State Has Lost 25bln Euros in Tax Revenues From Fuel Smuggling

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Losses to Greek State revenues from fuel smuggling are estimated at more than one billion Euros every year. According to data that was provided recently by the Secretary General of Transparency and Human Rights Giorgos Sourlas, this illegal act has been going on for at least a quarter of a century, (in other words, more 25 billion Euros have been lost from fuel smuggling).

While briefing Parliament's Committee of Institutions and Transparency, Sourlas said that the fight against fuel smuggling is "difficult and painful" and described it as a "well-entrenched mafia."

     "It took years to include refineries in the electronic control system, which happened through a regulation passed in 2013. I believe that fuel smuggling and its circuits is now coming to an end," said Sourlas, and added that he has been enjoying the full support of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

The secretary general also emphasized the decision by National Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos to place the control of fuel used by the military under the Finance Ministry's Financial Crime unit (SDOE).

In terms of the secretariat of Transparency and Human Rights, Sourlas left it to be understood that the work has been completed and a national plan has been drafted that includes the mapping on how to finally "fight corruption". He said that he has already presented this action plan to the national coordinator, who is not going to be responsible for its implementation.

     "The national action plan against corruption was prepared by the secretariat, approved by the Troika and five ministers. It is official and was presented to the national coordinator, who has the right to apply it or not. It is not our responsibility whether it proceeds or not," he stressed.