As Economy Falters, Greece Tries to Avoid EU Surveillance

Greek Finance Minister Ioannis Papathanasiou (L) talks with EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia during an economy and finance ministers meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels. Dominique Faget/AFP/Getty Images

ATHENS, Greece—The Greek government is trying to avoid being put under European Union surveillance by tinkering with tax rates and policies, creating incentives for small and medium sized enterprises, and attempting to boost employment.

The government’s plans unfold in the midst of a planned civil servant strike next week, who are asking for ask higher wages (50 euro cents more per day), and protesting cases of official corruption.

Surveys suggest that 48.7 percent of the population believes the crisis in Greece is more national than economic, because while other countries are mostly concerned with their economies, the Greek government has been preoccupied with covering up corruption and political scandals. Further on, 37.4 percent says that they will do nothing to help the economic situation in Greece, and 28.3 percent says they can help the country pay debts and reduce deficit by working more and being paid less.

At the same time, the country is taking measures to increase the number of small and medium sized enterprises, particularly seeking to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit the younger generation (anyone born from 1954 to 1991).

The government hopes to reduce unemployment, attempting to create 60,000 more jobs in the near future, and increase tax income, decreasing the number of people who do their work under the tax radar.