Greek shipping circles: EU rivals promoting false ‘tax haven’ image

Sirens sounded this week in the all-important Greek shipping sector, a field where Greek interests traditionally enjoy top international rankings in terms of vessel ownership, revenues, tonnage and annual percentage of transported cargo.

According to reports, Greek ship-owners and maritime companies consider that certain EU countries, particularly competitors in Germany, are trying to convey a false impression claiming that Greek shipping interests enjoy a “tax haven” in the Greece as business entities, and not as private citizens.

“We all hope that there is an auspicious ending to the adventure that our country and society are living through,” the president of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Theodoros Veniamis, told the relevant Greek minister, whose portfolio includes ocean-going shipping, two days after the July 5 referendum.

According to reports, days later the German side again tabled the issue of the tax regime in Greece governing ocean-going shipping during the nerve-racking last round of negotiations between the Greek government and European creditors.

Shipping circles in Greece said the issue deals with maritime companies based in Greece and not shipowners per se. The same circles point to a concerted effort by several European partners, particularly German interests, in trying to portray Greece as a “tax haven” for Greek shipping interests.

One source, who did not want to be named, said the first goal is to shake relations with the Greek government and the Greek shipping sector in order to cause shipping companies to relocate outside the country. He referred to one recent instance where a major company moved its headquarters to Hamburg.