Government Determined to Reduce the Cost of Energy for Industrial Use

The Greek government is determined to take measures towards reducing energy costs regardless of any objections raised by EU authorities, Development Minister Nikos Dendias said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, after an Inter-ministerial Commission meeting on Industrial Policy, Dendias said: “We seek an honest dialogue for the reduction of energy cost, but if we disagree with our partners on the measures, as a sovereign country we can vote legislation and then if anyone wanted it could take us to Community bodies,” the Greek minister said.

Theodoros Fessas, president of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), speaking to reporters, said that interventions in labor costs were more than enough and stressed that the Federation has not asked for additional interventions. “The members of the Federation pay well over the average wage,” Fessas said, adding that the non-payroll cost has a big impact such as high labor taxation.

The meeting agreed to form a three-party commission to monitor the course of planned interventions and implementation of actions towards reducing energy cost. The Inter-ministerial meeting will convene again in October.