The amendments establishing the government’s interventions for the banks, the pharmaceutical expenditure of the low-pensioners and the risk allowance of the Armed Forces and Security Forces executives were submitted to the Parliament.

On Monday, Kostis Hatzidakis elaborated on the government’s initiatives for banks announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Sunday, in the context of the budget debate.

The measures in detail as presented to the Ministry

In addition, in the amendments, submitted to the draft law of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport “Restructuring the rail sector and strengthening transport regulatory bodies”, provisions were added for the extension of the suspension of ENFIA and compulsory acts for the victims of the Attica fire as well as a regulation for the extension of the deadlines for the completion of the investment in real estate for the granting of the Golden Visa.

In detail, the regulations for banks provide:

  • Zero charge for paying bills and debts to the State, insurance funds, Local Government Organizations and other general government bodies, Decentralized Administrations, electricity, natural gas, water supply, telecommunications and insurance companies, through web-banking and mobile-banking. The provision concerns transactions carried out by natural persons and freelancers.
  • Establishing a maximum charge amount 0.5 euro for sending money (outgoing transfer) and 0.5 euro for receiving money (incoming transfer), for amounts up to €5,000 per transferfor natural persons and freelancersbetween banks within Greece. It covers both simple remittances and direct credit transfers (SEPA). This is a reduction in the cost of commissions from 50% to 80% depending on the bank and the type of transfer (from 2.5 to 5 euros which it costs today). It is noted that from the beginning of the new year, based on Regulation 2024/88, the equivalent burden of direct credit transfers is provided for with simple credit transfers.
  • Mzero charges for cash withdrawals in municipal units where there is only one bank ATM. It is noted that today the corresponding charges amount to 0-3 euros per transaction.
  • Zero balance inquiry fees at any ATM of another bank throughout the country (today the cost amounts to 0.2 euros).
  • Zero charge for charging up to 100 euros prepaid cards (from about 1 euro today).
  • Extension of 50% reduction in commissions for purchases from 10 euros via POS in the so-called “Small Retail” at 20 euros.

It is noted that the entry into force of the above is placed one month after the relevant publication in the Government Gazette.

Also, with other provisions, it is provided:

  • The removal of restrictions on financing by credit companies (servicers) which will be able to grant loans and all kinds of credit – just like banks do. The goal is to strengthen competition in the financial system and access to credit. It is recalled that for natural persons the granting of housing and consumer loans or the provision of loans for the restructuring of an existing loan is already permitted. The new regulation concerns the provision of any type of loan or credit to businesses as well, as loans will be allowed regardless of whether the natural or legal person in question has a loan under regulation or the purpose of the loan is the restructuring of the borrowing business.
  • The doubling of the ENFIA for empty apartments and detached houses owned by banks and servicers, so that they can be channeled into the market. It concerns the ENFIA of 2026, 2027 and 2028. It is noted that the surcharge is not calculated, if the building was rented for at least 6 months in the year preceding the tax year.

The following are mentioned in the remaining provisions included:

  • Recognizing the dangerousness of the services offered by the officers of the Armed Forces and the Security Forces, the special working conditions allowance is reformed in “special working conditions and dangerous allowance” for 153.240 officers of the Armed Forces, ELAS, the Coast Guard and the Fire Brigade. From July 1, 2025, the allowance is increased by 100 euros per month.
  • Exemption from participation is extended in the pharmaceutical expenditure of pensioners who would be entitled to the Pensioners’ Social Solidarity Allowance (EKAS) if they had become pensioners in the last year of payment (2019). The extension concerned 132,000 low pensioners enters into force from 1 March 2025.
  • The exemption from ENFIA is extended and for 2025 of the properties located in areas of the Attica Region, which were affected by the fires of the 23rdher and 24her July 2018. Further, for the same cases extended until the 31stor December 2025 the suspension of auctions.
  • It is given two-month extension until February 28, 2025 the investment completion deadline for obtaining a residence permit (Golden Visa). This extension concerns procedures that are already at an advanced stage and that due to individual conditions have been delayed while they are very close to their completion.
  • Extension until March 31, 2025 for consideration of requests for out-of-court settlement and issuance of related records until May 31, 2025 by the Committee for Out-of-Court Resolution of Tax Disputes, thus completing the examination of pending cases that it has already begun to examine. It is clarified that a new extension will not be given and the committee is obliged until March 31 to complete its work as another way of managing these cases is now being introduced by the Tax Procedure Code.