Šemeta: Tax evasion costing Greece 5% of its GDP

European Commmissioner Algirdas Semeta backed Greece’s efforts to reform its tax system, saying that the country could earn the equivalent of 5% of GDP in revenues if it clamped down on evaders. In an interview with Kathimerini in December 2012, Semata said that the European Commission was taking steps to tackle tax evasion and avoidance throughout the EU as it costed governments a total of €1tr.

Kathimerini also suggested that the government was planning the creation of a 'committee of wise men' to crack down on widespread tax evasion, which continued to thwart Greece’s efforts to emerge from its debt crisis. The former head of National Bank, Vassilis Rapanos, was predicted to head the new body.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Clamping down on tax evasion and avoidance: Commission presents the way forward http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-clamping-down-on-tax-evasion-and-avoidance-commission-presents-the-way-forward/

European Commission: DG Taxation and Customs Union: Taxation: Fight against tax fraud and tax evasion http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/tax_fraud_evasion/index_en.htm

Kathimerini, 16.12.12: Commissioner Semeta sees steps on fighting tax evasion in Greece, EU http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_16/12/2012_474686

Kathimerini, 16.12.12: Government planning council of ‘wise men’ to tackle tax evasion http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_16/12/2012_474667

ESO: Background information: Greek editor cleared over Swiss bank list http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-editor-cleared-over-swiss-bank-list/

Kathimerini, 19.12.12: Finance Ministry shakes up tax collection to boost revenues http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_19/12/2012_475280

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