Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is in constant touch with his ministers, urging them to keep up with the pace, especially with everything related to the troika evaluation in September, tovima.gr writes.

Samaras has requested regular updates by FinMin Yannis Stournaras on the implementation of the VAT reduction in food.

Restaurants and other catering outlets that pass on a recently agreed VAT reduction to consumers will receive a special sign that they can display to customers from the associations to which they belong.

This was decided during a meeting between Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis, restaurant owners, the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsment and Merchants (GSEVEE) and the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), AMNA informs.

The finance ministry’s general secretary for revenues Haris Theoharis also left open the possibility of adopting a SETE proposal calling for the 24-hour closure of any business failing to issue receipts.

The system proposed is based on the French model adopted after a similar VAT rate cut in 2009. Under this, the various business associations will award the enterprises wanting to participate in the system with a special sign certifying that they have revised their prices to incorporate the VAT reduction and pass gains on to consumers. A separate sign of a different colour will be handed out to those businesses that only partially pass the VAT cut to their customers.

The Premier has also prioritized tourism, public administration, taxation, outstanding debts, health (insurance funds and EOPYY) and education.

What lies ahead is Samaras’ visit to Washington in August, during which the Premier will have the opportunity to discuss with US President Barrack Obama a number of international matters, such as Cyprus and the naming dispute with FYROM.

Maximos Mansion sources argue that despite the crisis, Greece has managed to increase its standing, in part thanks to the developments in energy, such as the singing of the TAP pipeline and the search for hydrocarbons.

The Prime Minister is also hoping on the positive messages from the recent visit by US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. The Greek side hopes that the PM’s visit to Washington will attract investments.