With wishes for the Sunday of the Saints and a reference to Seferis, the prime minister began today, a significantly shorter, weekly review, noting that, despite the more comprehensive style, the government’s work continues with undiminished intensity.
On the front of the international economy, he referred to the disruption caused by the US decision to impose duties, underlining the steady Greek position in favor of a single European attitude and a calm approach. He spoke of the need for an EU-US zero duties agreement, a proposal that-as he said-found a positive response from President Trump.
Inside, the focus was the successful start of this year’s tax returns, with a dramatic increase in submissions and pre -filled statements. The prime minister attributed the progress to the reform institutionalized under Hatzidakis ministry, which introduces a fixed timetable and tax deduction for timely payment.
He also presented the new digital platform Myoey.live.gov.gr, which serves exporters and investors in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry’s OSA offices, as well as legislation suspending criminal prosecution for consistent indebted borrowers.
For the forthcoming increase in ferry tickets due to new European regulations, the government reduces the port fees by 50% for one year, funded by the Green Fund.
The prime minister closed with reference to “My Home II” program and the immigrant refund policy, noting that the government remains committed to tax justice, supporting vulnerable and stable immigration line.
See the entire post of the Prime Minister:
Good morning to everyone. Sunday of the Saints today, one of the top Sundays of Orthodoxy and the beginning of the Great …
Posted by Kyriakos mitsotakis on Saturday, April 12, 2025
“Good morning to everyone. Sunday of the Saints today, one of the top Sundays of Orthodoxy and the beginning of the Holy Week, “of the highest form of spring”, as George Seferis writes in his tests.
In recent weeks, reviews have come out a little more extensive -perhaps marathons. The intention was good, I wanted to let you know about as much as I can, but I understand that the text was great. Today, however, you will find that it is shorter -we will see if I will be able to keep this for the next. This, of course, in no way does not mean that government work is limited to what I mention. So before I go through what I have to tell you, let me a few words about the great turmoil that has erupted in international markets and the global economy due to the imposition of US duties.
Greece insisted from the beginning that there is a single reaction from the EU, to weigh the new data with calm and moderation, with no spasmodic movements and unnecessary escalation. I think, as I said in a recent interview with US media, that we can find a “win-win” solution to trade between Europe and the United States. A solution that will be mutually beneficial. An agreement, for example, zero duties between the EU and the US.
I have heard President Trump agreeing with the Greek proposal and we are of course welcoming as the EU his announcement for a three -month suspension of tariff policy. We agree, however, with President von Der Laen that in any case, Europe needs to step up its efforts to remove obstacles in our single market and focus on diversifying its trade relations, turning to countries in favor of free and open exchanges.
In this new environment, our economy is ready to face any new challenges, as it has done it effectively to date, while implementing our commitments to citizens. The fiscal health and responsibility, along with the governmental and parliamentary stability on which we built all our policies, is even more important in a world threatened by geopolitical tensions and economic tricks. With stability and determination, we will overcome this difficult time and get even stronger.
Let’s go to the review now. Finally, there is a classroom in the process of submitting tax returns in our country, as in most European countries. During my visit to the AADE headquarters a few days ago, I was informed that, after the filing of the statements began, within three weeks, that is, 1,155,685 tax returns were submitted, increased by almost 150% compared to the corresponding period of 2024, almost 400%! In addition, about 100,000 more were pre-paid and pre-cleaned statements compared to last year, thanks to the timely-now-in-law-registration of all public bodies in the Special Register of AADE.
What changed in this field? We have become Europe, to invoke Kostis Hatzidakis in the days of which the Ministry of National Economy and Finance adopted the self -evident but crucial reform. Bodies, state -owned and not, give time to all the necessary supporting documents for statements and are punished with sanctions if they do not do the obvious. Tax returns will be submitted each year at the same time. And those who submit and pay their statements within specific dates of this period will have a tax deduction of up to 4%.
