The Best of GRReporter
flag_bg flag_gr flag_gb

The measures that are to be voted on Wednesday and that frighten the government

20 July 2015 / 16:07:00  GRReporter
2089 reads

The second package that the Greek parliament has to vote on Wednesday includes measures that many lawmakers from both the ruling coalition and the opposition have already opposed.

Taxation for farmers and the notorious fund of 50 billion euro are just two of the problematic issues that the government has to tackle not to lose more MPs during the voting on Wednesday.

The parliament has to vote on the following measures:

  • The gradual cancellation of tax breaks for farmers and increase in the taxes imposed on them. The tax rate will increase from 13% to 26% and fuel subsidies for farmers will be eliminated.
  • The planned increase in the rates of income tax on rents is as follows: a) from 11% to 15% for incomes of up to 12,000 euro, b) from 33% to 35% for incomes exceeding 12,000 euro.
  • Adoption of a new Civil Procedure Code to expedite the administration of justice.
  • The single tax on real estate will be in force for two more years. In addition, no changes in tax assessments should affect the targets set for the period 2015-2016 and the planned revenues of 2.65 billion euro per year.
  • The limit on exempting small businesses from the VAT regime will increases from 10,000 euro to 25,000 euro.
  • The allocated aid for heating will gradually decrease. However, it is not excluded to reduce the special consumer tax on heating fuel, which is currently equal to that on fuel for cars.
  • The solidarity contribution will become permanent and it will be included in the tax table to be deducted each month from salaries and pensions.
  • With regard to overdue loans, the regulations of 2014 and 2015 on the contributions to tax authorities and social security funds will be changed to exclude big debtors and those who are not regularly repaying their current liabilities. In addition, the interest rates applicable at present will also increase and they will be determined based on the market rate.
  • Gradual abolition of early retirement.
  • Changes in auctions for the sale of a primary residence due to unpaid instalments and in the limit on funds subject to seizure from bank accounts.

The following changes should be voted by 22 July:

  • The adoption of the Civil Procedure Code, which can significantly accelerate judicial procedures and reduce costs.
  • The transposition of the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive that applies to credit institutions and investment firms into national law, with the help of the European Union.

At a later stage, the Greek government has to reach an agreement with creditors and approve in parliament the following legislative initiatives, namely to:

  • Implement ambitious reforms in the pension system.
  • Outline policies to fully offset the financial effect from the decision of the State Council in conjunction with the pension reform of 2012.
  • Apply the zero deficit clause or alternative measures that have to be mutually agreed by October 2015.
  • Proceed to reforms in product markets under a fixed schedule (instruments of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), which will refer to the following: a) opening of shops on Sundays b) sales periods, c) ownership of pharmacies d) dairy products and bakeries. The medicines sold without a prescription, the opening of the so-called closed professions and the processing industry will follow next.
  • Proceed to the privatization of the independent operator of electricity transmission.
  • Strictly revise and update the collective agreements, strike actions and mass layoffs.
  • Make steps towards strengthening of banks (forecasting bad loans).
  • Make progress in the privatization process and transfer assets of the country to an independent fund with headquarters in Greece.
  • Depoliticise the Greek public administration.
  • The supervisory Troika to return to Athens for checks on the spot and the government to be “obliged to consult and agree with the institutions with regard to all relevant laws in the specific areas well before they are offered for public discussion or voting in parliament.”
  • Change the legislation that is not in accordance with the Agreement of 20 February or set clear equivalents.
Tags: MeasuresGovernmentParliamentCreditorsAgreementReforms
SUPPORT US!
GRReporter’s content is brought to you for free 7 days a week by a team of highly professional journalists, translators, photographers, operators, software developers, designers. If you like and follow our work, consider whether you could support us financially with an amount at your choice.
Subscription
You can support us only once as well.
blog comments powered by Disqus