Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Positive measures agreed with lenders include lower tax rates, new jobs, household support

[02] Missing passport delays former minister's release from prison

[01] Positive measures agreed with lenders include lower tax rates, new jobs, household support

Some of the measures are the following:

Revenues –Taxes

-Reduction of tax rate for businesses to 26 pct from 29 pct

-Reduction of tax rates for individuals to 20 pct from 22 pct

-Reduction of unified property tax (ENFIA) by 200 million euros and recalculation, in the immediate future, of property prices based on market value.

Expenses

Rent subsidy

-Total amount is 600 million euros

-Will cover about half of the country's households that live on rent or have a mortgage with a monthly subsidy which may reach up to 1,000 euros per year.

Family subsidy

-Increase by 260 million euros of the existing budget for family benefits

-Tackling child poverty

-Aim is to increase the benefit on the first and second child, while at the same time supporting those with three children

Jobs

-Creation of more than 30,000 new jobs

-Aim of program is productive reconstruction and halting the flight of young scientists (brain drain)

-It will concern both the public and private sector

-The company will commit to keeping the employee for six months after the expiration of the program

Public Investment Programs (PIP)

-Increase of the public investments program for rural production infrastructure (water supply networks, rural roads, irrigation channels etc.) as well as energy saving schemes for buildings.

Reducing solidarity levy

Income (per year) Levy due (%)

0 – 12,000 0% (same)

12,000 – 20,000 0% (from 2.2%)

20,001 – 30,000 0% (from 5.0%)

30,001 – 40,000 5.0% (from 6.5%)

40,001 – 65,000 7.0% (from 7.5%)

65,001 – 220,000 9.0% (same)

220,000 and up 10% (same)

[02] Missing passport delays former minister's release from prison

Last week, Tsohatzopoulos, who is serving a 20-year sentence for money-laundering, managed to raise the 200,000-euro bail demanded by the court and is now hoping he will be released on Wednesday.

According to the sources, his lawyers had difficulty locating the agency that has held their client's passport since his conviction in time. The document has to be resubmitted to the authorities, as he is not allowed to leave the country. The same sources said this is the last hurdle before his release, adding all other bureaucratic procedures have been settled.

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