the Stock Exchange and in attracting new companies to it, such as the reduction of the fundraising tax from 0.5% to 0.2%, the 50% reduction of the stock exchange tax. Incentives for the listing of small and medium-sized enterprises on the Athens Stock Exchange, such as the 100% tax deduction of listing costs.

Finally, Mr. Hatzidakis referred to a holistic approach that will combine the responsibilities of the ministry with those of the EESYP, always respecting its role. He spoke about the introduction of modern methods of management and utilization of its rich portfolio, for the benefit of the State and the citizens, and he mentioned the coastal front of Attica and the ski resorts as examples.

As far as TAIPED is concerned, the main priorities are: The completion of the Egnatia Road concession. The new Attica Road concession contract – a very important initiative. The concession tenders for the exploitation of regional ports – such as Heraklion and Volos. As well as all the necessary steps for the entry of Eleftherios Venizelos Airport to the Stock Exchange.