After a delay of several weeks, the programme entitled “Integrated Support Programme for New Entrepreneurship for Unemployed Individuals Aged 18–29, with an Emphasis on Women and the Digital & Green Economy” was pre-announced a few days ago.
The objective of the programme of the Public Employment Service – DYPA (formerly OAED), which has been pre-published, is to promote entrepreneurship through the establishment of new small and medium-sized enterprises by 2,114 unemployed individuals aged 18–29, with particular emphasis on unemployed women (male applicants are not excluded and may participate subject to conditions), with a total budget of EUR 37 million.
The financial support per new enterprise/beneficiary amounts to EUR 17,500, to be disbursed in three instalments, as follows:
- 1st instalment – EUR 4,700: upon commencement of business activity.
- 2nd instalment – EUR 6,400: after the completion of the first six months from the start of operations, following verification of continuous operation for a six-month period.
- 3rd instalment – EUR 6,400: after the completion of the second six months from the start of operations, following verification of continuous operation for a further six-month period.
The funding application (investment proposal) shall be submitted electronically through the Integrated State Aid Information System (OPSKE).
The application submission period will be announced with the official call of the programme, which—based on current indications—is expected towards the end of January.
BENEFICIARIES – TERMS & CONDITIONS
Applicants must:
- Be unemployed and registered in the DYPA digital registry, aged 18 to 29 (having completed their 18th year of age and being in their 30th year) on the date of final submission of the funding application.
- Have completed the personalised counselling process and agreed to a Digital Individual Action Plan.
- Be outside employment, education, and training on the date of final submission of the funding application.
- Be Greek citizens, EU citizens, ethnic Greeks with the right of residence and employment in Greece, or third-country nationals holding a valid residence permit or a renewal application, valid at the time of application submission, evaluation, and throughout the duration of the programme.
- Male applicants must have fulfilled or lawfully been exempted from military service obligations.
- Commence business activity after the submission date of the funding application and no later than 125 days from notification of approval.
- Establish and legally operate their business within the territory of Greece. Eligible legal forms include: sole proprietorships, general partnerships (OE), limited partnerships (EE), limited liability companies (EPE), private capital companies (IKE), micro IKEs (MIKE), and civil cooperatives.
- In the case of a legal entity, exercise company management, hold at least 51% of the share capital, and act as the legal representative, except for cooperatives governed by Law 4430/2016.
- Hold eligible activity codes (KADs) under the programme.
- Maintain the initial eligible activity throughout the entire duration of the programme. Any additional KADs introduced during implementation must not fall under the excluded categories.
- Operate in a distinct professional premises. Exceptionally, operation within the beneficiary’s residence is permitted only in the following cases:
a) Parents of a child up to six (6) years old (at the start date of activity), and
b) Individuals caring at home for a spouse or first-degree relative with a disability of 80% or higher.
NON-ELIGIBLE CASES
The following are excluded:
- Professions requiring the availability of a vacant position (e.g. notaries, bailiffs).
- Activities related to the operation of public passenger or freight vehicles.
- Seasonal businesses, kiosks, canteens, mobile vendors, gambling or electronic gambling activities, as well as non-eligible KADs as detailed in the Call and Invitation.
- Businesses exclusively engaged in food delivery services.
- Businesses engaged in short-term property or accommodation rentals.
- Businesses with a composite activity, where one component falls under the exclusions.
- Activities forming part of an organised distribution network exploiting intellectual property rights (e.g. franchising, shop-in-shop, agency networks).
- Businesses operating exclusively between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- Activities falling outside the scope of Regulation (EU) 2023/2831.
- Businesses with the same activity as another business that operated in the same premises during the six months prior to commencement.
- Businesses created through transfer, change of legal form, dissolution and re-establishment, or leasing by the same partners with the same activity, after publication of the programme.
- Individuals who participated in previous New Self-Employed (NEE) programmes of DYPA (formerly OAED) from 01.01.2019 onwards.
- Individuals who discontinue business activity after publication of the programme in the Government Gazette.
- Individuals who ceased activity from 01.01.2022 onwards and seek reactivation under the same KADs.
- Co-located businesses, defined as operating in the same non-distinct premises as another business, except where hosted within officially recognised business-support structures (incubators, technology parks, co-working spaces), provided that:
- the activity can be legally supported there, and
- on-site verification confirms actual operation (e.g. business signage, programme poster).
For further information regarding the programme, individualised briefings will commence on Wednesday morning (07.01.2026).
In any case, a complete and definitive overview will be available upon official publication of the programme and its accompanying documentation, at which point we will revert with an updated information notice.