ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greece's prime minister says his government cannot lower taxes before the public deficit falls further, but pledged to eventually slash the corporate tax rate to a flat 15 percent.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras made the promise at a meeting in Athens on Thursday with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.
Greece has imposed a series of emergency taxes and spending cuts in exchange for international bailout loans, but the measures hurt economic growth and caused a surge in unemployment and poverty.
Samaras described Ireland as a model for Greece in repairing its public finances. Kenny repeated his assurance that Ireland would complete its bailout program by the end of the year.
Greece's program end in 2016.
