Storm Daniel forces gov’t to cut on planned benefits

Hatzidakis said that 450 million euros of the total would be earmarked for state aid and 150 million euros for farmers.

Although projections of damage cost are being done based on the damage of the 2020 ‘Ianos’ medicane, he clarified, the first official assessment would be included in the draft of the first new state budget in the beginning of October.

A series of cuts in benefits as scheduled before the Daniel disaster are now planned. These are:

• No extension of the Market-Pass for supermarket purchases for two months, till the end of the year.
• The “personal difference allowance” for pensioners, which was supposed to be paid this year, is likely to be delayed until January.
• The Youth-Pass, a financial aid of one-off 150 euros, originally scheduled to be paid as of September is re-scheduled for later, with the applications platform to open on November 9.
• The electricity subsidy would be restricted to the most vulnerable.
• The heating allowance is not expected to be increased.

“Of course, the adopted measures will apply as normal, namely the salary increases for civil servants and pensioners in 2024,” Hatzidakis said.

The government is seeking to meet the target for a primary budget surplus of 0.7% of GDP this year.

The government is also reportedly exploring generating income a so-called “Disaster Fee”, maybe through a special contribution, in order to significantly increase the budget allotted for natural catastrophe response in 2024.

On the occasion of Slovenia’s implementation of a similar measure to cover the cost of its own natural disasters, Hatzidakis highlighted the importance of “responsibility and solidarity” on Skai Radio.

In any event, he stated that any action would not be an unjust measure or generate societal discontent.

The Hellenic Bankers Association said it will provide €50 million to the restoration of the flooded-areas in Central Greece.

Hatzidakis called on others to follow suit. He estimated that shipowners would move in the same direction and industries would follow suit.

Of course, the adopted measures will apply as normal, namely the salary increases for civil servants and pensioners in 2024.