Greece signs deal with German state to combat tax evasion

Greece's government signed an agreement here on Saturday with the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia for the exchange of data and know-how as part of a wider campaign to combat tax evasion.

At the root of the Greek debt crisis, tax dodging has cost dearly to the average Greek citizen. The Left government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras which first came in office in January 2015 has pledged to address the phenomenon.

Under the deal, an initial 50 Greek tax inspectors will be trained at centers in the German state on ways to improve tax collection, while the exchange of information and experience in the field of tax audit and fraud combating will be intensified.

Greece's Deputy Finance Minister Tryfon Alexiades and Deputy Justice Minister Dimitrios Papaggelopoulos co-signed the agreement with North Rhine-Westphalia Finance Minister Walter- Borjans.

"Tax evasion does not respect borders of any kind. Therefore, countries have to work together more closely. Our partnership launched today is one component as is the international exchange of information on a global level," the German official said during a joint press conference after the signing ceremony.

On Greece's part, Alexiades and Papaggelopoulos welcomed the German state's cooperation.

In November 2015, Walter- Borjans handed over to Greek authorities a list of more than 10,400 names of Greek major depositors in Swiss banks to help Athens with the persecution of possible tax evasion. It has been estimated that the deposits amount to about 3.9 billion euros(4.26 billion U.S. dollars).

"For us the turning over of the Walter- Borjans list to the Greek Ministry of Finance was only a first step in the long term collaboration in which we have invested," Papaggelopoulos said during the press briefing.

Over the past two weeks, Greek authorities have begun sending out notices to at least two dozen individuals and companies included in the list to clarify whether the deposits were properly declared and taxed, Alexiades added.

Both officials underlined the government's political will to shed light on the cases and raise revenues.

"It is very important to prove to the peoples of Europe that we make every possible effort so that criminals will not remain untouched, at the same time that the tax conscious citizen, the honest businessman pay disproportionate and unfair taxes," the Greek Minister stressed.

In contrast to previous governments, the Left-led government moves quickly to investigate the lists and all data provided by partners and trace tax evaders in recent years, said Alexiades. Enditem