Greece has always been against tariffs and in favour of free trade, Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis noted after his meeting with the European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra on Monday.
Pierrakakis and Hoekstra exchanged views on the major European challenges, such as the green transition, strengthening industrial competitiveness and promoting tax fairness.
The meeting focused on issues such as:
- the tax gap
- the EU's climate policies and the importance of simplifying them
- The implementation of Pillars 1 and 2 of the OECD/G20 Global Tax Agreement, which promote fair taxation of multinationals.
In his subsequent remarks, Pierrakakis noted that "recent developments are intensifying geopolitical instability and creating a climate of uncertainty in the global economy".
"Greece," the minister added, "has always been against tariffs and in favour of free trade, which ensures better prices for consumers, increased competition and optimisation of global production based on the comparative advantage of each country."
Pierrakakis stressed that Greece supports the European Commission in the difficult negotiations with the United States and explained that "the European Union must move in a coordinated manner towards strategic autonomy, strengthening sustainable growth and the adaptability of our economies".
Pierrakakis noted that this discussion was particularly timely, given that thoughts of taxing digital services are maturing, while the European Union is moving forward with the initiative to impose a special handling fee of 2 euros for low-value parcels coming mainly from Asian third countries.
"With the Commissioner we discussed how Europe will combine environmental ambition and realism," Pierrakakis said on the issue, underlining that "for countries with a particular island geography such as Greece, which has embraced the green transition, this must be done through policies that take into account social and economic conditions, especially in the most vulnerable areas."
"Greece is growing steadily on sound fiscal foundations, enhancing the prospects of its citizens, and moving decisively towards a more just and sustainable European future for all," concluded Pierrakakis in his statement.
On his part, the Commissioner expressed his admiration for the country's "outstanding economic performance," as well as its achievements in the climate sector. He also highlighted Greece's significant progress in reducing the so-called tax gap. "Reducing the tax gap is essential for increasing tax revenues in a fair and sustainable manner," emphasised Hoekstra. He added that "it is very important for all our member states to modernise their tax administrations, effectively enhancing compliance and combating tax evasion and avoidance, and here, what the government has achieved truly serves as an example for many tax authorities across the Union."
Finally, the Commissioner referred to the European directive on energy taxation, emphasising the appeal of promoting a greener and more sustainable tax framework in line with the EU's climate rules. "We look forward to continuing our cooperation in all these areas, providing effective support and guidance to ensure that the country's tax system is fair, transparent, and aligned with EU and international standards," he said.