Speaking today from Thessaloniki , "The will and the goal are to reduce the burdens and taxation and to strengthenGreek society and the economy. "
“Our intention and goal is to reduce the tax burden and strengthen Greek society and business. Last year, we placed significant emphasis on reducing direct taxation, primarily for families with children, young people, and remote islands, as well as on reducing the ENFIA property tax in a large portion of settlements outside urban centers to support the regions (...)
“I believe the time has come for the business sector—small and medium-sized enterprises and the market in general—to see even greater efforts to reduce burdens, which is a strategic political and economic choice for the government,” noted Mr. Kotsiras from the podium of the 14th Thessaloniki Tax Forum, organized by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, and added:
“As early as 2019, the Prime Minister stated that tax reduction is a fundamental political choice for us. We have already reduced a large number of tax rates and have significantly alleviated tax and economic burdens, and we will continue to do so (...) I believe this will be the message for the upcoming TIF,” he noted.
Mr. Kotsiras also noted that the bill on private debt will be put out for public consultation any day now, with measures that he estimated—as he put it—will affect approximately 1.5 million individuals and businesses.
He also noted that the bill provides for 72 installments for debts dating back to the period up to December 31, 2023, a measure expected to assist a significant portion of the market, as a large percentage of overdue debts fall within this timeframe.
At the same time, the bill provides for the lifting of bank account seizures for debts owed to the government, upon payment of 25% and a settlement of the remaining debt. Finally, the bill provides for a reduction in the threshold for eligibility for the out-of-court mechanism, from 10,000 euros to 5,000.
According to the Deputy Minister, 2025 saw a very significant structural reduction in taxation, “perhaps the largest in total and across the board since the restoration of democracy, ” as the relevant minister, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, recently noted. As he said, reducing taxes is always the goal, since the increased revenues of the Greek economy today are not the result of taxation, but of growth.
“The Greek economy, after many very difficult years, has created a stable, reliable, and creditworthy business environment (...) We have made great strides (...) From being the outcasts of the EU in the previous decade, we have gone on to assume the presidency of the Eurogroup and are now considered pillars of stability (...)
Our country deserves to head into 2030 with the best possible prospects, because we have worked very hard, and I believe that with the same effort and even greater support from society, we can achieve the goals that have been set. The problems are many, but I want to send the optimistic message that, amidst significant geopolitical turmoil, we are able to discuss today in Thessaloniki whether we will lower taxes—and not whether we will raise them or impose new measures.
“This is an achievement that Greek society has supported, and it deserves to reap the benefits in the best possible way,” the deputy minister concluded.