Greek Finance Minister wants to end some tax measures

The Economist Group conference saw Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis pressing for a return to normal prior to European officials’ assessment of the Greek economy that begins today

Greece’s Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis, speaking at the Economist Group conference in Athens yesterday, said that the extraordinary measures taken over the last four years will be gradually abolished as the Greek economy returns to normal. The ministry is currently examining the measures in combination with their social impact in attempts to proceed with tax reductions and return to normal.

Speaking at the same panel discussion, Klaus Regling (pictured below), head of the European Stability Mechanism and of the European Financial Stability Facility (ESM/EFSF), said that there will be “no haircut of Greece’s debt” and added that it is unclear how much additional aid, if any, Greece will need as this would depend on the results of the European Stress tests expected in November 2014.

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After meeting with Mr. Hardouvelis, Mr. Regling said that “Greece is slowly but steadily becoming competitive again” as investors are returning to Greece even though unemployment is still high.

Deputy Chief of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) European Department Rishi Goyal expressed the IMF’s resolve for Greece to continue with its program without swerving and with continued structural reforms. CLICK HERE FOR HIS FULL SPEECH.

Representatives from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF are expected to arrive in Athens this afternoon for an unofficial review of the progress made in the adjustment program. According to sources from within the group, the assessment will last for 10-12 days and isn’t considered a “mere formality” by the IMF.