Purpose of the Action

The action “Comprehensive program to support new entrepreneurship for unemployed persons aged 18–29, with emphasis on women and the digital and green economy” aims to promote self-employment through the establishment of new small and medium-sized enterprises by 2,114 unemployed persons aged 18–29 who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET). Emphasis will be placed on promoting self-employment among unemployed women and on businesses that will operate in sectors of the digital and green economy (an Annex follows with the NACE/Business Activity Codes of the digital and green economy).

Beneficiaries

Eligible to submit an application for funding, including a proposal of their business plan, are unemployed persons registered in the digital register of the Public Employment Service (DYPA), aged 18–29, who are not in employment, education or training.

Terms and Conditions for Participation

Potential beneficiaries, on the date of submission of the electronic funding application, must cumulatively meet the following conditions:

1. They must be unemployed and registered in the digital register of DYPA, aged 18 to 29 (having completed their 18th year of age and not having reached their 30th) on the date the funding application is finalised.

2. They must have completed the personalized guidance process and have agreed to a Digital Individual Action Plan.

3. They must not be in employment, education, or training on the date the funding application is finalized.

4. They must be Greek citizens or citizens of another EU Member State, or persons of Greek origin with the right to reside and work in Greece, or third-country nationals holding a valid residence permit or having submitted an application for renewal of the permit on the date of submission of the funding application, on the date of evaluation of the application, and for the entire duration of the action.

5. Male applicants must have fulfilled their military obligations or have been legally exempted.

6. They must commence business activity after the date of submission of the funding application and no later than one hundred and twenty-five (125) days from being notified of the selection of the funding application.

7. They must establish their businesses and operate lawfully within the territory of Greece (registered office and any branch offices). The categories of enterprises eligible under the action are sole proprietorships, General Partnerships (O.E.), Limited Partnerships (E.E.), Limited Liability Companies (E.P.E.), Private Capital Companies (M.E.P.E.), Civil Cooperatives, Private Companies (I.K.E.) and Single-Member Private Companies (M.I.K.E.). The categories will be specified in detail in the Call for Proposals and the Invitation of the action.

8. In the event of establishing a legal entity, they must manage the company’s affairs, hold at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the corporate share, and be the legal representatives of the business, except for cooperatives for which the provisions of Law 4430/2016 (A’ 205) apply, throughout the duration of the action.

9. They must have one or more activity codes (KAD) eligible under the Action. (The eligible categories of business activities to be subsidised within the framework of this pre-publication will be defined in the Call for Proposals and the Invitation of the action.)

10. They must retain the initial scope of activity, as described by the Business Activity Codes (KAD), which was eligible for their inclusion, throughout the duration of the program. In case additional KAD codes are added during the implementation period, these must not fall under the exclusions (non-eligible activities will be defined in the Call for Proposals and the detailed Invitation of the action).

11. The business activity to be developed by the potential beneficiaries (registered office and any branch offices) must be organized in an independent professional premises. Exceptionally, operation of the business in a suitably configured area within the beneficiary’s home is permitted only in the following cases: (a) a parent of a child up to six (6) years of age (on the business start date), and (b) a person who provides care at home to a spouse or first-degree relatives with a disability of eighty percent (80%) or more.

Budget and Implementation Duration

The action will be co-financed by the Hellenic Republic and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under the program “Human Resources and Social Cohesion” 2021–2027, with total co-financed public expenditure amounting to EUR 37,000,000.00.

The amount of support for the new businesses/beneficiaries under the action is seventeen thousand five hundred euros (EUR 17,500) and is paid in three installments as follows:

• 1st installment of EUR 4,700: after commencement of business activity (Milestone A).

• 2nd installment of EUR 6,400: after completion of the first six-month period from the start of the business, following verification of operation for a period of 6 months (Milestone B).

• 3rd installment of EUR 6,400: after completion of the second six-month period from the start of the business, following verification of operation for a period of 6 months (Milestone C).

The duration of the grant is set at twelve (12) months. The 12-month period applies from the business start date.

Submission Period

The Action is expected to be launched at the end of January, and the period for submitting funding applications will be announced in the invitation.

Contact details

Tel. 2810 360814, 2810 231510
Fax. 2810 360772
Email paa@proactive.com.gr