SURE Program: An additional 2.54 billion euros for Greece to support employment

An additional disbursement  amounting to 2.54 billion euros, was made to Greece today by the people in charge of the SURE Program, in order to support employment.

In a statement, the Minister of Finance Christos Staikouras stated that “Less than two months after the acceptance by the European Commission of the request submitted by the Greek Government for the allocation of additional – not available at European level – resources from the SURE Program, Greece receives, today, the disbursement of these additional resources, amounting to 2.54 billion euros,” adding: “Thus, together with the 2.73 billion euros that had already been disbursed by February, the total aid to Greece from the program, aimed at supporting employment, will amount to 5.27 billion euros – almost double the initial forecast.”

He also stressed that “The money of the Program is a loan, with extremely low to zero borrowing costs, and covers measures to support employees and employers, which were implemented from the beginning of the health crisis, in order to maintain jobs” also pointing out that the measures include the special purpose compensation and the coverage of insurance contributions for the employees whose employment contracts have been temporarily suspended, the coverage of the insurance contributions of the seasonal workers and the implementation of the “SYN-ERGASIA (COOPERATION)” program.

Mr. Staikouras concluded: “The Government is making and will continue to make the best use of domestic and European tools, means, and resources, in terms of economic efficiency and social reciprocity, so that the wounds of the health crisis can be healed as soon as possible and become solid foundations for achieving high, sustainable, smart and inclusive growth “.