Greek budget revenue shortfalls

2.10.2017

Question for written answer E-006154-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL)

According to the bulletin on the implementation of the Greek national budget, a revenue shortfall is observed for the period January-August 2017, amounting to EUR 1.76 billion. Direct taxes account for the largest part of the revenue shortfall, causing a revenue shortfall of EUR 1.3 billion.

Given that the objective for the primary surplus of the Greek macroeconomic adjustment programme for 2017 has been set at 1.75%, will the Commission say:

• —What is its assessment of the implementation of the Greek budget, especially with regard to tax revenue?
• —Does it believe that the Greek Government will have to take additional exceptional budgetary measures to achieve the objectives of the programme?
• —Is there, in the Commission’s view, a correlation between the budget revenue shortfall and the overtaxation of the Greek people, in particular of the lower and middle classes, whose finances are already suffering as a result of the economic crisis and the austerity policies of the memoranda?