The Government Council for Economic Policy, which convened under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion, approved 12 interventions to reduce bureaucracy and support entrepreneurship.
“Our focus today is on issues related to reducing bureaucracy. I believe this is an effort that our government has been pursuing from the very first moment the Greek people entrusted us in 2019, and we have very concrete and measurable results to show across many different fields,” stated Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The Prime Minister emphasized that credible international observers of the Greek economy, such as The Economist, certify the significant improvement in the business environment.
The government’s 12 measures to tackle bureaucracy
The interventions presented to the Government Council for Economic Policy by Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos are:
1. Elimination of overlaps in common data required when completing and submitting financial and non-financial statements (Bank of Greece, GEMI, etc.).
2. Upgrading of the electronic Licensing and Controls system.
3. Simplification of business closure procedures.
4. Improvement of the Research and Technology expense super-deduction framework.
5. Consolidation of Consumer Protection legislation into a unified Code.
6. Abolition/replacement of industrial movement certificates.
7. Simplification of procedures and documentation for modernizing manufacturing facilities – Ministry of Development, Ministry of Energy.
8. Improvements to the institutional framework for establishing “Single Large Unit Business Parks” (SLUBP).
9. Extension of industries to adjacent properties that have been designated as incompatible land uses.
10. Resolution of problems with characterizing high-productivity agricultural land in cases of industrial installations.
11. Possibility of functional consolidation of plots/agricultural parcels in Business Park development areas.
12. Improvement of access conditions for industrial plots to adjacent road networks.
Hatzidakis: Significant steps taken in the last six years
“Very significant steps have been taken in the last six years to support entrepreneurship, because entrepreneurship is the key to development, to new and better jobs,” stated Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.
“Indeed, corporate taxation has been reduced, social security contributions have been lowered according to our pre-election commitments, a new labor framework has been introduced following the best European practices, digital modernization has been promoted, and initiatives for licensing simplification have been undertaken in various waves, starting from 2019. However, both our contact with various organizations and the findings of the Administration itself lead to the conclusion that we can take additional initiatives regarding licensing simplification and a better business environment. And this is the main mission of today’s meeting: to identify those areas where we need to move forward,” he said and continued:
“I understand that today we will be ready to announce a series of simplifications, and in the immediate following months we will proceed with others, thus honoring our commitment made ten days ago at the Cabinet meeting that one of the government’s 25 key reform initiatives this semester will be licensing simplification. There has already been cooperation between the competent Ministries.
“With planning and persistence, we are implementing the Government’s strategic priority for continuous reforms and interventions to simplify licensing, facilitate and improve the business environment to achieve strong and sustainable growth that will benefit all of Greek society. The immediate priority is implementing the 12 reforms and interventions, but simultaneously all Ministries are proceeding with further procedure simplification, so that the administrative bureaucratic burden on businesses and citizens is continuously reduced. In fact, at the end of August in the Cabinet we will discuss a bill prepared by the Ministry of Development with all competent Ministries that regulates and simplifies a series of important economic activities. Finally, the Ministry of Development has as an immediate priority changes and reforms for even more effective, rapid implementation of the framework for strategic investments,” the Development Minister stated.
Theodorikakos: We implement the Government’s strategic priority for continuous reforms
“With planning and persistence, we are implementing the Government’s strategic priority for continuous reforms and interventions to simplify licensing, facilitate and improve the business environment to achieve strong and sustainable growth that will benefit all of Greek society. The immediate priority is implementing the 12 reforms and interventions, but simultaneously all Ministries are proceeding with further procedure simplification, so that the administrative bureaucratic burden on businesses and citizens is continuously reduced. In fact, at the end of August in the Cabinet we will discuss a bill prepared by the Ministry of Development with all competent Ministries that regulates and simplifies a series of important economic activities. Finally, the Ministry of Development has as an immediate priority changes and reforms for even more effective, rapid implementation of the framework for strategic investments.”
Additionally, during the meeting, beyond the above measures, further initiatives were discussed toward reducing bureaucracy, simplifying procedures, and strengthening entrepreneurship, which constitute a strategic priority for the government. These will be discussed in a separate bill in the immediate future, with competent ministries including the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, and Ministry of Tourism.
Also, during the meeting, beyond the above measures, further initiatives were discussed toward reducing bureaucracy, simplifying procedures, and strengthening entrepreneurship, which constitute a strategic priority for the Government. These will be discussed in a separate bill in the immediate future, with competent ministries including the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, and Ministry of Tourism.
