Kostis Hatzidakis defends Greek government anti-tax evasion measures

Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis has responded to criticisms regarding recent high-profile tax evasion and smuggling cases, asserting that the government's efforts to combat organized crime and financial illegality did not begin solely due to upcoming elections.

Hatzidakis highlighted several enforcement actions conducted by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) and law enforcement. These include the detection of 30 million euros in digital tax evasion from e-shops in 2023, a 130 million euro fine against a mobile phone smuggling ring in 2024, and the identification of 10.5 million euros in tax evasion by betting companies.

Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that authorities identified 720 million euros in fictitious invoices involving 147 businesses and dismantled networks of hundreds of straw men. He stated that these initiatives are expected to contribute an additional 2.2 billion euros in public revenue by 2025 through reduced VAT gaps and stricter enforcement.