The Joint Ministerial Decision signed by the Deputy Ministers of the National Economy and Finance, Mr. Christos Dimas, provides for the tightening of the procedure and deadlines for the placement of special signs inside taxis with which professionals will inform citizens of the obligation to accept payments and via POS and Thanos Petralias.

The new stricter framework it was deemed necessary because the Panhellenic Taxi Federation (POEIATA) refused to receive the special labels in order to distribute them to its members and then for them to affix them to their vehicles. It is recalled that these signs were produced by AADE, at zero cost to taxi owners and meet the specifications of the corresponding markings that have been installed on taxis in many other European cities (Barcelona, ​​Stockholm, Budapest, Madrid, etc.).

The Joint Ministerial Decision provides, at the same time, the obligation to distribute the special signs by the Panhellenic Taxi Federation (POEIATA) and in case of a renewed refusal, then it is provided for their distribution by the local unions. For those unions that refuse to facilitate taxi operators by receiving and distributing to them the signs produced by AADE, then the obligation to produce signs by the liable taxi owners themselves, at their own expense and in accordance with the specifications defined by AADE.

Those taxi owners who refuse to comply with the provisions of the law then the imposition of a fine of 1,000 euros per violation.

The Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis said: “No one is above the law! Taxi representatives were required to receive and then distribute special signage informing customers of the obligation to also accept payments via POS. The refusal to receive the markings – which were produced free of charge for taxi professionals by AADE – practically means a refusal to apply the legislation. I will not be a mere observer of lawlessness nor am I willing to turn a blind eye to cases of refusal to apply the law. This is why we are proceeding to tighten the deadlines and the overall process so that in 5 weeks at the most from today the taxi professionals will have implemented their obligation. An obligation that applies in many other European countries!’

In detail, the process and the strict time frames provided for the supply and installation of the special markings are analyzed as follows:

  • Taxi professionals must have affixed the label to the taxi vehicle they operate within 3 weeks of receiving it from the Panhellenic Taxi Federation (POEIATA) and its member unions.
  • AADE sends a written invitation to POEIATA for the receipt of the signs and the latter must, within five working days, notify the person in charge of receipt and the method of receipt of the signs from the competent department of AADE.
  • In case of refusal of receipt by the Panhellenic Federation or non-practical lapse of the five-day deadline, the primary unions have an obligation, within 10 days of the notification of the non-practical lapse or refusal of receipt by the Federation, to inform AADE digitally by email to the address aadesupplies @aade.gr, that they will receive the said labels for the debtors of their region, stating the person in charge of receipt and the method of receipt they wish. The methods of collection are either from AADE facilities or by courier at their own expense. In this case, a deadline for affixing the signs to the taxi vehicles is 3 weeks from the date of receipt of the signs.
  • In case of refusal of receipt by the association or the lapse of the ten-day deadline, the obligees must ensure the production of signs, in accordance with the specifications that have been set and then proceed to affix them to the taxi vehicles, within 3 weeks of its expiration as more than a ten-day deadline.
  • Within 5 days of the expiry of the deadline, the primary associations that received labels are obliged to send to AADE a list of the persons liable to receive the labels from them together with the registration number of these vehicles.