Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-02

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't unveils short-term priority legislation; invites opposition to pension reform dialogue

[02] New property tax regime pending

[01] Gov't unveils short-term priority legislation; invites opposition to pension reform dialogue

The first three bills will go to Parliament on Thursday, in accordance with government pledges before the elections, Roussopoulos stressed.

Among these is bill on combatting tax evasion, which includes new tax breaks (with discounts for receipts of various services); another bill increases public-sector pensions for 2007 and one deals with the management, control and implementation of 4th Community Support Framework (CSF) projects, also known as the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).

Other draft bills due to be tabled in short order are a finance ministry bill for the foundation of the National Social Cohesion Fund, an interior ministry bill regulating issues dealing with independent authorities and a general inspector for public administration, as well as a public administration inspectors' corps, Roussopoulos added.

Also pending are a national defence ministry bill on invalids of war and personnel issues, a legislative framework for research and technology -- being prepared by the development ministry -- and an environment ministry draft bill ratifying the construction contract for the Elefsina-Corinth-Patras-Pyrgos-Tsakonas national highway, a National Spatial Planning bill and individual special town planning bills, an employment ministry bill on creating an e-government company for social insurance, a bill on protecting cultural goods and a bill on the rights and obligations of passengers and owners of shipping companies regarding safety in ships, ports and port facilities.

Caption: Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is shown chairing a Cabinet meeting in a photo dated Monday, Sept. 19, 2005. ANA-MPA / P. SAITAS.

[02] New property tax regime pending

In an interview, the minister said the aim was for citizens pay a small duty for their real estate holdings (excluding the first home), similar to the regime in most other developed countries around the world.

"We want to simplify property taxation by abolishing a series of taxes that create problems, such as the inheritance tax, but we also want to deal with wide-scale tax-evasion in the real estate sector. A great deal more property owners will pay under this new system," he noted.

Alogoskoufis underlined that municipal taxes and duties were not going to be affected, while the government will maintain a Value Added Tax on new building constructions.

"We will present our proposals for a single property tax and we will hear all the views of interest parties on the issue. New legislation will be introduced as of next year," Alogoskoufis said.

Commenting on a high-profile plan to harmonise fuel taxes on heating and diesel oil, part of a plan to combat massive sector-wide tax-evasion, Alogoskoufis said all citizens buying heating oil will get a tax refund through banks.

Caption: A file photo of FinMin George Alogoskoufis. ANA-MPA / A. BELTES

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