Purpose of the Action

The Action “Support for existing businesses in the Region of Crete to implement environmentally friendly processes” is part of the “Crete” Programme 2021–2027 under NSRF 2021–2027 and aims to support investment projects of existing SMEs in the Region of Crete for the integration of environmentally friendly production processes, the efficient use of resources, and the reduction of their environmental and energy footprint. In particular, investment projects will be supported that, as a priority, facilitate the transition to climate-neutral and environmentally friendly production processes, adopt practices that enhance the efficient processing and use of resources, and encourage the recovery and utilisation of by-products and materials from waste within the production process.

Beneficiaries

A “Beneficiary” is defined as the legal or natural person (enterprise) that submits a proposal and bears responsibility for the initiation and implementation of an operation vis-à-vis the Managing Authority (MA) of the “CRETE” Programme, as well as for the proper execution of the project.

Beneficiaries eligible to receive public funding under this action are existing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as defined in ANNEX V “SME Definition” of this call, which have been substantially active for fiscal year n-2 prior to the submission of the funding application (main NACE/Business Activity Code or the code corresponding to the highest gross revenues according to the applicable E3 form for fiscal year n-2) in one (1) eligible business activity code included in Annex III – ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES (KAD). They must implement an investment project relating to at least one eligible investment activity code that is active with the Tax Office (DOY) at the time of application and is included in Annex III – ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES (KAD), in facility or facilities located in the Region of Crete, which they had in place prior to the publication of the call for the action.

For the purposes of this action, “existing” enterprises are those established with a start date registered with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) prior to 1 January 2023 and which, at the time of submitting the funding application, have two fully closed financial years for years n-2 and n-3 preceding the year of submission of the application (year n).
 

Terms and Conditions for Beneficiaries’ Participation

For potential beneficiaries, the following must apply cumulatively:

1. They must operate in the Region of Crete and the investment plan must relate to existing facilities (registered office or branch) located within the geographical boundaries of the Region of Crete prior to the publication of the call for the action. The beneficiary must have the facility or facilities where the investment plan will be implemented registered as active with the competent Tax Office (DOY) within the Region of Crete prior to the publication of the call for the action.

2. They must have been established with a start date registered with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) prior to 1 January 2023.

3. They must have at least two (2) fully closed financial years for years n-2 and n-3 prior to the date of submission of the funding application (year n).

4. They must submit one and only one funding application per Tax Identification Number (AFM).

5. They must have been substantially active for fiscal year n-2 prior to the submission of the application (main Business Activity Code (KAD) and or the code corresponding to the highest gross revenues according to the applicable E3 tax form for year n-2) in one (1) eligible KAD included in Annex III – ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES (KAD).

6. The proposed investment plan must relate exclusively to eligible investment KAD codes included in Annex III – ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES (KAD), which are active with the Tax Office (DOY) at the time of submission of the application, at the investment implementation location or locations.

7. The amount of the eligible subsidised budget of the investment plan may not exceed twice the enterprise’s highest turnover [code (500) of the E3 tax form] achieved in one of the two fully closed financial years for which the relevant tax forms have been submitted to the IAPR for tax years n-3 and n-2 preceding the year of submission of the funding application (year n), and must fall within the limits set out in section 6.3 Budget and Implementation Duration of the present call.

8. They must submit evidence of availability of funds, demonstrating that at least 25% of total eligible costs of the investment plan can be covered either through own funds or through external financing, in accordance with the supporting documents specified in the present call.

9. The funding application must include expenses linked to the subcategories characterised as “environmentally friendly processes”, and the relevant minimum percentages described in Table 1 of Section 6.1 Eligible Expenditure must be met both at the time of submission and at completion of the investment plan.

10. They must qualify as a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 and in accordance with Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) 651/2014 regarding the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (ANNEX V “SME Definition” of the present call).

11. They must meet all conditions for the application of Regulation (EU) 2831/2023 (OJ L 15.12.2023) (De Minimis), on which this Action is based.

