After the cold shower from the European Union, as only 250 million euros will be available this year for our country, the government is resorting to cutting back on planned announcements, such as the extension of the market pass.
The news was announced by the Minister of Finance Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking on Wednesday evening on ANT1 television. Asked about the Prime Minister's announcements at the TIF, the minister said there would be no extension of the market pass because of the costs from the bad weather Daniel.
It is noted that the cut in the market pass comes amidst a period of accuracy, while an even more severe inflationary wave is expected in the near future as a result of the disaster in Thessaly. What an even more violent inflationary wave is expected in the near future as a result of the disaster in Thessaly.
Regarding the announcements that will be implemented, the minister said that the aid for the personal difference to pensioners will be given in December or January, as well as the increase in the social solidarity allowance, which are commitments of the government. On the heating allowance, the minister said that what happened last year will be followed this year, with the subsidy at the pump.
However, it seems that cutting the market pass will not be the only announcement that will not be implemented. Recall that before the onslaught of bad weather, the measures on the table included - among others - extending the market pass until the end of 2023, strengthening and expanding the heating allowance, maintaining subsidies on electricity bills for the vulnerable, extending the reduced VAT for another 6 months on the tourist package, transport, catering and culture, and paying a bonus to pensioners who did not receive increases.
They take back the special pensioners' allowance for 2023
The extraordinary pensioners« allowance with personal difference, which was supposed to be announced and paid as another »Christmas 2023" gift, will be postponed until after January, unless there is another reversal... The amount of the financial aid would again vary from 200 to 300 euros, as was the case last March for 5 categories of pensioners who did not receive an increase on January 1.
600 million supplementary budget due to Daniel
Within the next few days, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will submit a supplementary budget of around €600 million, due to the huge costs to the economy from the «Daniel» storm. And as Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said, speaking to ANT1, of the total amount, 450 million euros will be used for state relief and 150 million euros to cover farmers.
He added that projections are already being made based on the «Janus» for the amount of losses, but the first official estimate will be in the draft of the new budget in early October.
Hatzidakis pointed out that the target for a primary surplus of 0.7% of GDP is non-negotiable and that it would be a mistake to ask the Commission to relax fiscal policy, because it would send the message that Greece will start falling back into crisis.
Applications start on 15 September for August, September and October
Applications for the Market Pass, which aims to relieve households from the particularly high cost of food shopping, will start tomorrow, Friday 15 September, for the last time, as it seems, applications for the Market Pass.
Citizens will be able to submit their application either through the digital platform www.vouchers.gov.gr or via the C.I.P. from 15 September to Tuesday 31 October to receive the financial support for the months of August, September and October 2023.
Beneficiaries who have already received financial assistance in previous months do not need to reapply. However, they may reapply until 25 September if they wish to change the way the aid is granted or if the IBAN number of their bank account of choice has changed since the first payment.
The amount of the allowance, depending on the members of the household, ranges from €22 to €100 per month, provided it is paid on a digital card.
