In a week's time, the announcements will be made on precision measures and as far as the budget can bear, there will be intervention to relieve the citizens, as far as possible. We always look at the implementation of the measures we take and correct what is not going well. The purpose of the government is not to do anybody an injustice, the purpose is to be there for our fellow citizens as much as we can, managing a global turmoil. Greece is in a good situation compared to other countries, said the Minister of Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis speaking to the Mega TV station, on the government's interventions on accuracy.
«The excise tax was and remains too high, and this government has not raised taxes. There will be no across-the-board reduction in fuel duty», he clarified.
«Petrol station owners have highlighted the part of the service stations that sells petrol below the refinery price. There is no law prohibiting selling cheaper. So the ministry of development and the IMEA (Inter-agency Market Control Unit) are doing daily checks, however we cannot fine someone who sells cheaper. We can fine someone who sells more expensive.».
«Petrol station owners are asking the following question: is it possible to sell below cost for a long period of time? Obviously it is not reasonable. Whether it is a product of smuggling or fraud is for the state authorities to find out. We have already contacted the relevant authorities in order to carry out checks on petrol stations selling below cost,» he pointed out.
«The demand for an across-the-board tax cut runs up against our economic reality. The government is caught between conflicting interests. On the one hand, the side of the citizens who want less taxes and the side of the state that should not be put at risk,» he added.
Regarding the fines and the publication of the names of those who break the law, Georgiades said that «the law on obscenity, which we have passed, concerns the publication of the company that has been fined for an amount of more than 50,000 euros or that has been fined for the second time for this reason.’.
Finally, the Minister, on the forecasts for the increase in oil prices, said: «Yesterday we had a meeting with OPEC, and there seems to be concern about the price of oil in 2022. Too many countries have increased oil demand for many reasons, and the green agenda has created the «perfect storm» in energy. If the war stops with a Ukraine-Russia agreement, it will be the most pleasant scenario.».
