The evaluation of the measures announced at ITH is carried out at Liberal by Professor of the University of Peloponnese and Chairman of the KEPE and the National Council of Productivity Panayiotis Liargovas. It sets as a national objective the need to continue investments in the post-Recovery Fund, as it is «survival issue»Mr. Ljargovas highlights the one-way road of productive reconstruction in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and the ecosystem of technology.
Interview with Nikos Tabakopoulos
How do you judge all the measures announced by the Prime Minister to the TIF? Is it targeted and consistent with the country's budgetary powers?
Any measure that enhances wage labour and entrepreneurship is positive. There are many such measures within what has been announced. This does not mean that all problems are solved by magic. More and more reforms are needed. But these are measures – lithargy, which enter a larger mosaic that enhances the entrepreneurship and position of wage labour.
On the 5% reduction in the advance tax until it reaches 50% out of 80% today or on the reduction of evidence for consistent professionals, what do you think?
All these measures stimulate economy and development. But the market was expecting them. The truth is, it was unfair. So a business that paid a large advance tax, if it was damaged, was like punishment. These measures gradually give companies liquidity. I therefore believe that these measures were necessary and should have been announced.
For the piggy bank?
I think it's one of the most positive measures I've heard, it's the one about the bedside table for young people. It is an incentive to strengthen the savings that are low in our country. And this is particularly positive for the state until it is 18 years old to contribute to its savings.
As well as particularly positive are measures on tax reductions in many children's families. These are measures that should have been taken before. However, I do not know if there were budgetary margins, but it is good that even now, they are acting.
As of January 2028 the minimum wage goes to 1,000 euros and 1,300 euros with three years. This is a major increase from the low 2019s.
Indeed, in relation to the crisis it has increased significantly. But again he had fallen down at the time of the memorials, there was also the underling. This is a measure that helps, especially at a time when we have a housing problem, accuracy and therefore a young man to live lost two thirds of his salary in daily expenses. So this measure is in the right direction. However, it must be supplemented by measures to enhance productivity.
We have heard in ICU that 1.5 billion euros from the Recovery Fund is transferred to the Development Bank for small and medium-sized enterprises. EUR 1.1 billion is lending and EUR 400 million is guaranteed. Is SMEs thus strengthened?
It will help, but they need more measures. Mostly entrepreneurship reforms. There I insist, for example, on reducing bureaucracy. Because it has improved with digital governance, but there is still great digital bureaucracy. More justice acceleration. Such reforms that have no cost, simply create a favourable environment. Several of these have started, but they have to become enough, to acquire a critical mass along with the measures announced to really influence entrepreneurship in our country.
Because after the Recovery Fund stops liquidity we need investment. There our future will be judged. More investment so that we can have high growth rates.
How's this coming?
Through reforms, movements such as transferring amounts to support entrepreneurship. And from there on other reform measures, which are ongoing and need to be multiplied. This will strengthen liquidity, with the intensity of reforms.
Regroup productively. Beyond tourism and real estate. Go to Artificial Intelligence, the technology ecosystem in more areas. So we can jump into more modern investment activities.
Let's get to the housing house. My new Home III programme of up to 2 billion euros, an increase in transfer tax on the purchase of housing by citizens except and the abolition of ENGI to settlements of up to 2,000 inhabitants. Can this package reverse the housing crisis?
Nope. Housing crisis is a very big problem. These measures will be intercepted but will not be overturned.
The twist will come when the housing offer is increased. That's the only way to overturn the problem. But to intercept it, delay it, soften it as much as we can, that yes, will help all these measures. But the root of the problem will not be solved without increasing the supply. And she unfortunately takes years.
After years, we have more brave measures for civil servants. Christmas allowance 500 euros and salary increases 80 euros per month gross.
They had very low wages after the crisis anyway. Accuracy has eaten much of last year's increases. So there was also a need for a liquidity injection in this category to deal with accuracy.
The prime minister announced a 30% reduction in the wholesale electricity price from 2027–2029 and, as of January 2027, a 50% reduction in PSO charges.
This is a positive measure without question. But its final outcome depends on what happens in the international environment. If the environment continues as it is and worsens, new measures will be needed. But it is something we hold as a positive one without prejudice to the international environment.
Finally, I would like your opinion on the measures to tax the wealth we hear from the opposition. Are they material?
Ακούγονται εύκολα, όπως η πατριωτική εισφορά. Σύμφωνοι όλοι να συνεισφέρουν αλλά χρειάζονται μεγάλη εξειδίκευση. Ό,τι κινείται μπορεί να φύγει κιόλας. Το κεφάλαιο έχει την ιδιότητα να φεύγει. Θυμάμαι τη συζήτηση που έκανε ο Σόιμπλε για να φορολογήσει το εφοπλιστικό κεφάλαιο. Θεωρητικά σωστό είναι. Αλλά πού να το βρεις; Έχει τη δυνατότητα να μεταφέρουν τον πλούτο τους και την έδρα τους εκτός της χώρας. Για αυτό νομίζω ότι χρειάζεται πλέον μεγάλη προσοχή στα ζητήματα φορολόγησης του πλούτου. Εύκολα λέγεται, δύσκολα γίνεται πράξη.
