betrayal

Thessaly comes back to the fore for the government.

It was at the center of attention due to the agricultural mobilizations with the largest volume of farmers and ranchers who took to the streets and arrived in tractors all the way to Athens coming from the area. Earlier in the autumn, the Maximus Palace found Thessaly in front of it in a tragic way. Extreme weather phenomenon Daniel drowned the entire plain destroying tens of thousands of acres of agricultural land, livestock facilities, businesses and homes.

The master plan

Now Thessaly is again in the front lines of the news because of the plan to restructure it and also shield it from other natural disasters. The reason for the announcement by the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis through his Sunday post on social media about the receipt of the master plan from the specialized Dutch company HVA International regarding the protection of the region and agricultural production from floods and drought.

HVA International

HVA International is a large Dutch company with over 140 years of life, which is active in infrastructure planning and providing solutions for agricultural production.

In her century and a half of life, she has undertaken thousands of projects all over the world, while a large field of her activity is the regions of Africa and Asia.

Athens, after the devastation caused by Daniel, turned to the Dutch government, which is considered expert in the management of such natural disasters. The Dutch recommended HVA International to Megaron Maksomos.

The Greek CEO

At the helm of HVA is a Greek. Mr. Miltiadis Gouzouris was born and raised in the Netherlands and is the CEO.

He was sensitive from the first moment, when HVA was asked to draw up a plan and provide immediate solutions to the removal of water from the Thessalian plain.

So last week, Mr. Gouzouris presented the master plan to a closed group of ministers at the Maximos Palace.

In public consultation

The master plan is based on various scenarios regarding the extent and cost of the projects required in the area.

It will be given to the public consultation this week, as Mr. Mitsotakis also said yesterday.

Among other things, it includes the implementation of mountain hydrology projects, i.e. small dams such as reservoirs, cleaning of rivers, as well as other irrigation and large projects that will protect Thessaly from floods. It also proposes the establishment – ​​the relevant institutional framework is ready – of a single water management organization in the region.

The diversion of Acheloos

However, HVA International’s proposal also brings back the thorny issue of the diversion of Acheloos.

As Mr. Gouzouris recently told ERT, for proper planning and water management, not only flood protection projects are necessary but also those to avoid drought.

So, according to him, it is required that water from Acheloos reach the area.

I think that another difficult chapter for the government is opening… Suffice it to remind you that the CoE had rejected the diversion of the river.

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Landing

The heart of the global real estate market will beat for four days in Cannes.

One of the largest international exhibitions of the “industry” of real estate development and exploitation companies takes place from March 12 to 15 in the luxury tourist resort located on the French Riviera.

MIPIM has been held since 1990, and brings together the most important companies in the real estate and related industries. In 2023, the fair welcomed 22,500 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors from 90 countries and more than 2,000 investment and financial companies.

The Greek element could not be missing from “MIPIM 2024”.

A landing of 20 Greek companies is in full swing.

Enterprise Greece

The Greek mission is organized by “Enterprise Greece”, which has undertaken and set up the Greek stand, where Greek Real Estate entrepreneurs will present their projects in order to attract foreign investors.

Among them are TAIPED, Prodea Investments, Noval Property, Premia Properties, Mitsis hotel chain, Kourtidis Group, Leptos Group, Savills Hellas, Deloitte Greece, CPI – Kounali Mountain Resort, Plasis Real Estate + Development, DKG Development, MIBS, Georgaki & Partners, Southrock Asset Management, Tetraktys, Sioufas & Associates, PMD Real Estate Network and Qualco Real Estate.

The portfolios of the aforementioned companies, excluding the law firms, exceed 4 billion euros and it is interesting to see whether their participation in “MIPIM” will confirm the continued investment interest in Greek land…

Enterprise Greece. Marinos Yiannopoulos. Portrait photography, 22/08/2022

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Cryptocurrencies

As you will read today in OT and the report by Dinos Siomopoulos, the government is looking to see if it is possible to impose a tax on cryptocurrency transactions.

You see the “sport” is also expanding in the Greek market with the players, and with a significant number of them being of a young age, having indulged in buying and selling.

Mr. George Pitsilis

As I learn, the commander of AADE, Mr. Giorgos Pitsilis, has taken upon himself the case of cryptocurrencies, looking for ways to generate income from the surplus value of sales.

My sources tell me that on a recent visit to Washington, the AADE commander met with the head of the US IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Mr. Douglas O’Donnell and discussed the prospect of cooperation between the two agencies to control transactions in cryptocurrencies and digital assets.

Already, however, in America the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved spot-Bitcoins as tradable mutual funds in early January, after suffering a legal defeat last year in its attempt to reject them.

The Commander of the Independent Authority. of Public Revenue George Pitsilis, Friday March 9, 2018. APE-MPE/APE-MPE/Pantelis Saitas

The IRS

However, in the US, the Internal Revenue Service considers cryptocurrencies “property,” meaning they are subject to capital gains tax, either at a short-term capital gains rate or a long-term capital gains rate, depending on how long the cryptocurrencies were held before they became profitable. On the other hand, in the European Union, a decision of the European Court of Justice laid the foundations for the fiscal treatment of cryptocurrencies in terms of VAT. The purchase and sale of cryptocurrencies are not subject to VAT, while a uniform taxation policy is sought so that there are no different ways from country to country in the EU.