IMF mission chief: Fiscal adjustment programme on track

Thomsen stressed that the achieving primary surpluses was a priority, and anticipated that Greece could attain its targets without new measures affecting salaries and pensions, provided the targets in relation to taxes were met.

There are no more margins for cuts to salaries and pensions or increases in taxes, he noted.

On the reduction in the number of civil servants, affecting those who do not perform, Thomsen said that a taboo still exists, but noted that there are a large number of new, talented people,

He further stressed the need for dealing more efficiently with tax evasion. Many of the rich do not pay their taxes, he said, and acknowledged that the liberalisation of professions has not yet brought the expected result.

On the banking system, Thomsen said that “we do not want the state to govern banks and the government to distribute the credits”.

Source: ΑΜΝΑ