Commission’s response to SYRIZA MEPs
“The prime minister at a press conference he gave to the TIF denied that he knows anything about the breach of his government the transfer of two European directives on reduced rates VAT in basic items and the special status for small businesses.
That is, the country’s prime minister claimed that he was unaware that the European Commission has begun a process of violating Greece for not incorporating the instructions, “the announcement said in a statement SYRIZA-PS.
“Let’s inform him about the latest developments as-for his bad luck-a few hours before his speech at the TIF, the Commissioner Hoekstra answered a question from the SYRIZA-PSP Eurogroup,” the statement said, and the following details are said:
-On January 31, 2025, the European Commission sent a warning letter to the Mitsotakis government and has since received no answer.
-On July 16, 2025, the SYRIZA Eurogroup submitted a question to the Commission on the issue in question.
-On July 17, 2025, the Commission sent the Greek government a reasoned opinion by passing the next stage of the process of violating it.
-On September 5, 2025, Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has notified MEPs for his response to the Commission. “
According to SYRIZA’s announcement, in his response, the Commissioner said that “Greece has not transferred the two instructions within the deadline that ended on 31-12-24that the process of violating and that Greece has been in the process of responding two months to respond, deadline after which the European Commission can refer Greece to the EU court requesting the imposition of financial sanctions. “
“But beyond the government’s refusal to implement the Prime Minister’s directive and evasions, the core of the problem is in the fact that the government has no political will to implement reduced rates. For very basic species such as diet, medicines, transport, social housing, to reduce taxation by taxation in the country’s island regions And to apply favorable arrangements and VAT exemption for small businesses, “SYRIZA-PS notes, commenting that” while the EU is legislating to deal with inflation and accuracy, the ND not only refuses to convey the relevant instructions but refuses to relieve citizens, “small businesses.”
“And let’s say that” he doesn’t know the issue “…” he concludes and quotes the entire response of Commissioner Hoekstra to the question of SYRIZA-PS MEPs:
“The Commission attaches great importance to the timely and proper transfer of EU directives.
Because of the fact that Greece had not transferred the provisions of Council Directive 2020/285 by 31 December 2024, on December 3124, on 18 February 2020[1] and (ii) of Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of April 5th 2022[2]the committee decided to move a breach procedure[3] Against Greece.
The Commission sent the official notification letters on January 31, 2025. Since Greece did not respond to the letters[4].
Greece now has two months to respond to justified opinions and take the necessary measures. In the event of non -compliance, the Commission may decide to refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union with a request for the imposition of financial sanctions.
[1] Council Directive (EU) 2020/285 on 18 February 2020 on the amendment of Directive 2006/112/EC on the common value added tax system for the special status for small businesses.
[2] Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of 5 April 2022 on the amendment of Directives 2006/112/EC and 2020/285 in terms of value added tax rates.
[3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/el/inf_25_273.
[4] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_25_1628ยป.
In detail, the question of SYRIZA MEPs on July 16, 2025:
“On January 31, the Commission sent letters of official notice to the Greek Government on the non -transfer of Directive (EU) 2022/542 and Directive (EU) 2020/285. The Directive (EU) 2022/542[2] allows Member States, among other things: a) to determine highly reduced VAT rates (even lower than 5%) and exemptions with the right to deduct VAT for basic foodstuffs, medical products, passengers and goods transport, construction and supply of housing in social policy, etc. and b) Reduce VAT by 30% in specific areas of their territory (for Greece, in the prefectures of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Dodecanese and Cyclades, as well as in the islands of Thassos, Northern Sporades, Samothrace and Skyros).
Directive (EU) 2020/285 provides for simplified VAT rules for small businesses, as well as the possibility of exemption from VAT supplies of goods and services, provided that the annual turnover does not exceed EUR 85,000.
Since the Greek Government has not transferred the above instructions (deadline: December 31, 2024) and the two -month deadline for explaining has expired, the Commission is required to answer the following questions:
1. Has the Greek Government answered, providing clear explanations for the delay in transferring directives to national law?
2. If so, does the Commission consider the answers satisfactory and include a specific timetable for the transfer of directives to national law?
3. What does the Commission intend to do to ensure the above possible transfer of the above directives to national law? “