100% absorption was achieved last year in the Public Investment Program, which amounted to 11.2 billion euros. The initial PDE budget was increased by 800 million euros, of which 450 million euros related to natural disasters and 350 million euros to NSRF program payments.

That’s what he said the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasispresenting at a press conference the developments both for the PDE, as well as for the NSRF and the Recovery Fund.

According to the minister, in 2024 the PDE will reach 12.2 billion euros (+12%) and will be the largest of the last 24 years. The program for natural disasters is currently €1.63 billion, with projects at 93% and absorption at 41.85%. The minister also noted that in the first quarter there will be a new law on the PDE.

The NSRF for the period 2014-2020 it had an initial EU support of 16 billion euros and today it amounts to 19 billion euros (e.g. +2 billion euros for the pandemic). Until 12/31/2023 accounting entry was at 87% and will exceed 100%. Total expenditure up to the latest submissions was €20.9 billion or 112%.

In the sectoral programmes, execution is at 97% of resources and will rise to 108%, with public spending of 8.3 billion euros. In Infrastructure, with EU support of 3.9 billion euros, execution is at 93% and will exceed 100%, at 4.6 billion euros. In Human resources, execution is at 98% and will rise to 110% or 3.3 billion euros. For the Public Sector, execution is at 99% and will rise to 100%, with an expenditure of 620 million euros. In Fisheries-Sea, the expenditure amounts to 496 million euros.

For the period 2021-2027, the invitations already amount to 1/3 of the budget, for projects of 5.4 billion euros. In the sectors it is 160 million euros, while in human resources there are invitations of more than 1 billion euros.

In the Recovery Fund, after the last disbursement of 3.6 billion euros, the total fund amounts to a total of 36 billion euros (for the grants 18.2 billion euros and for the loan program 17.7 billion euros). The final payments amount to 2.1 billion euros. As Mr. Papathanasis mentioned, for the current year the country will apply for additional disbursements (for grants and loans) in two installments, in April and September.