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Friday, March 8, 2019

Information session by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and the organization Enterprise Greece on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 6 March 2019)

On 6 March 2019, the information session on “No Deal Brexit: Preparation of the public administration and Greek enterprises for the possibility of withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU” BREXIT was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event, which was of an informative nature, was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Central Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and the organisation Enterprise Greece. Talks revolved around the possibility of the UK's withdrawal from the EU without a deal (no deal), the effects that such a development would have on Greek companies, on legislative, administrative or other measures that the public administration must take in order to handle them, and the steps that business, professional, and economic organisations will have to take, and particularly small and medium sized businesses, to deal with the most immediate and serious consequences of such a prospect. Representatives of business organisations and high-ranking officials of the co-competent Ministries of Economy and Development, Infrastructure and Transport, Tourism, Agricultural Development and Food participated in the conference. Upon commencement of the proceedings, Alternate Minster of Foreign Affairs Sia Anagnostopoulou gave an opening address, outlining the multi-level preparations by the Public Administration for the prospect of a disorderly Brexit. Opening speeches were made by the co-organisers, the President of the Central Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr C. Michalos, and by the Director of Research and Studies of Enterprise Greece, Mr. I. Retsas. The Deputy Secretary General of the European Commission, Ms Céline Gauer, was the main speaker. Interventions related to the challenges and effects of a disorderly Brexit in the fields of commerce, agricultural products and customs, and fiscal procedures were also made by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Development, Mr. Ilias Xanthakos, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food, Mr. Charalambos Kasimis, and by the Governor of the Independent Authority of Public Revenue, Mr. Giorgos Pitsilis. A thematic Q A followed, during which the preliminary measures which must be taken on the part of Greek enterprises were discussed which are supplementary to the regulatory and legislative arrangements on a European and national level, in order to limit, to the extent possible, the effects of Brexit on our country, in the fields of commerce, transports, agro-food products, and tourism. In the context of the event, the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs informational webpage on Brexit was presented, www.brexit.gov.gr, where answers have been posted to the chief questions by Greek enterprises, and the possibility is provided to directly submit new detailed questions.


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