The Proper Greek Analyst criticized publications from Kontra, Eleftheros Typos, Political, and Dimokratia, arguing that they presented as a Greek success an exception that would pave the way for a reduction of fuel taxes or investments amounting to 1 billion euros. He described the coverage as misleading and said it confused two different requests. According to him, the government's request for temporary reductions in the Special Consumption Tax or VAT on fuels not to be counted toward the deficit was rejected. He argued that such measures would directly support citizens and businesses and that they had been implemented without requests to the Commission from 11 EU countries. He also cited a Reuters publication regarding the rejection of requests from Greece and Italy for greater fiscal flexibility. On the contrary, he mentioned that a request for exemption from fiscal rules on spending for energy projects had been accepted. In his post, this possibility did not concern only Greece: a Commission announcement dated 18/8/26, with code C/2026/4514, stipulated an exemption of up to 0.6% of GDP cumulatively over two years for countries that would apply. He estimated that this corresponded for Greece to 1.56 billion euros, with an GDP of 260 billion euros at current prices in 2026, and not the 1 billion euros that, as he wrote, the government planned to allocate. The Proper Greek Analyst added that Italy's request, which, according to ANSA, concerned 0.6% of GDP or 14 billion euros, was expected to be approved by Monday. He contrasted this amount with the 0.38% of GDP or 1 billion euros attributed to the Greek plan. For Greek projects, he mentioned grants of 200 million euros for energy storage batteries from renewable sources, 320 million euros for railroad safety and expansion projects, 200 million euros for heat pumps and solar water heaters for 100,000 beneficiaries, 117 million euros for energy upgrades of 109 public buildings and universities, 50 million euros for photovoltaics, batteries, and heating systems for 10,000 beneficiaries, 50 million euros for carbon capture and storage in industry, and 45 million euros for 246 school units. He stated that, beyond the subsidies for households, the remaining projects would not directly benefit citizens. #Ελλάδα #ενέργεια #δημοσιονομικά (translated)
