Athens: Greece on Thursday submitted to its eurozone creditors a new bailout plan proposing a pensions overhaul and tax hikes in return for debt relief and a three-year rescue loan.
The plan submitted to Athens's international creditors -- the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund -- will be studied by eurozone ministers Saturday before a make-or-break summit of all 28 European Union leaders the following day.
The 13-page document lays out proposals similar to those put forward by Greece's creditors on June 26 that Athens had initially rejected and put to a public referendum.
SALES TAX REFORM
Greece has proposed reforming its Value Added Tax (VAT) regime -- a key bone of contention in the talks -- in the hope of raising revenues by 1.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The new regime would unify rates at a standard 23 percent, including for restaurants and caterers which currently enjoy 13 percent. Basics such as food, energy and water will be set at 13 percent, while for medical supplies, books and theatre will be taxed at six percent.
ABOLISH ISLAND TAX BREAKS
The government has proposed reducing financial advantages offered to Greece's islands, including abolishing a 30 percent VAT break in place for several years.
This would start on the wealthiest islands in October and those most popular with tourists, and be completed by the end of 2016.
RAISE OTHER TAXES
Corporate tax would be raised from 26 percent currently to 28 percent -- meeting the demands of Greece's creditors but below the 29 percent initially put forward by Athens.
Taxes on luxury items would also be raised and a tax on television adverts would be introduced.
PENSION REFORM
The age of retirement would be fixed at 67, or 62 for people who have made 40 years of contributions by 2022. Athens said it would also "create strong disincentives to early retirement" including adjusting early retirement penalties.
CUTS TO MILITARY SPENDING
Athens is offering to cut 100 million euros ($122 million) from its military budget this year and 200 million euros in 2016 by reducing headcount and procurement. Creditors had asked for a 400-million-euro reduction.
TAX DODGING
The Greek government has put forward measures to clamp down on tax evasion, a huge problem in Greece, and to streamline its tax collection systems.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM
Consultants will be brought in to assess civil servants and a series of measures are planned to modernise the public sector.
PRIVATISATION
The Greek government plans to sell the state's remaining shares in Greek telecoms giant OTE and commit to privatising the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki no later than October.
BUDGET TARGETS
Athens had initially agreed with its creditors' demands to cut its primary surplus to one percent of GDP this year, followed by 2.0 percent in 2016 and 3.0 percent in 2017.
But on Thursday Greece indicated these targets would need to be re-examined in light of the dire economic conditions gripping the country, including the impact of capital controls and the shutdown of the banking system.
PUBLIC DEBT
Greece has also promised to rein in its public debt, currently 180 percent of GDP, according to a government source who gave no further details on the thorny topic.
HELPING RECOVERY
A package of 35 billion euros to help boost Greece's economic growth has already been put on the table by the European Commission, according to a Greek government source.
