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The guaranteed minimum profit on the sale of fruit and vegetables, which was applied to traders in agricultural products until today, will be repealed. This is what the Minister of Regional Development and Competitiveness Michalis Chrysohoidis promised by saying that he would reduce the producer and end-consumer price difference for a number of goods and services as part of the market liberalization programme. The crisis and the financial stagnation cornered the government of George Papandreou and his ministers have to act quickly in reforming the local economy, which had to start operating on the base of free market principles, without state protection in different sectors years ago.

Little has been done in this direction eighteen months after the announcement of the market liberalization reforms, assessed the international economic observers. After Greece’s inclusion in the rescue plan of Europe and the International Monetary Fund, the Greek people are still struggling with their old habits to "buy" the public peace with promises of guaranteed minimum profit and income security. The lack of liquidity and the non-productive state, however, exhausted all the possibilities of the current government to maintain this policy. The changes are expected to allow consumers to take a breath as they will have access to essential goods at lower prices.
 
Along with the liberalization of trade in fruits and vegetables comes the cancellation of the regulation, according to which baby foods can not be sold in chains other than pharmacies. According to the new law, which the Ministry of Regional Development and Competitiveness is preparing, baby foods and supplements will be available in supermarkets across the country, which is expected to decrease their prices by half. The law regulating the operation of open markets in central Athens and Thessaloniki is expected to be revised too. The Ministry is currently in the process of selecting consultants who will help to optimize open markets’ activities.

The fuel market will also change after the Ministry has recorded significant differences in the prices of gasoline and diesel oil along the highways in Greece. According to Minister Chrysohoidis, the profit margin for fuel retailers has not changed compared to the period before the excise duty increase until 2010 and remained around 7%. Some experts even argue that it has grown, but this is due to the speculative increase in prices in more remote areas. Michalis Chrysohoidis urged owners of petrol stations on the highways to comply with the difficult economic situation and not to further inflate the prices. Chrysohoidis stressed that if his proposal is not taken into account, he will put a ceiling on prices and those who do not comply with it will be penalized.