Greece's Ministry of National Economy and Finance published highlights from an interview with Deputy Minister Giorgos Kotsiras outlining the 2026 Budget’s tax reform package, including broad tax cuts and a reduction in withholdings for employees and pensioners from 1 January 2026. The measures were described as targeting the whole population, with emphasis on families with children and young people, and as being complemented by interventions such as ending the offsetting of the “personal difference” against pension increases, returning one month’s rent, a EUR 250 support payment for low-income pensioners, and an increase in the minimum wage. Kotsiras linked the package to the government’s growth forecast, stating that 0.6 percentage points of the 2.4% growth projected for 2026 is attributable to the tax reform. Separately, the interview notes referred to recently legislated support for relatives of victims and burn victims from the Mati and Mandra disasters, including a EUR 1,700 pension and exemption from debts to the state, and to an exemption from annual circulation taxes for vehicles operated by volunteer forest-firefighting organisations. Kotsiras also described the transfer of OPEKEPE to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue as a reform intended to improve cross-checks and controls, while acknowledging transition challenges.

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