His suggestions SYRIZA for the reduction of taxes would lead, if implemented, to collapse within days and in situations worse than memoranda. Instead of having the primary surpluses defined by European rules, we will have monstrous deficits. These are political jokes that do not stand up to criticism, corresponding to the measures implemented by Ms. Liz Truss in Britain and collapsed within weeks.

This was pointed out by the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking today in Patras, at the 12th Regional Growth Conference. He also cited the costing of the General Accounting Office of the State for the proposals of SYRIZA, according to which the cost of the measures is 15 billion. euros per year.

In particular, in relation to the proposal to reduce the VAT, he recalled that Mr. Tsipras himself had stated in the Parliament that is not passed on to the consumer. “If we did, we would be temporarily happy but there would be no result. In addition, we should not encourage imports but production and extroversion,” the minister emphasized. He also noted that the Greek economy has some important peculiarities compared to other EU countries, which are high debt, high defense spending and by far the highest costs for financing pensions because contributions are not sufficient. And he emphasized that the policy to deal with punctuality is based on competition (as was done in electricity with colored tariffs), on controls and sanctions and on raising wages as much as possible, both in the public and private sectors. where both the minimum and average wages have increased more than budgeted.

“The phenomenon of inflation is beginning to be controlled internationallyis on a related excursion. Unless there is some major international crisis, things will get better. We want to hold the steering wheel firmly because we are in a race of endurance and not speed”, said Mr. Hatzidakis. He also reminded that the ND government has reduced 50 taxes such as ENFIA, corporate tax, VAT in certain sectors such as transport, always keeping the budget under control and achieving the primary surplus targets.

Answering a question about the EU’s new fiscal rules, he said that the targets for next year are expected to be determined soon, but indications are that a primary surplus will be forecast for 2025 corresponding to that of 2024. “What we should be looking at is don’t run out of expenses, let’s be serious in dealing with requests that are presented and adopt those that have priority and we can afford to serve”, he emphasized. He underlined that the effort to achieve the goals is based on the development of the economy (indicatively in 2023 we had revenue growth of 9% without an increase in taxes) and in dealing with tax evasion (from the expansion of electronic transactions alone, revenues increased last year by 500 million euros).

Regarding Community funds, he noted that the previous NSRF was closed without loss of resources, in the new NSRF, Greece is third in absorption and sixth in the Recovery Fund. He also predicted that there will be a “battle” in the EU for the implementation of a new Recovery Fund, as the so-called “frugalists” of the EU disagree, but there is no other way to support the green transition.

In relation to the financing of programs in Western Greece, he recalled that with Community funds, among other things, the modernization of 4 hospitals, the digital modernization of the KEP, the Patras – Pyrgos axis are implemented. However, in relation to the port of the city, he pointed out the risk of falling behind in relation to Kavala, Heraklion, Igoumenitsa, in which concession contracts have been awarded to modern administrators with international experience. “It is not possible for everyone to move forward with one prescription and Patras with the opposite,” he said.

“We combine”, concluded Mr. Hatzidakis, “fiscal stability with an entrepreneurship-friendly approach. Which includes the reduction of insurance contributions, the new labor legislation that contributed to the reduction of unemployment, the simplification of the licensing environment. We still have many steps to climb, but Greece has entered a positive development path”.