The draft bill on gambling, which has been released for public consultation, includes a supplementary budget as well as additional support measures totaling 800 million euros.
According to the relevant announcement, the measures concern:
- increasing disposable income,
- supporting families with children and vulnerable social groups,
- addressing the housing problem through supply-side measures,
- as well as managing private debt.
Specifically, the following are provided for:
Regulations for the out-of-court mechanism and private debt
- The Out-of-Court Debt Settlement Mechanism is being expanded, as the minimum debt threshold is being reduced to €5,000 from €10,000 today.
- For the first time, the option to repay and save one’s primary residence through the liquidation of other properties is provided under the out-of-court mechanism.
- The option to settle debts in up to 72 installments is established for debts that had not been settled by the end of 2023.
- The option to lift a bank account garnishment is provided, provided the debtor pays off 25% of their debt and settles the remaining confirmed debts to the tax administration.
Measures to address the energy crisis and support farmers
- A new procedure is established for exemption from excise tax on agricultural diesel, with a direct discount at the pump via a special digital platform of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
- The application of the special GAIA Tariff is to be extended to new farmers so they can benefit from lower electricity costs.
Aid for families, retirees, and vulnerable groups
- Emergency financial assistance is being established for families with children, amounting to 150 euros for each dependent child, with expanded income criteria.
- The allowance paid every November to retirees and vulnerable social groups is being increased to 300 euros, up from 250 euros today, while income eligibility criteria are being expanded, resulting in an increase in the number of beneficiaries.
- At the same time, those receiving only a widow’s pension will be eligible for the €300 benefit starting at age 60, rather than 65.
Housing interventions
- Rent reimbursement: The income limits for rent reimbursement are being expanded, meaning that 85% of tenants are now covered.
- A two-month rent refund is provided for teachers, doctors, and nurses serving in the Greek provinces, with no income-related restrictions.
- Short-term rentals (Airbnb): The issuance of new permits for properties located in the First Municipal Community of the Municipality of Thessaloniki is prohibited.
- A new “Build-to-Rent ” program is established, which provides tax incentives for private investment in the housing sector.
Wage interventions
- The issue of determining the salary scale for permanent employees—formerly private-sector employees with indefinite-term contracts— civil servants who, upon becoming permanent employees, retained the social security status of the former IKA and have submitted a retirement application.
- The issue of extending the personal difference for new employees in agencies where the personal difference had been extended until March 2023 is resolved.
- The salary system for staff of the Office of the Prime Minister is unified and streamlined in accordance with the single pay scale, and employees of the General Secretariat for Coordination and the General Secretariat for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Presidency of the Government, upon meeting the requirements and completing the relevant training, to receive the salary increments provided for in Law 4622/2019.
- For the staff of the Presidency of the Republic, the application of Article 12 of Presidential Decree 351/1991 is reinstated.
- After approximately a decade, the salary regime for Archbishops of the Church of Greece is being redefined, with the unification of remuneration and the abolition of additional benefits.
- In accordance with established case law, the issue of salary progression for judicial officers is resolved; these officers have completed the time required by law for promotion to the next rank in their respective branch but are not promoted due to a lack of vacancies.
- The entry-level pay scale for judicial employees in the Documentation and Judicial Support Branch is redefined.
- Regulations from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport are introduced regarding compensation for Air Traffic Controllers in cases of childbirth or postpartum leave, the determination of special compensation, and compensation due to loss of specialty and due to death.
Other measures
- The framework for discounts on registration fees is being tightened, as are the exemptions for calculating income for hybrid vehicles up to 50 g/km of CO2, with the aim of promoting electric mobility.
- The proposed provisions update the legislative framework governing the foreshore and beaches, with the primary goal of protecting their public character, ensuring the rational use of public property, and creating conditions for balanced and sustainable business development. In this context, targeted technical improvements are being introduced to ensure more effective implementation of the framework; these relate to the composition of the committees responsible for defining the boundaries of the foreshore, beach, and riverbank boundaries, and the remote detection of violations using modern technological means. Furthermore, provisions are introduced to alleviate the workload of the Land Registry Services, provide faster service to businesses operating in coastal zones, and facilitate their smoother adaptation to the new institutional framework. Finally, provisions with a strong social focus are introduced to support the business development of enterprises affected by Storm “Daniel, ” in order to safeguard the economic viability of these businesses.
- Practical issues that have arisen to date in the implementation of the procedure for granting and refunding advances to electricity suppliers, as well as the procedure for settling bills by General Government entities, are being resolved, while a provision is introduced regarding the manner in which the Ministry of National Economy and Finance will henceforth settle outstanding electricity bills of entities not belonging to the Central Administration, following confirmation of the debts to the tax authority, with the aim of reducing overdue debts.