This is no doubt a change of example from the Greek State. The new system, without continuous extensions, gives the state a much better picture of its revenue and budget execution. It can therefore be – and it is – much more consistent in its obligations to citizens. To date, almost 94% of the tax refunds and set -offs have been rendered from the submitted statements of natural persons. With the forthcoming AADE initiatives to digitize transactions and market controls, our goal is to take another important step for tax and justice.
Another step for more and more substantial support for vulnerable indebted borrowers is the new legislation suggested by the government and was passed this week. What does it predict? The suspension of criminal prosecution for those debtors who have been subject to debt by a law or by a judicial decision or by an administrative body or by suspending debt collection. In this way, the state actually supports citizens and businesses trying to settle their debts to the public and insurance bodies. In the event of a full repayment of their debt, the offense is eliminated. At the same time, we give a second chance to businesses that had been included in the regulation of the out -of -court mechanism, but were excluded due to non -payment of at least three installments. These legal entities will have the right, within one month of the entry into force of the law, to re -appoint a request to the State and the insurance funds and to receive a new regulation proposal.
We have created another tool that facilitates those who want to export Greek products, invest or operate business in our country. I am referring to the new digital platform myoey.live.gov.gr, which enables businessmen and investors to make a digital appointment and make telecommunications with specialized employees of the Foreign Ministry’s financial and commercial affairs. Through this service, interested parties can receive all the necessary information – for the establishment of a business, investment plans, resolution of commercial disputes or participation in development programs – without the need for physical presence, but through safe and encrypted channel. The platform is already available for the OSE offices in Toronto, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Johannesburg, Belgrade and Rome, with the aim of gradually expanding to the entire worldwide network of 51 offices.
Let’s go to the issue of ferry tickets and I will first explain what is going on. From 1/5/2025 new EU regulations are implemented that impose additional costs on the ferry due to the transition to more environmentally friendly fuel. This means that ferry companies will pay more for fuel, which is expected to raise ticket prices. The government is therefore interfering with this part and by an amendment by the Ministry of Shipping, the port fees are reduced by 50%for one year. Therefore, this reduces the total costs paid by the ferry for the use of ports and will thus be able to contain the cost of tickets, despite the increases imposed by the new EU regulations. Funding this initiative – ie the loss of the Port Authority’s revenue.
The implementation of the “My Home II” program, totaling € 2 billion, continues unabated. Within the first 2.5 months, there are 4,356 active subcontinent of EUR 520 million, accounting for 26% of the program budget. This means that interested parties have been assured that they are eligible, have received a bank’s approval, found real estate, and have proceeded with their applications to the Hellenic Development Bank. Half of them are up to 37 years old, 6 in 10 are married and over half have income from 12,000 to 24,000 euros. Also, 440 loans with an additional interest rate subsidy to three-way families. The housing is one of the most important, perhaps the most important issue that concerns citizens. That is why the government is implementing a total of 40 interventions of 6.5 billion euros, with the aim of increasing the available houses for both purchases and rentals, reducing rental prices and supporting our fellow citizens, especially the most vulnerable, in order to be able to get their own home or rent.
Latest issue today: With no problems, two other returns of 160 third -country nationals have been carried out to their countries of origin, either voluntarily under the program supervised by the International Organization for Migration, or because asylum requests were finally rejected. On the issue that arose on Turkey, the Joint Decision of the Ministers of Migration and Foreign Affairs, which includes the neighboring country into the national list of safe third countries on specific categories of applicants for international protection that have illegally entered Greece, was published. A decision that constitutes complete compliance with the recent crisis of the Council of State. I’ll say it again: The government is implementing a fair but rigorous immigration policy, with respect to human rights and rules of international law. When we started this policy in 2020, we were the exception to the EU. Now everyone in Europe understands the importance of border protection.
Somewhere here I close today’s, definitely a smaller review. Thank you for the time you devoted. I wish everyone and everyone had a great time these holy days, to meet with those you love, to find the time for a break from the friction of everyday life. The next review will be after Easter, always with government actions that improve the daily lives of citizens. Good Sunday and good Resurrection! “