site.btaBulgaria Defends Its Position on Complaint Against Greece's 26% Tax on Deals, Transactions

Bulgaria Defends Its Position on Complaint Against Greece's 26% Tax on  Deals, Transactions

Brussels/Sofia, June 25 (BTA) - A hearing was held at the
European Commission in Brussels on Bulgaria's complaint under
Article 259 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union (TFEU) against Greece, the Bulgarian Finance Ministry said
in a press release Thursday.

The hearing was chaired by Heinz Zourek, Director General of the
Taxation and Customs Union Directorate-General, and Johannes
Laitenberger, Deputy Director of the Commission's Legal Service.
Participating were ten Commission representatives, four
representatives of Greece and three representatives of Bulgaria.

"Bulgaria presented its position on the complaint and the main
arguments on the breach of EU law, in particular of the
fundamental principles enshrined in the TFEU. These are the free
movement of goods, services and capital, the freedom of
establishment, and the principles of legal certainty
non-discrimination and proportionality. Further arguments were
also presented on the draft decision of the Greek Ministry of
Finance to implement Article 21 of Law 4321/2015 as the
provisions of the decision created greater legal uncertainty for
persons and considerable increase of the administrative burden
and costs for the businesses," the press release reads.

Greece presented its position on Bulgaria's complaint and the
reasons for having undertaken the tax reform.

The European Commission asked questions of the representatives
of both parties and when preparing its reasoned opinion it would
take account of the considerations expressed both verbally and
in writing. The Commission's opinion is expected to be announced
by August 18, 2015, the Finance Ministry specified.