Greece will submit a national strategic plan in mid-October, FinMin says

“Disbursement of EU funds will begin in 2021 based on a national strategic plan, which will be submitted by the Greek government in mid-October,” Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said on Friday. Speaking in Thessaloniki, after a meeting with Interior Deputy Minister Theodoros Karaoglou, Staikouras said the government’s goal was the support, in the short-term, of the Greek economy and to deal with the financial and social fallout of the pandemic crisis, while at the same time lay the foundations for a swift and sustainable recovery of the Greek economy so that the post-pandemic period can be an time of high productivity, high competitiveness and strong, sustainable, smart and fully inclusive economic growth.

“By now, the country has managed to cope on its own. We have managed, with our cash reserves, to support the real economy, households, enterprises, workers and employers – mostly low and medium incomes. We expect in the near future, in the coming weeks, the inflow of funds from co-funded projects in the Public Investment Programme, from spending we have already made through the state budget. From September, we expect the disbursement of funds related with the SURE project to support employment and from 2021 we expect disbursement of funds related with the decisions reached during an EU Summit over a Recovery Fund,” the Greek finance minister said.

Staikouras said the government has some thoughts and directions regarding priorities and the projects to be promoted through the Recovery Fund, noting that the government will listen to what ministries have to say, as well as the recommendations of opposition parties, agencies and unions.