Milena Apostolaki highlighted the government’s inaction and its attempt to take credit for European consumer protection regulations during the debate on her urgent question to the Minister of Development, while also pointing out the serious burden placed on Greek households by the high cost of consumer credit
As noted in the relevant press release, the PASOK MP held the government responsible for the delayed transposition of Directive 2023/2225, which strengthens transparency and consumer rights, emphasizing that it should have been transposed by November 2025, despite the Deputy Minister of Development’s inaccurate claims that there was no delay.
He also criticized the government for attempting to present the upcoming implementation of the Directive as its own reform initiative.
He noted that the Directive establishes a strengthened framework for the protection of citizens, with clear pre-contractual information, stricter rules on responsible lending, and measures to prevent over-indebtedness, at a time when citizens continue to be burdened by opaque and abusive charges such as file fees and commissions without clear consideration.
He emphasized that consumer loan interest rates in Greece reach 9.94%, while the Eurozone average stands at 7.15%, which translates to borrowing that is approximately 40% more expensive for Greek citizens, while he also made special mention of the exorbitant charges on credit cards, with interest rates ranging from 14% to over 18%.
At the same time, he reiterated PASOK’s proposals for transparency in interest rate fluctuations and effective protection of citizens against abusive practices, highlighting PASOK’s presentation last week of a comprehensive framework for the abolition of illegal bank fees and commissions, their taxation, and the faster amortization of deferred tax, which the Government did not accept!