The support measures implemented by the government to help workers, property owners, and businesses against the effects of the pandemic are gradually being phased out for 2021. The economic situation appears to be stabilizing, and efforts are underway, step by step, to ease restrictions on businesses and help them return to normal operations, with the economic team moving forward with the final measures within the framework of the program totaling nearly 15 billion euros that it is implementing this year.
Following the publication in the Government Gazette of the decision regarding the increased special purpose compensation to all businesses that were closed in April and the opening of the platform in the coming days for the submission of applications, the economic team The fixed-cost subsidy program is set to «get underway» in early June in the form of a credit for tax and social security obligations and, accordingly, to proceed with the process of obtaining a credit equal to 35% of the amount received by beneficiaries of the firstfirst cycles of the refundable advance, so that they can use it immediately to settle their tax and social security obligations. In this case, however, they will be required to repay 100% of the aid they received in 60 monthly installments starting on January 31, 2022.
Subsidy for Fixed Expenses and New Special-Purpose Compensation
The fixed-cost subsidy program will have a budget of 500 million euros, and in order for a business to receive aid, it must have experienced a revenue decline of 30% in 2020, reported losses for the previous fiscal year, and employ at least one person.
In parallel The possibility of another special-purpose emergency compensation payment is being considered from 1,000 to 4,000 euros for businesses that remain closed in May.
At the end of June, a double payment will be made to businesses and self-employed individuals who enroll in the «Bridge 2» program» for a subsidy on monthly business loan payments, for a period of eight months. The program will conclude at the end of the year.
Lower Rents in June as Well
As for the «reduced» rents, the economic team is considering reinstating the measure in June for the last time and for a limited number of businesses. At the same time, the process for compensating landlords for rent losses—which is still moving at a slow pace—must be completed. The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) plans to proceed with another round of compensation payments to property owners who received reduced rent in recent months, toward the end of the week.
However, once again Thousands of homeowners may not see any money in their bank accounts, as it has been found that another 26,500 landlords have not yet reported their IBAN number to TaxisNet. At the same time, a ministerial decision is expected listing the KAD codes of those eligible for a rent exemption for May.
It should be noted that a full rent exemption is provided for the month of May for businesses subject to restrictive measures, including the retail sector, which resumed operations in April.
The suspensions of employment contracts are coming to an end, as they will be offered one last time in June to a limited number of workers—primarily those in the tourism sector—while the «Syn-Ergasia» program will end this coming September.
At the same time, all subsidies to be provided using NSRF funds—for tourism, gyms, and playgrounds—will be «rolled out.».
