Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance published an interview with Deputy Minister Giorgos Kotsiras outlining the government’s final preparations for a package of measures to be announced by the Prime Minister at the Thessaloniki International Fair. The package is framed as being funded by available fiscal space and focused primarily on the middle class through further tax relief, income support and measures addressing housing, demographics and the cost of living. Kotsiras linked the package’s sustainability to recurring revenue sources, citing economic outperformance, higher gross domestic product and employment, and anti-tax evasion measures including the interconnection of point-of-sale terminals with cash registers, increased electronic transactions and the digital work card. On housing, he referenced more than 40 cross-government actions with a total budget of EUR 6.5 billion and detailed an annual “one rent” refund to be paid directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts each November for main and student residences, expected to cover around 80% of renter households, or more than 1 million taxpayers. On pensions, he cited cumulative pension increases exceeding 13% over the past three years and a new annual EUR 250 benefit, payable each November to around 1.5 million low-income pensioners, disability benefit recipients and uninsured elderly. The interview also highlighted the new national customs code adopted in late July, which provides for full digitalisation and faster customs procedures, strengthens transparency and controls, and targets smuggling and tax evasion. The same legislative package included a reduction in “excessive” bank charges effective from 11 August, alongside measures for families with three or more children, incentives for the repatriation of Greeks living abroad, and the abolition of a registration fee for vehicles used by volunteer firefighting organisations.
Ministry of National Economy and Finance (Greece) 2025-08-26
Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance previews Thessaloniki Fair support package and highlights annual rent refund, EUR 250 payment and bank charge cuts
Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance announced a fiscal package focused on tax relief, income support, and housing measures for the middle class, funded by economic outperformance and anti-tax evasion efforts. The package includes a EUR 6.5 billion housing initiative, pension benefits, a new national customs code for digitalisation, and reduced bank charges. Additional measures target families with multiple children, Greek repatriation incentives, and support for volunteer firefighting organisations.