On the occasion of fines imposed last week on two large supermarket chainsspoke to ERTnews, the Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos.
As he said, this is a simple application of the law. The ministry’s control mechanisms, in the first case, carried out a check for a profit breach and, in the second, for breach of the Code of Conduct.
The minister stressed that the ministry has nothing to do with any businessman and any business, but that they have to apply the laws.
Glomex Player(eexbs1jkdkewvzn, v-dd3dlv15g7ux)
In addition, Mr Theodorikakos sent a clear message that the checks would continue normally, noting that the ministry has taken an initiative that will occur in Parliament in the next few weeks to create the new independent consumer protection authority and supervision.
The state is here to defend the public interest and protection of the occupation, Mr. Theodorikakos stressed, noting that anyone who wants to appeal to justice has every right to do so and at the end of the day, justice decides on everything.
In addition, the minister stressed that if there was the independent authority today and had its own control mechanisms that did their job, as it has happened now, the debate would be much more limited, because it would not be the subject of party and political confrontation.
“The process will pass through the House, so it will be independent of the political circle of the government,” he noted.
“They will endow him with new auditors and serious digital means to make controls and citizens in this legislative initiative, with this reform, I believe that they will feel that we are careful in practice … We are creating an even better condition for the good of the Greek society.”
Asked about whether the fines are collected, the minister explicitly responded positively.
“Look, prices are shaped through the market and everyone who watches us and you know that they are determined by supply and demand. That is why most of our actions falls on what we do to make the Greek economy stronger and more productive and what we do to boost the disposable income of Greek citizens. Hence the measures already announced by the prime minister a few weeks ago by reducing taxation and reinforcement in this way the salaries received by employees, depending on how many children they have. Also the very serious measure and I want to emphasize this funding with a rent for those who live in the rent of every November. Which I find to be the most serious and intervention measure that the government has taken to support people who find it difficult to get them out and households who are being tested, as the real accuracy, if we want to talk and say things in their name, is the great increase in rent.
Concerning supermarkets, the minister said that “certainly the data you have announced in general show a healthy and dynamic market, because you properly noticed that there is an increase in the real volume of transactions. This is a positive element. But we are obliged to do what we can do for both people and households that do not make it difficult. “
Mr. Theodorikakos noted that next week, Wednesday, he is going to meet with representatives of supermarkets, noting that he has met with the Hellenic Associations, with the Association of the Hellenic Food Industry, which is positive and is going to participate in this case.
Regarding the increases in products, the minister said, “In the winter that passed, after very hard pressure on the market, we spent four months with negative inflation in food, which was the smallest eurozone food inflation. These to describe reality. And now food inflation is in the order of about 2.5%. We are on average both the European Union and the Eurozone “, reiterating that” we are interested in the whole of society, so we are particularly interested in people who find it difficult to get over. “
As to whether the ministry is considering some measures to prevent accuracy, Mr. Theodorikakos “I have announced a measure that will continue to be kept and is that they will not be able to make offers and discounts on products that have made price for the last 3 months. This is a measure that I know is pushing the market and hurting it, but they need to understand that this is necessary because it is a method to think of businesses very seriously before they are priced. Two of the initiatives that end now, at the end of October, with the obligation of supermarkets to inform you of any price and to announce the prices of fruit and vegetables. “