The Inner Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, recently approved the basic guidelines of the 2009 state budget, following a proposal by economy and finance minister George Alogoskoufis.

Following the meeting, Mr. Alogoskoufis said the measures were approved to enhance the transparency of the budget, through the incorporation of the ministries' special accounts into the state budget.

Also decided upon were the creation of an inter-ministerial committee responsible for approving the expenditures of the state Organizations, which he said are currently not subject to government control, and measures to expand the taxation base and to curb tax-evasion.