By Vangelis Dourakis

The electronic platform was “opened” through which thousands of unemployed people can claim an amount of 17,000 euros to “set up” their own business. The application process has begun, but those interested must hurry, as they have only one month to collect the necessary supporting documents. The process takes place through the Integrated State Aid Information System (OPSKE).

The action is titled “program to strengthen entrepreneurship for unemployed people aged 30-59 with an emphasis on women” and is addressed to unemployed persons registered in the digital register of the D.YPA.A. The deadline for submitting applications ends on January 21, 2025.

The application process and beneficiaries

The funding application (investment proposal) is submitted electronically to the Integrated Information System of State Aids (IPSKE) of Ministry of National Economy and Finance.

For the user connection to OPSKE, the use of a Web browser and the connection to the electronic address https://opske.gr/el are required.

Potential beneficiaries must cumulatively comply with the following conditions:

  • To establish their businesses and operate legally within the Greek territory (headquarters and any branches).
  • The start of activity takes place AFTER the date of submission of the funding application and no later than within 90 days from the notification of the beneficiaries via e-mail for the issuance of an approving decision of their application by the Deputy Governor of DYPA in the context of the transfer of powers of the Governor to Deputy commanders.
  • Each potential beneficiary submits a single funding application (either individually or as a member of a legal person/legal entity) per cycle.
  • Potential beneficiaries join the action either as individual entrepreneurs or as members of legal entities.
  • The eligible forms of businesses that potential beneficiaries can set up are listed in Annex 4 of the program Call.
  • The potential beneficiaries (who submit the funding application) of the legal entities referred to in the relevant Appendix 4, will be future partners – members who will manage the corporate affairs based on either the institutional framework, or the statutes, or the decision of the General Assembly of partners, will own 51% of the company share and will be the legal representatives of the company, except for cooperatives where the provisions of n. 4430/2016 (Α΄205) throughout the action.

The amount of funding

The beneficiaries of the Action will be supported with an amount equal to 17,000 euros which will be paid in three installments as follows:

  • 1st installment of 4,600 euros, after the start of activity
  • 2nd installment of 6,200 euros, after the end of the first semester from the start
  • 3rd installment of 6,200 euros, after the end of the second semester from the start

The duration of the grant is set at twelve (12) months, starting on the date of commencement of business activity.

Who is excluded from the program?

They cannot submit a request to join the action:

i. Professional activities that require the existence of a vacancy (notaries, bailiffs).

ii. Professional activities related to the operation of passenger or public use trucks.

iii. Seasonal businesses in terms of turnover, canteens, canteens, kiosks, street businesses, games of chance or electronic games of chance as well as the activities that belong to the ineligible KAD of the relevant invitation (APPENDIX 3). The eligible and non-eligible Activity Code Numbers (A.C.D.) are posted on the D.YPA.A website.

iv. Companies that have a complex scope of activity and one of them is included in the invitation exceptions (APPENDIX 3).

v. Business activities which are part of an already organized uniform network of distribution of products and provision of services and which take advantage, in execution of relevant contracts, of licenses to exploit intellectual property rights that usually concern trademarks or distinctive titles and know-how for the use and distribution of goods or services ( franchising, shop in shop, agency network with the above characteristics).

vi. Businesses that operate exclusively from 10 pm to 6 am.

vii. Companies operating in sectors to which Regulation 2023/2831 does not apply.

viii. Businesses that have the same scope of activity as a business that was operated in the same area by another professional within the last six months before the date of commencement of operations of the new business.

ix. Businesses that will be created after a transfer or change of legal form or dissolution and/or reopening or creation of a new business or lease by the same partners in the same or another space with the same object of activity.

x. Those who had joined previous actions of New Freelancers (YEE) of the D.YPA. (former OAED).

xi. Co-located businesses. The term co-location means the installation of the company (headquarters and any branches) in the same, non-distinct, space with another company. It is not a criterion to characterize a business as co-located, if it is served (based on a valid contract for its installation in entrepreneurship support structures such as incubators, technology parks, co-working spaces) by a common provision of public utility services and pay utility costs together with other costs directly to the owner-manager of the office or shop space. In this case, in order to prove the independent professional seat, it is sufficient in the legal contract concluded for its establishment, that the area of ​​the professional seat is clearly demarcated.