The public debate on the program for the suppression of the gray economy until 2025 will be open until February 28, and according to the Minister of Finance and the President of the Coordination Body for the Suppression of the Gray Economy Siniša Mali from the 2015 program, 71 percent of recommendations were implemented.
In the Ministry of Finance, at the presentation of the program in the development of which, in addition to the Government of Serbia, NALED participated with the support of the EBRD, it was estimated that the gray economy not only reduces public revenues and GDP, but also unfair competition to companies operating legally.
Mali said that part of this program is the introduction of e-fiscalization, which should be implemented by the end of May, and e-invoices, which should be ready by the end of this year.
“We have also passed a new law on public procurement and a new public procurement portal. “We have reduced the workload from 63 percent three years ago to 61 percent, we are implementing a huge reform of the Tax Administration, we have connected all inspections through the e-inspector portal and we have digitized the application of the largest number of tax forms,” ​​said Mali.
He pointed out that the adoption of the law on parafiscal levies is planned, following the example of the law on fees.
Mateo Kolandjeli, the director of the EBRD for the Western Balkans, also pointed out the influence of the gray economy on the business of legal companies, but also on the competitiveness of the economy. He pointed out that it is important for investors to have confidence in the financial reports that companies publish.
“Establishing a favorable business environment is one of the main priorities of the EBRD. We are very satisfied with the cooperation with institutions in Serbia and NALED on strengthening the capacity of inspections, which are a key element in combating the gray economy. “We will continue to make a dedicated contribution to strengthening the competitiveness of Serbia in the years ahead, including activities to encourage digitalization in all areas of the economy,” Kolandjelo said.
According to Ivan Miletić, President of the Competitiveness Council of NALED and Director Filip Morris, the most success was recorded in incentive measures such as seasonal employment, where the number of registered seasonal workers increased from 3,000 to 38,000, while in 2020 more than 800 beginners in swearing used incentives.
“We also worked on strengthening the society’s awareness of the harmfulness of the gray economy, where it implemented more than 80 percent of the planned measures.” This primarily refers to the Take the bill and win prize game, in which 130 million accounts participated, with which more than 117 million euros were paid into the budget “, said Miletić, adding that they are helping the state to promote non-cash payments by subsidizing 25,000 small businesses, procurement of POS terminals, Danas reports.
