Parliament: The s/n on excise, customs and other tax regulations was voted

The bill of the Ministry of Finance was voted by a large majority by the Plenary which integrates into national law the European directive on the establishment of the general regime of excise duties, the exercise of customs representation and the regulation of the profession of customs representative and other customs and tax regulations. ND, SYRIZA and PASOK-KINAL voted in favor of the bill, KKE and MeRA25 voted against, while Hellenic Solution declared “present”.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Apostolos Vesyropoulos, emphasized that the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues to implement its reform agenda through institutional interventions, such as those included in this bill, which brings about significant changes both by incorporating into Greek legislation Directive 2020/ 262 of the Council of December 14, 2019 for the establishment of the general regime of excise taxes as well as reforming the terms and conditions for customs representation, as well as the conditions for exercising the profession of customs broker. He also pointed out that all the provisions of the bill meet all the conditions to receive broad cross-party support, as both in the consultation process and during the hearing of the entities in the Economic Affairs Committee it was a common finding that it is moving in a positive direction.

“The bill shows the government’s firm commitment to the reform and modernization logic that our times demand. We are responding to the constant challenges posed to international trade in an environment that is constantly transforming. The explosion of e-commerce, the integration of technology into every process, international agreements and EU law set new standards, standards that make it necessary to create a modern and stable institutional framework in the regime of excise duties and customs representation. We are meeting this need. We are essentially introducing a set of interventions in the current legislative framework that echo the spirit of modernization, simplification and acceleration of processes.We not only respond to the multiple and complex modern challenges in the field of international trade transactions, but also reduce distortions, cancel bureaucratic obstacles, abolish outdated regulations and anachronisms. We introduce innovative, smarter and more effective predictions in a challenging environment. In essence, these are regulations that will be added to our government’s strategic agenda for fundamental and brave reforms that have been systematically implemented over the last three years and are gradually spreading to all branches of the Greek economy,” emphasized the ND rapporteur, Savvas Anastasiadis.

On behalf of SYRIZA, Tryfon Alexiadis, emphasized that the bill concerns many serious matters, such as the issue of smuggling, the explosion of precision, especially in this period, which highlights the problem with the customs mechanisms with the lack of executives, while it is a product dialogue with social actors. However, he expressed his disagreement with individual articles such as article 52, which he stated is a favorable arrangement for shipowners, while other groups of taxpayers do not enjoy corresponding provisions. All the other parties also disagreed with this specific provision, with Kostas Skandalidis on behalf of PASOK – KINAL asking why a small businessman who got a tax suspension or refund starts in 2022 and the shipowners pay in 2024 and 2025?

Mr. Skandalidis, however, at the beginning of the bill emphasized that it is a substantial modernization of the services related to customs representation and regulation of the profession of the customs representative, while with the integration of Directive 2020/262 it is streamlined and adapted to common European practices the excise duty regime.

The special buyer of the KKE, Maria Komninaka, said that in essence this is a bill cut and sewn to the needs of big capital, which is directed against the rights of workers, employees and self-employed who are active in the profession of customs representation.

Vasilios Viliardos, special buyer of the Hellenic Solution, underlined that this is an issue with significant ramifications in terms of criminality and lost proceeds from the smuggling of fuel, tobacco and alcoholic beverages, with different amounts and importance and complained that he did not receive answers to the issues which he raised in reference to the provisions for customs officers.

The special buyer of MERA25, Giorgos Logiadis, said that his party does not trust either the current government, or any other government of any party or parties of the memorandum of understanding in any policy area, which also applies to the wider tax framework.

Tourism amendment

The amendments of the Ministry of Tourism concerning entrepreneurship and the holistic face that Greek tourism should have were also incorporated into the bill, as stated by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sofia Zaharakis. One amendment concerns the determination of the payments of the president of the managing director and the members of the Board of Directors of IPE (thermal springs). The second amendment concerns the new program of the “Tourism for All” electronic platform, based on which payments for businesses will be non-seizureable, non-assignable and tax-free. As Ms. Zaharaki informed, with the second version of the Program, significant changes are taking place, according to which: The immaterial card is launched (which will be valid until 2013) the payment will be immediate when the beneficiary uses it, they will make the applications citizens, 200,000 of them will be paid electronically and will be able to use them immediately. Also, the amount of the subsidy was increased from 120 to 150 euros and for people with disabilities it was increased from 150 to 200 euros. The budget is 30 million instead of the 20 million that were absorbed in the last two years.

Rural Development Amendment

The amendment was also incorporated with which for the first time compensations are given in the pre-flowering stage, while from the end of July advances will be made available to farmers for crops affected by natural disasters of the “‘Spring ’21” frost. “The government, in derogation of the provisions of the ELGA, gives the Organization the possibility to compensate the farmers who have suffered damage in the pre-flowering stage. And this is the first time in the history of the ELGA”, emphasized the competent Deputy Minister Giorgos Georgantas, referring to the necessity of upvoting the amendment . The cost of the compensations to be paid is estimated at approximately 23 million euros. With the same amendment, ELGA is given the possibility to pay advances beyond the initially provided 40% of the damage. The Board of Directors of the Organization will now be able, after the approval of the amendment, to determine the amount of the advance that will be paid to the affected producers. As Mr. Georgantas assured the Parliament, given that the findings on the damages have almost been completed, the payment of the advances is estimated to start around the end of July. The Ministry of Rural Development and Food and ELGA, realizing the difficult position farmers are in due to the energy and climate crisis, are standing by their side, emphasized Mr. Georgantas, recalling that already for the losses of 2021, ELGA has already paid producers 350 million euros, of which farmers’ contributions to the Organization were only 158 million euros.

Amendment of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport

Finally, the amendment of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (which was supported by Deputy Minister Michalis Papadopoulos) was incorporated into the bill regarding regulations for the certification of OSE train drivers and for the allowances for dangerous and unhealthy work and positions of responsibility for the workers of the OSE.

In particular, in the OSE, a large number of train drivers who held a relevant certification license could not obtain the European driving license, despite their extensive experience, due to the special qualifications provided by the relevant European Directive (2007/59). With the regulation, which is promoted at a time when there is a shortage of certified train drivers, it is possible to certify this category of train drivers, who are expected to be used to drive track machines and railway maintenance vehicles.

With the regulation for the OASTH, the issue of the obligation to return tens of thousands of euros from the employees is dealt with, which arose because the employees were granted salaries without a Joint Ministerial Matching Decision having been issued for the unhealthy work allowance and position of responsibility allowance, as provided by the applicable provisions.

As the Deputy Minister of Transport, Michalis Papadopoulos, said in this regard: “The issue of the obligation to refund money arose from the fiscal audit because employees were being paid illegally and with the tolerance of the previous administration. With the new national SSE, the funding of which has already been approved and is in the final stage of approval at the Ministry of Finance, all pending issues are resolved. With the proposed arrangement, and in order not to have a direct financial impact on the employees, who for formal reasons (non-issuance of relevant KYA) are asked to return the benefits these, the specific legislative regulation is being promoted in order to ensure labor peace and not to have an impact on the execution of the transport project of Thessaloniki. As far as OSE is concerned, with the regulation being promoted, it is estimated that the long delays in the implementation and development of the projects will be remedied construction and maintenance in the railway network”.

SOURCE: APE-ME