ΚΑΤΗΙΜΕRΙΝΙ

3 Billion in Spending Cuts, 2 Billion in Added Revenue

2014 will see government spending cuts worth 3.1 billion euros and 2.1 billion in additional tax revenue according to the draft budget submitted to parliament yesterday. The new budget which sets a target of a 2.9 billion primary budget surplus, compared to 812 million for this year, does not include new measures aside from the proposed changes in real estate taxation. Real estate taxes are expected to bring in revenues of 3.9 billion euros (1.15 billion more than this year). Revenue from income tax will increase to 12.9 billion from 11.5 billion due to reforms that have already been passed, such as the elimination of thresholds below which earnings are not taxed and reductions in tax breaks. Revenues are also expected to increase due more effective tax collection.

ETHNOS

Major Changes At Social Security Funds for Traders and Professionals

700 million euros in added revenue to shore up the funds without resorting to new taxes is the target of draft legislation submitted to parliament by the Labour Ministry. The main measure it would implement is monthly electronic audits to determine whether social security contributions were being properly paid at IKA and OAEE. The noose tightens around payment dodging employers.

 

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON

A Farcical Invitation

At the same time that ASEP lists with the final evaluations of public employees were being posted, the Minister of Education was sending out invitations to university chancellors and administrative staff for meetings about university reform. According to reports there was tension in the three-member committee in the ministry responsible for drawing up the lists. The latest strike of administrators has been deemed illegal, however the action continues.

 
 

TA NEA

Mr. Troika & Dr. Merkel

“Today Greece has a budget surplus, something which nobody expected,” states the chancellor

Today Samaras to meet with the chancellor who acknowledged Greece's progress. Brussels bureaucrats however are on a different wavelength.
The carpet for Samar's visits today to Berlin was rolled out by Mrs Merkel following her particularly warm comments yesterday in which she accepted that Greece had achieved a primary budget surplus, silently signaling that the lenders would stick to their commitment to lighten Greece's debt.

 
 

ELEUTHEROTYPIA

Contract that Pays Workers After 90 Days Provokes Storm
Ministry looks into the case after the fact

The Labour Ministry has condemned the employment contracts following intense reactions provoked by E's reporting on the issue, hurriedly saying that 'they are not legal.'