In a letter addressed to the Minister of National Economy and Finance and the Minister of Development, the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE).
The HCTE’s intervention follows initiatives by the Chambers of Commerce in the fire-affected regions and the Central Union of Greek Chambers of Commerce, highlighting an issue that continues to burden thousands of small and micro-enterprises, professionals, the self-employed, and households.
The letter points out that these specific debts did not arise from normal business activity or tax violations, but are a consequence of government support measures enacted following major natural disasters. The forfeiture of guarantees and the transfer of debts to the State, along with the imposition of interest and surcharges, has created serious obstacles to the economic recovery of many businesses.
The Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) proposes a comprehensive and targeted legislative solution, which includes, among other things:
- recognition of fire-damaged loans as a special category of debt,
- the option to repay in up to 120 monthly installments,
- a significant reduction or waiver of interest, penalties, and surcharges,
- a reduced or zero interest rate,
- inclusion of primary debtors, co-debtors, and guarantors in the settlement,
- suspension of enforcement measures for debtors who have been making timely payments,
- the possibility of partial write-off of the principal debt based on social and economic criteria,
- allocation of the debt among co-obligors,
- restoring access for consistent, debt-settlement-compliant debtors to bank financing, investment programs, and financial instruments.
At the same time, the Confederation calls for the establishment of a technical working group involving the relevant ministries, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), the Hellenic Development Bank, the Central Union of Greek Chambers, the Chambers of Commerce, and the productive sectors of the fire-affected regions, in order to immediately formulate a practical and sustainable legislative proposal.
As the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) emphasizes, resolving this issue is not only an act of social justice but also a development choice, as it will allow viable businesses to re-enter economic activity, preserve jobs, and contribute to the revitalization of local markets, while at the same time converting uncollectible debts into actual collectible revenue for the government.