VAT rise and the off-shore amendment

Greek citizens will be called to pay more for their everyday needs, since the new VAT rate applies to everything, from food, clothing and fuel to telecommunications, tickets and restaurants.
Moreover,  the cost for Internet and subscription television services has been increased while the discount on VAT applied to remote islands has been abolished.

After days of vehement criticism for slipping a provision into a recent multi-bill of reforms that removed a blanket ban on MPs and public officials from being involved in offshore firms, the governmen backed down and tabled a legislative amendment in Parliament revoking the provision this morning.

The provision, which was voted into law last month as part of an omnibus bill of reforms demanded by creditors, had slipped the attention of many prominent government officials.