“Our goal is to reduce VAT on the islands, the gradual abolition of ENFIA and the overall measures to reduce taxes to families, young people, freelancers and farmers to operate all this together in a way that will give local communities even greater income support. Especially in our Akritis and those who keep the country upright with greater difficulties. “

This label was made, inter alia, by the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis during an interview on Aeolos TV television. The minister agreed that a 30% VAT reduction in the acritical islands of the Northern Aegean Region, the Prefecture of Evros and the Dodecanese Prefecture is coming to correct an injustice, as it was only in force on five islands that maintain refugee reception areas.

Mr Pierrakakis characterized the first messages received by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance for the measures. “The general response to tax reform is very positive,” he said, answering a question, stressing that it is going to become even more positive when citizens understand the difference in practice.

Indeed, as he added, the targeted reducing VAT on acrimonious and other small islands has resulted in this measure concerning the entire local community, as there is the particularity that most businesses belong to islands.

The minister pointed out that the best recipe for supporting citizens at the moment is “development every year”, explaining that this way the dividend of this development will be able to return to society and especially to those who need it.

While referring to the “great pending”, as he characteristically he said, the change of the country’s productive model remains in order to achieve real convergence with the European Union.

“The country almost bankrupt three times. We had to cover the territory of the lost decade and at the same time support the income of the citizens, but without the repetition of the same mistake. “

At this point he also referred to the important role the islands can play in this direction, as very good Greek products, such as those in the Greek islands, must reach as many as possible.

The minister also answered the transport equivalent, a tool for supporting islands. “Last year, our 425,000 islanders were supported by the shipping equivalent and € 88 million, if I am not mistaken, which was the total cost of tickets, 42 million were covered by the state budget, by the Public Investment Program. I know there were some delays, though by June 10 this year, the 9 million had already been paid, “he said, adding that” our goal is to get even faster, in an even more effective way, so that we can support our islanders – after all, it is financially in financial way. “