Kouvelis to troika: Greek society has reached its limits, our economy needs a break

Troika and our partners must understand and accept that the Greek society has reached its limits, and the Greek economy needs a break, DIMAR chairman Fotis Kouvelis says in his commentary on the Greek government’s negotiation with its lenders. They need to understand they negotiating and not enforcing, he adds.

According to the DIMAR chief, the results of the negotiations ensure the continuation of Greece’s funding, and include reforms in the public administration, improvements in areas such as indebted households, property tax reduction, increased installments of overdue payments.

He also adds that the results include the recognition of the need to take immediate measures to support the unemployed and uninsured citizens through the use of EU funds.

Kouvelis also states that the VAT reduction in catering and the review of pricing in heating oil must be dealt with immediately.

He characterizes the European support for the creation of a development wave with the mobilization of all internal forces and leverage funds from abroad as quite necessary as it will create jobs and incomes.

Concluding, the DIMAR president says the government must work systematically to foster growth by attracting investment and the resource utilization of the NSRF, and to promote reforms in the State and the economy, fighting off bureaucracy, wastage, corruption, misappropriation of public funds and tax evasion, that "stand as obstacles to the equitable adjustment and reconstruction of Greece."