The duration of the Market Pass is extended until October, announced the Minister of Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, presenting the axes of the government’s economic bill, which, as he stated, implements 50% of the government’s pre-election commitments.

Also, a horizontal increase of 70 euros was announced for all civil servants.

Presenting the seven key measures to boost income, Deputy Finance Minister Thanos Petralias said the total cost amounts to 1.1 billion euros from 2024 onwards.

This year it will cost 350 million euros.

  • horizontal increase of 70 euros to all civil servants
  • the family benefit is increased by 20 euros and concerns 50% of civil servants
  • 30% increase in position of responsibility allowance, in addition to other increases. It also concerns the allowances of NHS officers and doctors, researchers
  • especially for those in uniform, an increase in the border allowance to 130 euros
  • increase of family allowance for uniformed persons by 15 euros. It concerns married people or those with children. Of the 148,000 in uniform, 112,000 are married or have children
  • adjustment of salary of faculty members based on the decision of the CoE. It is given retroactively from October 7, 2022. On average, the increase is 10% in addition to the rest.
  • increase in overnight stay expenses and mileage allowance

In total, the aid to civil servants from January 2023 to January 2024 1.383 billion euros gross or at a rate of 10.5%.

So an employee will have an increased benefit of 2,084 euros gross increase in income compared to December 2022.

For his part, the deputy minister Haris Theocharis announced his increase tax free by 1,000 euros for families with children and the extension of the Market Pass until October.

The criteria remain the same for the Market Pass, added Mr. Theocharis, stressing that there is no limit for families with six children or more, while the limit remains for guests. The applications on which the extension of the Market Pass will be examined will be this year’s tax returns, i.e. concerning 2022 incomes.

“This means that tax professionals, accountants and citizens must focus on filing tax returns on time so that applications can be considered. In order not to inconvenience the people we will consider that those who have applied for the first phase we will consider that they have done it. The system will be opened for those who did not do the first phase of the Market Pass” explained Mr. Theoharis, referring to 2.8 million households benefiting from an estimated 7.5 million members.

As for when the next Market Pass payment Haris Theocharis explained that “in order to have a correct and regular payment – the normal one would be around the end of August – it means that we have to get the results of the tax declarations from August 1”.

For Youth Pass Mr. Theoharis explained that it concerns all those who have turned 18 and 19 on December 31 of the previous year. The aid is paid annually on a digital card and is valid for two years. The only condition is that the beneficiary is a tax resident of the country.

For her permanent exemption of former EKAS beneficiaries from their participation in the pharmaceutical expenditure, he said that it has a cost of 38 million euros per year. In this way, more than 600,000 low-income pensioners who permanently lost EKAS will have free medicines. Access to free medicines was initially instituted as compensation for the loss of EKAS and has since been extended every year by special legislation.

For her 10% reduction in ENFIA for houses insured against catastrophes: It will concern the ENFIA of the specific buildings, the discount will be proportional for the period the property has been insured. The fiscal cost is approximately 30 million euros. Direct beneficiaries are the owners of approximately 1.1 million homes out of the 6 million that can be insured.

In the bill there is also the regulation concerning the rents of the buildings rented by the public as there will be an adjustment with a limit of 3%.