Looking at the weather over the last few days, winter has finally left us, and its time to start grumbling about just how dry the ground is! (well I'm allowed to complain about the weather no matter what it is...., I'm British).
Seriously, it does seem a bit early to have days and days without rain. Certainly the warm weather is welcome for the Easter break (its later out here than in the UK), and indeed welcome due to the fact heating oil this winter averaged 1.33 euro per litre.
I have a strong suspicion that this year will see the turning point for Greece, indeed ahead of Spain and Portugal. Not that the economic pain is over, far from it. There are still masses unemployed and VAT running at 23% on most goods, including eating out and 13% on all food purchased (supermarkets etc.). However the currency exchange is far more favourable now and already we are seeing more holiday bookings for Greece. There are lots of bargains out there!
One thing we have seen though is more and more ex-pats returning to the UK, Germany etc. for longer periods. In the past the Greek government has been happy with ex-pats spending most of their time in Greece and only imposing on them the "virtual living cost" of taxation. Provided you could prove an income from your homeland to Greece (by showing financial currency exchange) this could be negated. Now however the Greek government are strenuously imposing the 183 day resident rule and claiming taxes from your total worldly income. With double taxation treaties with most EU countries (plus many more), you are taxed only once, but with ex-pats understanding the taxation policies of their homelands, and virtually no one (including qualified Greek accountants) understanding the Greek taxation policies, ex-pats prefer to stay within the 183 day rule and be taxed "at home". This actually means a net loss of revenue for Greece as ex-pats "go home" for six months a year and Greece fails to benefit from their income.
It may be that I'm only a simple grocer, but I would welcome anyone spending their income (no matter what country they earn it in and are taxed in) in my shop!
