Brussels, 04/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On an official visit to Athens, EU Taxation Commissioner Algirdas Semeta spoke to the Greek parliament about progress to date and reforms yet to be introduced in the country in terms of tax and statistics, in order to facilitate the planned return to economic growth in 2014 after years of recession. He pointed out that steps in the right direction has been taken to adapt the Greek tax system to the tax reforms at EU level and the move to make tax systems more efficient, with simple, consistent rules that are easy to respect and easy to implement. In this connection, he welcomed the creation of the job of secretary general for public income to ensure better piloting of tax reforms, and new, updated tax codes based on international standards. Greece still needs, however, to consolidate the organisational structure of the tax section of the civil service, explained Semeta, and boost tax collection. Despite the measures already taken, progress in this field is still too slow, he said, recommending zero tolerance of tax fraud and tax evasion. Greece is urged to tighten up its legislation for clamping down on tax avoidance and to introduce the rules against tax havens recommended by the Commission. On the quality of statistics, crucial for making the country's economic decisions credible, Semeta said progress has been made and there is good cooperation between Eurostat and the Greek statistics office, Elstat, such tha,t for the past six years, Eurostat has been able to publish reliable figures on Greece. The Commissioner said that Greece was even the first member state to sign the reliable statistics pledge last year, but he said the Greek government must take immediate action to protect Elstat from external lobbying, explaining that only a strong and autonomous statistics office can provide credibility and transparency to statistics in line with European standards. (FG/transl.fl)