Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-11-21

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Environment ministry rushes to close illegal landfills to reduce EU fine

[02] Measure for 100-installment tax debt settlements in government gazette

[01] Environment ministry rushes to close illegal landfills to reduce EU fine

The European Court of Justice has fined Greece with 54,450 euros per day for the 293 illegal landfills that remained open until last June in Greece. The ministry's aim is for Greece to present as few open landfills as possible by December 2, when the court is expected to issue its decision formally, Nadia Giannakopoulou said in an informal briefing. The general secretary said it would make a huge difference in the calculation of the final penalty if all active landfills have been closed by then and projects to rehabilitate the area have been auctioned.

Giannakopoulou said the 22-million-euro fine imposed on Greece for failing to comply in the period from 2005-2009 with EU's waste management rules in the first court ruling cannot be avoided. She said there are now 57 active illegal landfills around Greece, half of which are on small islands and another 205 inactive landfills which have not been rehabilitated. The most problematic regions in Greece are the Peloponnese and the islands of the South Aegean.

The ministry is preparing a plan to stop the operation of the maximum amount of landfills by moving them to appropriate areas, in accordance with EU laws. It is also aiming to acquire certificates verifying their closure, preparing the legal framework for the maritime transport of urban waste, or the temporary management.

Giannakopoulou also said the prefecture of the Peloponnese is ready to auction rehabilitation projects for 82 illegal landfills, with a total cost of 31 million euros. The Environment ministry has also placed a draft law in public consultation which would promote recycling around the country, giving priority to municipalities with active illegal landfills.

[02] Measure for 100-installment tax debt settlements in government gazette

The decision calls for the mandatory inclusion in the measure of "the sum of certified overdue debts up to October 1, 2014 that have not been settled in a legal way by suspension of payment or facilitation or other legislative measures for the payment of debts by installments at the date of application for inclusion."

The debtor can also elect to include debts that are in "administrative or judicial or legal suspension" or certified overdue debts up to October 1, 2014 for which a settlement for payment in installments has already been made and whose terms are being observed.

The changes relative to the previous decision are that it specifies that the debts to be included in the measure must not simply be certified but also overdue on October 1, thus excluding the Uniform Real Estate Ownership Tax (ENFIA) and the third installment of income tax.

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