The reduction of supplies of banks, announced from the floor of the Parliament, the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis.
On the first day of discussion of the 2025 state budget, Mr. Hatzidakis said that “we are lowering bank commissions. You will have to be a little patient, until Sunday. Relevant announcements will be made and from 2025 bank commissions will be considerably lower, with the interventions launched by the government, while lending rates will also follow – throughout Europe anyway – a downward path. This is also the policy of the European Central Bank” said Mr. Hatzidakis.
At the same time, he added: “Furthermore, with new interventions, we are creating conditions for more healthy competition in the banking system, with the aim of banks granting more loans to businesses and households and contributing substantially to addressing the housing crisis.” All of this is underway now and will take shape in 2025. We will be here and you will see it,” emphasized Mr. Hatzidakis.
The Minister of National Economy and Finance said that the progress achieved in recent years will become more visible in 2025, while, describing the discussed budget, he said that it “combines three things: fiscal prudence, growth, and social cohesion. It responds to national priorities, such as in Defense, which we also strengthen very significantly, to social priorities, and contributes to Greece and our economy rising even higher. But above all, it is a budget that shows an effort made with a system, with persistence, with seriousness, and with a sense of national responsibility”.
At the same time, Mr. Hatzidakis described the positive changes that will accompany the 2025 budget.
- From April, the minimum wage is increasing again. “It has gone up from 650 euros to 830 euros. We will fully honor our commitment to a minimum wage of 950 euros in 2027. The average wage will increase accordingly. Based on the data of “Erganis”, full-time employees now receive a salary of 1,445 euros. So I can say here that we will honor even more our promise of an average salary of 1,500 euros in 2027″.
- We are also increasing pensions by around 2.4% in 2025, around the budget level.
- Inflation is reduced from 2.7% in 2024 to 2.1% in 2025, with a downward trend for food inflation, which is now at a level lower than the European average.
- Unemployment will decrease even more. “We conservatively predict a 9.7 unemployment rate in 2025. However, it will be below 10% for the first time in 15 years, and most importantly, at least 30,000 of our fellow citizens who are currently unemployed will find work in 2025.”
- The great effort to tackle tax evasion continues, which will pay off more and more. “We’re throwing new tools into the fray: MyData’s 2025 universal app for reporting income and expenses. The digital clientele. The digital consignment note. The expansion of electronic invoicing. This is certainly good news for consistent taxpayers, for more tax fairness.”
He even emphasized that this whole battle of tax evasion means that in 2025, there will be further tax reductions for Greek taxpayers. “Because the battle with growth on the one hand and to limit tax evasion on the other, results in further tax reductions for Greek citizens.”
He also said that health funding will increase even more in 2025: Health spending is up 13.2% from 2024, and 74.4% from what we found in 2019. “We , the supposed untouchables, we give health 74.4% more funds compared to what we found from SYRIZA”.
Referring to public investments, he said that the quality of life of Greek citizens will rise even further. “Not in theory. Because with discussions with millions and billions we often miss the point. With funding from the public investment program, the NSRF and the Recovery fund, infrastructure projects for sustainable development and social cohesion are implemented throughout Greece. So, by 2025:
- The Greeks will see the extension of the Thessaloniki metro to Kalamaria being completed and handed over to the citizens.
- The “Spiti mou – 2” program begins, with which more than 20,000 of our fellow citizens, especially young people, will acquire their own home
- The National Land Registry, which we have been discussing for decades, is being completed. “With the Mitsotakis government, the national land registry is completed and better everyday conditions are created as well as investment conditions for Greek citizens”.
- And of course, with funding from the recovery fund, in 2025, the modernization and renovation of dozens of hospitals and health centers across the country will proceed and be completed. “This is growth that cannot be disputed because it has a specific footprint.”
“Finally, and here I know that some will be disturbed, from September 2025, non-state universities will finally operate for the first time in our country. To stop being a global exception and gradually become an international educational center. And this is a reform of the Mitsotakis government”.
Source: APE – MEB