EWG President Weiser says Greek government chose to impose high taxes

Wesier backs 3.5% surplus budget target

The President of the Eurogroup Working Group, Thomas Weiser said the imposition of more taxes was a choice made by the Greek government in an interview to Greek financial website ‘Capital.gr’. ‘I hope the government has consulted with economic experts on whether these taxes can be collected’, he told the site. ‘The money can be collected. Of course, there have to be incentives. However, if the fines are lower than tax evasion, for example, what incentive does someone have to be a conscientious tax payer’, he wondered. Commenting on the labour matters, an issue expected to be at the core of the second review, Wieser stressed a two-pronged strategy would be more effective, one being lifting protective barriers for some workers domestically, while increasing the protection of workforce externally. ‘It is a mistake to look at labour reforms only as the loss of privileges for some. We are talking about an equilibrium, reducing the disparity’, he claimed. He was in favour of retaining the 3.5 percent budget surplus target.