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Greece to create finance police force to combat tax evasion
17:04, December 03, 2010
The cash-strapped Greek government plans to create a finance police force to intensify the crackdown on tax dodgers, the head of the Financial Crimes Squad announced Thursday.
The Greek Citizens' Protection Ministry has sent a presidential decree draft to President Karolos Papoulias for ratification on the creation of the new force.
Financial Crimes Squad secretary Yiannis Kapeleris told Greek media the new force would fight tax evasion, illegal economic transactions and fraud in the management of European Union funds.
The Greek government is now racing against time to put state finances in order over a three-year period, aided by European Union and International Monetary Fund loans.
Burdened by a budget deficit that stood at 15.4 percent of GDP in late 2009, Greece reached the brink of bankruptcy this spring.
After a string of painful austerity measures that have caused loud public protests, the government is now focusing on structural reforms and widespread tax evasion.
According to Kapeleria, the Financial Crimes Squad has issued 4 billion euros (5.2 billion U.S. dollars) in fines against tax evaders so far this year, compared to a 2009 total of 1.7 billion euros (2.23 billion dollars).
The fines this year were issued after a series of investigations into 1,500 companies operating in the shipyards sector, on more than 2,250 doctors, 299 owners of lavish yachts and three fashion designers, he said.
Government officials and local analysts believe the tax evasion "plague" in Greece is a major factor in Greece's parlous public finances.
Low income employees and pensioners who face drastic cutbacks on salaries, pensions and tax hikes this year denounce austerity policies, arguing that the government should place the burden on tax dodgers.
(Il Quotidiano del Popolo, Pechino)
17:04, December 03, 2010
The cash-strapped Greek government plans to create a finance police force to intensify the crackdown on tax dodgers, the head of the Financial Crimes Squad announced Thursday.
The Greek Citizens' Protection Ministry has sent a presidential decree draft to President Karolos Papoulias for ratification on the creation of the new force.
Financial Crimes Squad secretary Yiannis Kapeleris told Greek media the new force would fight tax evasion, illegal economic transactions and fraud in the management of European Union funds.
The Greek government is now racing against time to put state finances in order over a three-year period, aided by European Union and International Monetary Fund loans.
Burdened by a budget deficit that stood at 15.4 percent of GDP in late 2009, Greece reached the brink of bankruptcy this spring.
After a string of painful austerity measures that have caused loud public protests, the government is now focusing on structural reforms and widespread tax evasion.
According to Kapeleria, the Financial Crimes Squad has issued 4 billion euros (5.2 billion U.S. dollars) in fines against tax evaders so far this year, compared to a 2009 total of 1.7 billion euros (2.23 billion dollars).
The fines this year were issued after a series of investigations into 1,500 companies operating in the shipyards sector, on more than 2,250 doctors, 299 owners of lavish yachts and three fashion designers, he said.
Government officials and local analysts believe the tax evasion "plague" in Greece is a major factor in Greece's parlous public finances.
Low income employees and pensioners who face drastic cutbacks on salaries, pensions and tax hikes this year denounce austerity policies, arguing that the government should place the burden on tax dodgers.
(Il Quotidiano del Popolo, Pechino)