Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM, transport minister discuss 'green transports', OSE, OA

[02] Tax evasion is 'deeply anti-social'

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM, transport minister discuss 'green transports', OSE, OA

Hatzidakis stressed afterwards that the government has decided to "put order" in OSE, which he noted was the most problematic state organization, with 2 million euros in losses per day.

He explained that OSE posted annual revenues of 100 million euros, whereas its expenditures were 800 million euros, adding that the organization's salary expenses alone were quadruple its revenues.

The government, Hatzidakis underlined, was determined to advance transparency and not display tolerance for "people who stuck their finger in the jar of honey".

The minister said that the financial crimes service's (YPEE) inspection would continue, and that the government will do everything possible to assist it, "having at our side the trade unionists and employees, the overwhelming majority of who are not to blame for these phenomena".

He further said that the OSE modernization program would continue, founded on the triptych "safety, transparency, financial rationalization", noting that the detailed plan would be unveiled in the first half of August.

On OA, he reiterated that a solution must be forthcoming by the end of the year, following agreement with the European Commission, adding that the two last months of the year would be the most crucial.

He said the carrier has been a problematic country, under all the governments, and that all methods introduced to date to address the problem had proved ineffective, and stressed that a healthy solution must be found in order to finally put an end to the issue.

Caption: Prime miister Costas Karamanlis. (File photo ANA-MPA/M. Marogianni)

[02] Tax evasion is 'deeply anti-social'

Both Alogoskoufis and deputy minister Antonis Bezas noted that a number of measures have already been applied to curb tax evasion, and stressed that the effort would continue.

Alogoskoufis spoke at length on the taxation reform, adding, however, that all the indicators confirmed that the taxation system was neither as efficient, nor as fair, as it should be.

He said that tax evasion by various professions and in revenues from capital was widespread, but added that, despite what was being said, overall tax evasion in Greece was lower than the EU average, accounting for 31.4 percent of the combined direct and indirect taxation, compared with 39.9 percent in the entire EU.

Alogoskoufis said that the greatest part of taxation burdened employees and pensioners, with taxes on salary incomes and pensions accounting for 79 percent of overall taxation.

The taxation system, he continued, needed to become fairer and more efficient.

The initiatives on taxation reform that have been taken to date have already produced yield, and had resulted in the real economy having exceptionally better tolerance in the face of the international economic turmoil, Alogoskoufis explained.

"The real economy appears to be holding up and developing satisfactorily," the minister said, adding that although there was a slowdown, nevertheless, despite the exceptionally difficult international situation, investments were proceeding and unemployment was falling.

Alogoskoufis further stressed that if there was no tax evasion, there would be lower tax coefficients across the board.

He said the ministry's cross-checks were continuing, the auditing mechanisms were being boosted with the appropriate means, and the results were visible, while results have also been yielded by the measures taken on the oil market.

Alogoskoufis noted that tax evasion was also ascertained among salary earners, citing as an example employees who declare their incomes from their main job, but not income from second jobs.

Combating tax evasion continued to be among the priorities of the government, given that the state revenues should be increasing, he said. The efforts for increasing revenues and reducing expenditures must continue, Alogoskoufis said, adding that the deficit should not only be contained at below 3 percent but should gradually be eliminated.

Another problem that needed to be addressed was the public debt, which was a plague on the Greek economy, he said.

Finally, Alogoskoufis explained that one of the main goals of increasing revenues from taxation will be expansion of the taxation base.

Bezas, in turn, said that curbing tax evasion was a demand of the entire society, and that the efforts must be constant and incessant.

He also referred to addressing the problem of fuel trafficking and the systems applied, while also presenting the measures to be taken against trafficking in marine fuels, for which a specialized control system titled "Poseidon" will be established.

Under that system, services of the economy and finance ministry will electronically monitor all movement of marine fuel, a sector in which trafficking and tax evasion has also been ascertained.

Bezas stressed that the measures for stamping out tax evasion will continue at all levels.

Caption: Economy and finance minister George Alogoskoufis addressing the National Council against Tax Evasion. (ANA-MPA/O. Panagiotou)

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The devastating fires in Attica and other parts of the country, the FYROM issue, and outgoing head of the committee formed to combat money laundering George Zorbasâ testimony in Parliament, were the main front-page items in Thursdayâs dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Attica (prefecture) in flames again - Devastating fires in Varibobi, Krioneri".

APOGEVMATINI: "Gruevski (FYROM prime minister) slapped by Barroso (European Commission president) and Merkel (German chancellor) - Panama withdraws recognition under the name 'Macedonia', adopts the term FYROM".

AVGHI: "Zorbas against (Economy and Finance Minister George) Alogoskoufis and (Supreme Court Prosecutor George) Sanidas - Swan song by Zorbas in Parliament" (following the abolition of the independent money laundering watchdog he headed and its repacement with a new agency).

AVRIANI: "500 pages with bribe recipients and kickbacks based on 9 bank accounts belonging to (former Siemens General Director) Prodromos Mavridis".

CHORA: "Anyone who dares can move against the government - Clear message by (government headquarters) Maximos Mansion targeting pawns serving 'known' interests".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Former head of the committee against black money Zorbas appeared bitter in parliament".

ELEFTHEROS: "Shocking revelations against the government and Justice by Zorbas".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "85,413,152 euros looted from farmers - Government to rebate fuel taxes".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Zorbas left the government exposed concerning the cases of the structured bonds, Siemens, Germanos".

ESTIA: "PASOK-SYRIZA collaboration - Why it is impossible".

ETHNOS: "Accusations of scandal cover ups - Zorbas attacks Alogoskoufis-Sanidas".

KATHIMERINI: "Clash between Alogoskoufis and Zorbas".

LOGOS: "Intervention on passenger ferry ticket prices - Competition Committee requests authorization".

NIKI: "Zorbasâ accusations against Alogoskoufis - Shocking testimony in Parliament".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Health and pension card to be introduced - Healthcare slashed down, intense business activity in the sector".

TA NEA: "Zorbasâ accusations against the government, Sanidas - Serious allegations on scandal cover ups".

TO VIMA: "Accusations by Zorbas - Attacks on the government and Justice".

VRADYNI: "Great real estate deals in upgraded regions across Greece - Used houses in big demand".

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