12. They must operate exclusively under one of the eligible forms of corporate and commercial enterprise.

13. They must keep single-entry or double-entry accounting records in accordance with Law 4308/2014, as in force.

14. They must operate legally in the activity or activities (KAD) to which the investment plan relates (Investment KAD), holding the appropriate licensing document, in accordance with applicable legislation.

15. They must comply with the provisions of the Commission Notice (2021/C 373/01) Technical guidance on climate-proofing of infrastructure in the period 2021–2027. They must commit that during implementation of the investment plan they will ensure: (i) respect for fundamental rights and compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Annex X), (ii) gender equality and gender mainstreaming, (iii) the prevention of any discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, (iv) transparency, (v) accessibility for persons with disabilities, (vi) compliance with the principles of sustainable development, “do no significant harm”, and Union environmental policy.

16. They must commit that, by completion of the investment and depending on the type and nature of the proposed Operation, they will provide the appropriate interventions to ensure access for persons with disabilities (PwD) to building infrastructure, services and digital environments, in accordance with the applicable institutional framework (see Annex IX “Ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities”).

17. They must not have completed the physical scope of the investment or fully implemented it prior to submission of the funding application.

18. They must not be subject to an outstanding recovery order following a previous decision of the European Commission or the Court of Justice of the European Union declaring an aid unlawful and incompatible with the internal market.

19. They must comply with legislation on employees’ health and safety and the prevention of occupational risks.

20. They must commit that there are no grounds for exclusion under Article 39, paragraphs 1–4, and Article 40, paragraph 1, of Law 4488/2017 (A137 13.09.2017).

21. They must be registered in the Register of Beneficial Owners under Article 20 of Law 4557/2018 (A’ 139), as in force, where they have the relevant legal obligation, prior to the date of submission of the funding application.

22. The investment implementation site must not be the beneficiary’s residence (primary or secondary).

23. They must not be under bankruptcy, liquidation or compulsory administration, nor have creditors filed an application for the enterprise’s rehabilitation proceedings.

24. If they have received rescue aid, they must have repaid the loan and the guarantee agreement must have been terminated, or if they have received restructuring aid, this must have been completed.

25. If they operate in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, they must not have committed one or more of the infringements referred to in Article 10(1)(a) to (d) and Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

26. They must submit an electronic funding application accompanied by all necessary information, supporting documents and forms, as specified in the call for the action.

27. The funding application must achieve a minimum total score of 30 on the scored evaluation criteria referred to in Annex IV “OPERATION SCORING CRITERIA”.

Budget, Implementation Duration and Aid Intensity

The total budget of the public expenditure under this call is EUR 5,000,000.00. The eligible subsidised budget of each investment proposal may range from EUR 30,000 to EUR 300,000.

It is further noted that the eligible subsidised budget of the investment plan may not exceed twice the enterprise’s highest turnover [code (500) of the E3 tax form] achieved in one of the two fully closed financial years for which the relevant tax forms have been submitted to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) for tax years n-3 and n-2 preceding the year of submission of the funding application (year n).

If the submitted investment plan has an eligible subsidised budget lower than EUR 30,000, it will be deemed ineligible from the outset and cannot be submitted.

The maximum duration for completion of the physical and financial scope of the investment plan may not exceed twenty-four (24) months from the date of electronic notification of the final approval of the funding application (evaluation result or appeal evaluation result).

Public expenditure for all investment plans amounts to 60% of the eligible subsidised budget, while the remaining amount is covered by private contribution.

Eligible Categories of Expenditure

• Equipment, Transport Vehicles and Instruments Expenditure

• Expenditure for Buildings, Plots, Facilities and Surrounding Areas

• Service Provision Expenditure

• Indirect Costs
   

  Start of Proposal Submission: 30/01/2026 at 13:00
  End of Proposal Submission: 02/04/2026 at 15:00