The European Commission has approved the Greek program for 2014-2020, according to Greece’s Development Minister Kostis Chatzidakis. The National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) plans on launching programs this year to tackle unemployment and poverty while boosting the establishment of new businesses.
The NSRF is the third of 28 programs approved by the European Commission (after the Dutch and German programs). Chatzidakis noted that this was a result of timely preparation and good cooperation and consultation with the regions, ministries and agencies of EU.
The programs, which amount to 26 billion euros, will include:
1. Employment, training and education for young Greeks
2. Aid of vulnerable groups (long-term unemployed, disabled, etc.)
3. Tackling poverty
4. Support for unemployed who wish to establish new businesses
5. Vouchers for hiring young unemployed people
6. Finding jobs for the unemployed in community service activities
7. Energy upgrade of houses
“These measures will be followed immediately, without the delays we had in all previous programs,” said the minister.
The programs will be ‘front-loaded’, meaning most of the funds will be invested in society during the early years of the program when social problems are more acute because of the financial crisis.
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