Next week, the heating allowance will start being paid to those who are eligible and have December purchase invoices, as the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) was signed on Saturday (January 23) by Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, as the minister himself said in an interview on Thessaloniki municipal television station TV 100. Mr. Staikouras also specified the time when the refundable advance payments will be made, saying: «In the coming days, the JMD concerning the refundable advance payment will also be signed. We expect the AADE platform to open on Monday (January 25) and payments to begin on Wednesday (January 27) and thereafter.».
Support for businesses in the form of subsidies for fixed costs
The Minister of Finance pointed out that, for the first time, regulations that can serve as an additional measure to boost business liquidity are being discussed at the European level. «This concerns the subsidization of fixed costs for businesses, for which a provision will be submitted to Parliament next week, once technical discussions with the European Commission have been completed,» said Mr. Staikouras.
«A real second chance for households and businesses»
Referring to citizens« debts to tax authorities, social security funds, and banks, Mr. Staikouras emphasized that, for the first time, the government has legislated a holistic approach to providing a second chance for households and businesses at many different stages. “First, there are agencies that citizens who are at risk of becoming ”red» can turn to in order to check their financial data and find out how they can make arrangements. Then there is the settlement framework, with specific provisions for supporting vulnerable households, such as 240 installments for their total debts, and even at the final stage of bankruptcy, there are provisions for the recovery of assets," emphasized the Minister of Finance.
Fewer closures in 2020
Christos Staikouras confirmed the GEMI data showing that the number of businesses that closed in 2020 is significantly lower than in 2019, noting that this is largely due to economic support measures. «However, the Greek state's goal is not only to keep businesses afloat, but also to maintain the disposable income of workers,» said the Minister of Finance, referring to a European study showing that Greece ranks third in terms of income loss coverage in the private sector.
The goal is to create new jobs
The government is focusing on creating new jobs and supporting employment by utilizing resources from the recovery fund, which combine reforms and investments, the finance minister also emphasized. Mr. Staikouras highlighted the example of the fifth refundable advance payment, which is combined with maintaining the same number of employees until June 2021, while referring to a program implemented in recent months to subsidize 100,000 jobs, where the state fully covers insurance contributions for new entrants to the labor market, with special provision for the long-term unemployed.
