As promised, the Greek government will abolish the excise duty on wine that was introduced in 2015 after the completion of the third program review in June 2018.
The tax in question had been imposed under tremendous pressure from the EU as wine has become one of Greece’s main exports.
The measure had been received with disappointment while many wine producers took to the streets to protest their frustration.
During last week’s event organized by the National Interprofessional Organization of Vine and Wine of Greece (EDOAE) in Athens, Agricultural Minister Vangelis Apostolou announced that “After the completion of the third review we will abolish the excise tax on wine” explaining that “the tax has not yielded the expected revenues”.
Moreover, the Minister added that the government is afraid the extra taxation “might establish a gray area in its trading which in the end could threaten the sector itself.” Mr Apostolou said that acknowledging that Greek “wine is spearheading exports” therefore the state should make a bigger effort to support the sector rather than burden it.