ΑΤΗΕΝS — The Greek government will distribute 3.0 billion euros to support enterprises and households in the next few months, Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said on Monday. In comments made to ET1 state television station, the finance minister said these measures will include: completion of round 7 of a state loans programme in May and June, with remaining support of around 200 million euros, an extension until the end of May of a Gefyra II business loan subsidy programme, compensation worth 130 million euros to around 100,000 enterprises, the subsidising of part of the fixed overheads of enterprises in July, covering spending already made, compensation to workers on pandemic furlough, development ministry programmes for playgrounds, gyms, etc.

Staikouras said that compensation of real estate owners for reduced rents will cover both March and April. He noted that fiscal measures and support measures in the period 2020-2021 amounted to 40 billion euros (24 billion 2020 and 15.5 billion this year), mostly funded by treasury bill and state bond issues. He reiterated that both the fiscal deficit and public debt will exceed initial estimates this year and predicted that fiscal stability will return from 2022, with Greece expected to fully cover the problems of 2020.