Value-added tax

The chances of a compromise solution for Athens are slim at the Eurogroup meeting on Monday.

Non-toxic points of compromise

1. Taxation

The new Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government, true to its pre-election promise, is planning to abolish the unpopular joint property tax (ENFIA) and replace it with a large assets tax (known as FMP in its Greek-language acronym) on accumulated assets worth more than 300,000 euros.

The deputy chairperson of the parliamentary Budget Committee Diana Yordanova announced during the weekend that Bulgaria should have a financial ombudsman by the middle of the year.

Yordanova pointed that the establishment of the institution was recorded in the governance programme, daily Dnevnik reports.

Bulgaria's Ministry of Tourism has launched a campaign to advertise 50 little-known tourist sites around the country.

The financing for the campaign is provided under a project worth BGN 1.9 M, VAT excluded, under the EU operational program "Regional Development".

Bulgaria's Finance Ministry announced that each year around 1.2 million tonnes of diesel are not declared to the revenue agencies, which amounts to 36.2 % of the fuel consumption in the country.

The Ministry estimates that the losses to the budget from tax evasion and avoidance of excise duties amount to BGN 1.1 - 1.2 B, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.

Romania will hold its first fiscal receipts lottery on April 13, the second day of Easter, in a move to encourage people to demand fiscal receipts when buying goods or services, which will suppress sales tax evasion.

The state budget for 2015 will include up to BGN 1 B more in revenues compared to the previous year, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has told participants in a meeting between government officials and business representatives.

As global crude oil prices continue their freefall, taxes implemented on refined oil in Turkey have surpassed almost all 28 European Union countries due to a complex taxing methodology, according to a report by the country's energy watchdog, EPDK.

Vucic urges party to support president

BELGRADE -- In the first eight months of the current government it managed to "fully maintain the country's political and economic stability," Aleksandar Vucic has said.

Vucic serves as prime minsiter as is the leader of the ruling Serb Progressive Party (SNS).

BELGRADE - In the first eight months of the current government, we managed to fully maintain the country's political and economic stability, leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic has said.