The Greek Cabinet concluded its meeting on Monday, discussing among other issues the upcoming signing of the EastMed natural gas pipeline, draft bills regulating public rallies, child support, waterways, and seaplanes investments, and the introduction of a committee to help lignite mining areas transition, ANA reports.
In terms of the social dividend for 2019, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said that beneficiaries would surpass a million individuals or 300,000 families and that the total funds distributed would be 215 million euros, higher by 40 million euros than initially calculated.
As of January 1, 2020, every child born in Greece would receive a bonus through simplified procedures of a maximum of 2,000 euros. Criteria to receive this include a total of 70,000 euros annual income per couple. Single-family homes will also benefit from provisions of a new draft bill, while additional bonuses will be introduced for three other subcategories, and new rules will improve social agencies’ efficiency.
Infrastructure & Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis and Deputy Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis introduced the draft law to allow private investor participation in and simplification of licensing for waterways and seaplane transport investments. The waterways network will enrich Greece’s tourism product and improve the connection of remote areas with the mainland, they said. (The law on waterways is currently under public consultation until December 27.)
Regarding the issues of agricultural cooperatives, 6,000 are listed in the Agriculture Development Ministry’s registry but only 800 of these are in operation, Minister Makis Voridis said. Of the 800, only a fifth are considered viable. A draft law will include regulations on clearing out the registry of defunct co-ops, setting up new ones faster and allowing fewer members, as well as providing for collaborations with private entities.
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