If you have come from another country in the E.U. and you go into a supermarket in Greece, the first thing you notice is the amazing high price of the produce.It doesn't matter what you buy; it's all expensive.
The Greek Ministry Of Development in a recent survey discovered that there is a reason for this. This is, that the multi-national companies (the global bigwigs) sell their goods in Greece at very high prices so that they can make massive profits.
Put simply, they are greedy.
The Ministry cites, for example; cereals at 46.96%,soft drinks at 51.3%; detergents at 42%, and, get this, toileteries at 96.5%.These percentages show how much more expensive they are than in the rest of the E.U.
What's more, these above the law giants don't, surprisingly enough, pay tax in Greece !
Perhaps this should read, do not, of course, pay tax in Greece.
Of course, the absurdly high rate of V.A.T. at 23% doesn't exactly help matters.
Add to this the high transportation costs, because of the closed profession of the truck drivers and you begin to realise that you, the consumer, is being taken for a very bumpy ride.
Look at vegetables and fruit.Carrots are sold at 0.33 euro per kilo by the farmer, but in the market place they are sold at 1.00 euro.The Greek Ministry Of Development claims that between the field place and the end price there is a 169% increase.
Rip-off, anyone ?
Greeks taken for a ride.
Things though are getting worse.They just never seem to get better in Greece do they ?
The Greek Minister Of Development, Costis Chatzidas introduced a law which is, well, how can I put it, the sort of law one might expect in a third world country, and would have The Guardian writing about it, saying how disgraceful it is.
It's really a law that is insulting to the Greek people, and just goes to show how fast the Titanic is sinking.
The fact that it is, according to my research on the subject, illegal under E.U. regulations, does not seem to worry him.
This is the new law.Food will be available to the supermarkets and retail shops at a third of the initial price.
Now that sounds great doesn't it ?
There is only one major snag, and that is this food is food that is expired, which means it will be sold after its sell by date or best by date.
According to my understanding of E.U regulations, food can be sold close to the expiry date, but it is illegal to sell it after the 'best before' or'sell by date '.
The Development Minister defended his position and said ,"It has been applied in the U.K.".
Do you know, I do believe it was allowed in the U K. before the E.U regulations came into force.Whether it is now, I confess , that I do not know.To my knowledge though such food was never sold in supermarkets or shops.
You used to find it in outdoor markets in poor areas ( before E.U. rules). I remember such a market near Waterloo Station in London.I actually purchased a chocolate cake from this market, When I took it home and unwrapped it, it looked disgusting, stank and was green ! I chucked it as soon as I could.
Even if it has now been allowed in the U.K., why should this make it the right thing to do ?
The logic of these people never ceases to amaze me.
Did they all go to The London School Of Economics, Oxford or Eton ?I mention these three Elite producing establishments, as they have an uncanny knack of churning out Government officials who seem to think of ordinary people as animals.
What next ?
Perhaps the Ministry Of Development- I wonder what they are meant to develop? More misery for everyone ?- will think of next.Perhaps they will tell people not to go to the shops , but to rummage through rubbish bins, as sadly enough, a lot of people are now doing.
When will this insanity end ?
When we get up and say , enough is enough.
The Greek Ministry Of Development in a recent survey discovered that there is a reason for this. This is, that the multi-national companies (the global bigwigs) sell their goods in Greece at very high prices so that they can make massive profits.
Put simply, they are greedy.
The Ministry cites, for example; cereals at 46.96%,soft drinks at 51.3%; detergents at 42%, and, get this, toileteries at 96.5%.These percentages show how much more expensive they are than in the rest of the E.U.
What's more, these above the law giants don't, surprisingly enough, pay tax in Greece !
Perhaps this should read, do not, of course, pay tax in Greece.
Of course, the absurdly high rate of V.A.T. at 23% doesn't exactly help matters.
Add to this the high transportation costs, because of the closed profession of the truck drivers and you begin to realise that you, the consumer, is being taken for a very bumpy ride.
Look at vegetables and fruit.Carrots are sold at 0.33 euro per kilo by the farmer, but in the market place they are sold at 1.00 euro.The Greek Ministry Of Development claims that between the field place and the end price there is a 169% increase.
Rip-off, anyone ?
Greeks taken for a ride.
Things though are getting worse.They just never seem to get better in Greece do they ?
The Greek Minister Of Development, Costis Chatzidas introduced a law which is, well, how can I put it, the sort of law one might expect in a third world country, and would have The Guardian writing about it, saying how disgraceful it is.
It's really a law that is insulting to the Greek people, and just goes to show how fast the Titanic is sinking.
The fact that it is, according to my research on the subject, illegal under E.U. regulations, does not seem to worry him.
This is the new law.Food will be available to the supermarkets and retail shops at a third of the initial price.
Now that sounds great doesn't it ?
There is only one major snag, and that is this food is food that is expired, which means it will be sold after its sell by date or best by date.
According to my understanding of E.U regulations, food can be sold close to the expiry date, but it is illegal to sell it after the 'best before' or'sell by date '.
The Development Minister defended his position and said ,"It has been applied in the U.K.".
Do you know, I do believe it was allowed in the U K. before the E.U regulations came into force.Whether it is now, I confess , that I do not know.To my knowledge though such food was never sold in supermarkets or shops.
You used to find it in outdoor markets in poor areas ( before E.U. rules). I remember such a market near Waterloo Station in London.I actually purchased a chocolate cake from this market, When I took it home and unwrapped it, it looked disgusting, stank and was green ! I chucked it as soon as I could.
Even if it has now been allowed in the U.K., why should this make it the right thing to do ?
The logic of these people never ceases to amaze me.
Did they all go to The London School Of Economics, Oxford or Eton ?I mention these three Elite producing establishments, as they have an uncanny knack of churning out Government officials who seem to think of ordinary people as animals.
What next ?
Perhaps the Ministry Of Development- I wonder what they are meant to develop? More misery for everyone ?- will think of next.Perhaps they will tell people not to go to the shops , but to rummage through rubbish bins, as sadly enough, a lot of people are now doing.
When will this insanity end ?
When we get up and say , enough is enough.
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