Greece Launches €20 Million Home Energy Upgrade Grant Scheme

Overview Of The New Grant Initiative

The Greek Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry announced that proposals for the third call under the “Exoikonomó – Anavathmízo Stis Katoikíes” Program will open this September. This latest initiative is allocated a budget of €20 million, increasing the total funds available for residential energy upgrades through the Th.Al.E.I.A. Program to €85 million.

Robust Funding And Comprehensive Upgrades

Eligible homeowners will be able to receive grants of up to €32,000 per property, depending on the scope of the planned upgrades. Covered investments include thermal insulation, replacement of window frames, installation of shading systems, upgrades to heating and cooling systems, and the addition of solar water heaters and photovoltaic systems with or without storage. The programme also covers services provided by certified experts and targets existing homes built before January 1, 2008, as part of broader efforts to improve residential energy efficiency.

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Support For Vulnerable And High-Priority Households

The scheme includes increased financial support for vulnerable households, homes located in mountainous areas and refugee residences within designated settlement zones. For these categories, financial assistance will be increased by 20%, linking the programme to both environmental and social policy objectives.

Eligibility Criteria And Application Requirements

The programme is available exclusively to individual homeowners. To qualify, properties must have either been connected to the electricity network before January 1, 2008 or submitted for a building permit before December 21, 2007. Applicants must also hold an active electricity account registered in their name alongside a household supply agreement.

Streamlined Processing And Enhanced Oversight

During a recent press conference, Greek Energy Minister Michalis Damianós acknowledged delays experienced during previous funding rounds because of the large volume of payment requests submitted simultaneously. According to the minister, updated procedures now include prioritised risk-based processing and selective on-site inspections. Lower-risk requests, particularly those involving smaller amounts or more limited projects, may therefore be processed more quickly without requiring physical inspections.

Addressing Past Challenges And Future Outlook

Damianós said the continuation of the programme reflects sustained public demand for residential energy upgrades. The current call was set at €20 million, €10 million lower than the previous round, following substantial allocations made during earlier phases of the programme. According to the ministry, the initiative aims not only to support emissions reduction targets but also to lower household energy costs and improve living conditions.

Call To Action For Homeowners

Homeowners interested in participating can consult certified experts for on-site evaluations and the issuance of Energy Performance Certificates ahead of the application process. Online applications are expected to open in September, with additional guidance to be published through the ministry’s official channels.

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Cyprus Government Surplus Rises To €1.61 Billion In First Nine Months Of 2026

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 5, 2026

Cyprus recorded a general government surplus of €1.61 billion in the first nine months of 2026, equal to 4.0% of gross domestic product, as revenue growth outpaced the rise in public spending. Higher receipts from income taxes, social contributions and value-added tax (VAT) drove the improvement, while lower capital expenditure helped restrain spending.

Preliminary figures released Tuesday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus show the surplus rose to €1.17 billion, or 3.0% of GDP, up from € 442.1 million in the same period of 2025.

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Total government revenue increased 6.5% to €12.09 billion, while expenditure rose 2.9% to €10.48 billion.

Key Fiscal Measure	January–September 2025	January–September 2026
Total revenue	€11,353.9 million	€12,091.8 million
Total expenditure	€10,186.2 million	€10,482.1 million
Government surplus	€1,167.6 million	€1,609.7 million
Surplus as a share of GDP	3.0%	4.0%

Income Taxes And VAT Lead Revenue Growth

Taxes on income and wealth made the largest contribution to the increase in revenue. Receipts in this category climbed by €442.2 million, or 15.3%, to €3.34 billion, compared with €2.89 billion a year earlier.

Social contributions rose by €235 million, or 6.6%, to €3.78 billion. Taxes on production and imports increased by €251.5 million, or 7.2%, reaching €3.77 billion.

Net VAT receipts, after refunds, totalled €2.64 billion, up €293.1 million, or 12.5%, from €2.35 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Some Revenue Streams Decline

Not all revenue categories moved higher. Capital transfers fell by €74.6 million to €96.7 million, while current transfers declined by €71.6 million, or 20.5%, to €278.2 million.

Revenue from services slipped 1.0% to €743.5 million. Interest and dividend receipts dropped by €37 million, or 28.6%, to €92.4 million.

Social Benefits And Personnel Costs Increase

On the expenditure side, social benefits rose by €199.6 million, or 4.9%, to €4.27 billion. Compensation of employees—which includes imputed social contributions and public-sector pensions—increased by €108.3 million, or 3.8%, to €2.99 billion.

Intermediate consumption, covering goods and services used in the delivery of public services, rose by €114.3 million, or 11.0%, to €1.16 billion. Interest payments increased by €8.7 million, or 2.6%, to €340.7 million. Current transfers were up €68.7 million, or 10.6%, at €714.7 million.

Lower Capital Spending Limits Expenditure Growth

The overall increase in spending was tempered by a decline in capital expenditure. Capital-account spending fell by €189.9 million, or 16.9%, to €936.2 million from €1.13 billion in the same period last year.

Investment in fixed capital declined by €94.1 million, or 12.1%, to €686.4 million. Other capital transfers fell by €95.8 million, or 27.7%, to €249.8 million. Subsidies also decreased, dropping by €13.9 million, or 15.5%, to €75.8 million.

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