site.btaThree Ministries, One Deputy Prime Minister Committed to Resolving New Greek Tax Problem Affecting Bulgaria

Three Ministries, One Deputy Prime Minister Committed to Resolving New Greek Tax Problem
Affecting Bulgaria

Sofia, April 7 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, Finance
Ministry and Economy Ministry, along with Deputy Prime Minister
for European Policy and Institutional Affairs Meglena Kuneva are
committing themselves to resolve the problem with the new Greek
tax, Kuneva is quoted as saying by the Bulgaria for the
Citizens Movement in a Tuesday press release. Athens will impose
a 26 per cent tax on Greek business transactions originating
from Bulgaria, Cyprus and Ireland - countries with a more
favourable tax regime.

Kuneva stressed the need to enhance diplomacy and dialogue
between Bulgaria and Greece, voicing readiness for action. She
informed MPs about the preliminary talks she had held, from
which one can deduct that there is a disposition to find a
diplomatic solution to the problem.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that there is still no clear
procedure and criteria for enforcing the law, which is why now
would be the time for Sofia to demand changes.

Meglena Kuneva told MPs that Bulgaria has alerted the European
Commission about the case and it should defend Bulgaria's
position, because this country's policy is aimed at
harmonization and lower tax rates.

At the and of March Minister of Finance Vladislav Goranov sent a
letter to the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial
Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Pierre Moscovici. In his letter
Goranov expressed his strong concern that the tax provisions
adopted by Greece are incompatible with the law of the European
Union and infringe the fundamental principles laid down in the
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.