Written by Elias Iliopoulos
The following announcement was issued by the Press Office of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance:
"Greece, in these very turbulent times, must remain energy-strong and our fellow citizens, households and businesses, must be able to face any crisis, through safety nets that leave no one behind. The Social Climate Fund with a budget of 4,8 billion euros and the Modernization Fund with resources amounting to 1,6 billion euros, are added to the tools that were negotiated and now have at the disposal of the Government with the aim of supporting vulnerable households and very small businesses affected by the climate crisis, but also to support investments that contribute to the modernization of energy systems and the improvement of energy efficiency in the context of the green and socially fair transition."
This was emphasized by the responsible Alternate Minister Nikos Papathanasis during the discussion of the bill "Social Climate Fund, Modernization Fund and other provisions", which began in the competent Committee on Economic Affairs of the Parliament.
Mr. Papathanasis referred to specific actions of the Funds and the beneficiaries, emphasizing that:
The Social Climate Fund concerns:
· vulnerable households, with particular emphasis on single-parent families, women, people with disabilities,
· vulnerable micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet of up to 2 million euros,
· vulnerable transport users, individuals and households, who are seriously affected by rising transport costs and who do not have the financial capacity to switch to alternative sustainable transport (such as an electric vehicle or public transport)
While, its actions are related to:
· For vulnerable households with: Affordable and energy-efficient housing, construction of social housing in inactive Ministry of National Defense camps, renovation of public student dormitories. Energy upgrading of housing and replacement of heating systems. Social leasing of electric vehicles with favorable terms for transport-vulnerable households. Direct income support, supplementary heating allowance for vulnerable households that use fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and LPG).
· For vulnerable micro-enterprises with: Financing for energy upgrading of offices, buildings and stores. Financing for purchase or leasing of electric or hybrid vehicles. Service centers for energy support
· For vulnerable transport users with: Affordable and accessible public transport, electric buses in urban centers, new and upgraded metro trains, accessibility to OSE and MMM stations. Construction of bike paths and sidewalks.
The Modernization Fund concerns the support of investments aimed at the modernization of energy systems and the improvement of energy efficiency. Through actions related to: RES (energy production and consumption), energy storage and saving, upgrading of energy networks, combating energy poverty, just transition in delignitization areas. The approved projects, among others, concern:
· supply of 100 electric buses and 50 hydrogen buses,
· modernization of greenhouse heating/cooling with heat pumps and PV
· upgrading 80 municipal swimming pools by replacing oil/gas boilers with heat pumps
· upgrade and digital modernization of the national electricity distribution network
· upgrade and digital modernization of the national electricity distribution network
· energy upgrading of public buildings
· energy efficiency measures in the Greek industrial sector
“Will you vote for all of this?”, wondered the Alternate Minister of National Economy and Finance, turning to the opposition benches. And he added meaningfully: “I am surprised by the similarity of views between PASOK and SYRIZA”. To conclude: “We continue the systematic effort to absorb every euro for the benefit of society and the economy, to maintain Greece in the top positions of the European ranking both in the NSRF and in the Recovery and Resilience Fund. We continue the development policy with fiscal targeting for the creation of a strong economy, which, in turn, is the only path for the stable return of dividends to society, for the increase in incomes and jobs. That is why we will be judged in the next elections of 2027, when citizens will once again be called upon to decide who has put their commitments into practice, who can firmly hold the helm of the country towards the tomorrow that all Greeks deserve."
