A working meeting was held today at the Ministry of National Economy and Finance (SEC), between the Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Minister of the Interior Thodoris Livaniou, the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Thanos Petralias and the General Secretary of the PDE and EPA Katerina Oikonomou, with the Board of Directors of the Central Union Municipalities of Greece (KEDE).
During the meeting of the Ministry of Finance with the Municipalities, the intention of the government to further strengthen the Local Self-Government was underlined, in terms of transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline, so that every available resource is used effectively and ends up with the final recipient, the citizens.
From 2019 to today, the budget of the municipalities has increased by approximately 1 billion euros, which reflects the consistent political choice of the government to support the Self-Government in practice.
The Ministers emphasized that the fiscal margins are specific, as the expenditure rule strictly defines the amount and type of expenditure allowed, with the aim of maintaining fiscal balance and the sustainability of public finances. Nevertheless, the municipalities will receive additional funding of 100 million euros for 2025, while a new increase of 80 million euros is foreseen for 2026, in the context of the gradual strengthening of resources and the financial autonomy of local authorities.
In addition, the Ministry of Finance will promote legislation for the return of 60% of the revenues from the use of the beaches, directly to the municipalities, with faster payment of the relevant amounts.
Finally, the bill for the implementation of the National Development Program (NDP), from which the municipalities also benefit, will soon be submitted, with the aim of accelerating projects with measurable developmental and social benefit for local communities.