FAQs about development programmes

The eligible investment is the total investment that can be financed through the RRF. 

The eligible expenditures are the itemised expenses for implementing the investment.

The investment as a whole may be eligible, but some of the expenditures it includes may be not.

Provided the aid is granted in line with Regulation (EU) 2831/2023 (De Minimis):

• €20,000-€1,500,000 for investment loans
  
• €10,000-€500,000 for special purpose working capital loans
  

The de minimis aid ceiling for a single business stands at €300,000 over 3 calendar years

Business with non-eligible business activity codes (KAD / NACE) and those involved in activities, such as:

• Illegal economic activities, according to the Greek and EU law, as in force
• Production of and trade in weapons and ammunition
• Production, processing and trade of tobacco and tobacco products
• Research, development or technical applications providing support services to online gambling and casinos
• Pornography
• Illegal access to electronic data networks
• Illegal receipt of electronic data
  
• Research, development or technical applications for research or therapeutic purposes related to human cloning and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
  
• Decommissioning or building nuclear power plants

Yes. You cannot use the loan to:

• Pay off an existing loan or credit card debt.
  
• Pay dividends.
  
• Buy shares.
• Carry out mergers or acquisitions.

You must fulfil at least 3 criteria from at least 2 different ESG categories.

Environmental criteria

• Reduce the average annual energy consumption by at least 20%.
• Source at least 20% of the total energy consumed from renewable energy sources.
  

Social criteria

• Maintain or increase the percentage of women holding high-ranking positions.
  
• Increase the average annual number of employees.
• Increase the average annual expenses for staff training.
  
• Adopt a customer satisfaction policy and evaluation methodology.
  

Corporate governance

• Adopt a corporate governance policy.
  
• Adopt a data and/or personal data security policy.

According to Commission Recommendation 280/1996 and the new Recommendation 361/2003:

Micro businesses are those that:

1. Employ < 10 persons 
2. Have an annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total ≤ €2 million
   

Small businesses are those that:

1. Employ < 50 persons 
   
2. Have an annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total ≤ €10 million
   

Medium-sized businesses are those that:

1. Employ < 250 persons 
   
2. Have an annual turnover ≤ €50 million or an annual balance sheet total ≤ €43 million

Expenditures such as:

• Debt interest payments.
  
• Duties, taxes (except for the eligible VAT), custom duties, etc.
• Bank loan application fees.
  
• Purchase of land, property and infrastructure.
  
• Used products.

According to the regional aid map, you can apply only if your business is based in the regional units:

1. West Athens
   
2. East Attica
   
3. West Attica
   
4. Piraeus and Islands

No. According to the regional aid map, the aid percentage depends on the: 

• NUTS region where the business is based.
  
• Size of the business

For assets

• Purchasing, renewing or expanding tangible assets, including costs for design and development during manufacturing
• Purchase of assets other than real estate (e.g. manufacturing equipment), for third-party leasing
  

Investments in intangible assets

• Research, development and innovation costs – including gross salaries for up to 3 years of personnel directly associated with the research, development and innovation elements of the business activities, as well as costs for developing concessions, patents, licences, trademarks and similar rights and assets.
  
• Purchase of licensing for processes, software and other rights and assets with innate production capacity.
  

Working capital (also as revolving credit)

For the business operation, e.g. current assets, such as inventory (inflows, products in processing and finished products) and receivables. 

You cannot use the financing to pay off other loans.

Businesses with:

• 250-2,999 employees.
  
• <250 employees, as long as they have an annual turnover > €50 million and an annual balance sheet > €43 million.

Financing is not available to businesses engaged in activities involving:

• Weapons production
  
• Gambling
  
• Tobacco production, processing and distribution
  
• Use of animals in experimental or scientific research, or areas that pose a moral dilemma
  
• Purchase of goodwill and purchase of intangible assets 
  
• Building construction
  
• Pure financial transactions (e.g. sale and purchase of financial instruments)
  
• Portfolio management of holdings and investments in companies

Financing is not available to businesses engaged in activities involving:

• Prisons and detention centres of any type
• Habitat deterioration, conversion or destruction 
  
• Conversion of natural forests to plantations
  
• Mining
  
• Use of animals in experimental or scientific research, or areas that pose a moral dilemma
  
• Sex trafficking 
  
• Work for political or religious purposes
  
• Weapons production
  
• Tobacco production, processing and distribution
  
• Gambling
  

Find out more about the eligibility criteria.

Yes. As long as your business:

1. Employ < 10 persons
2. Have an annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total ≤ €2 million