A draft bill setting up a microfunding framework for small businesses passed by wide majority vote in parliament’s plenary session on Wednesday evening.
The microbudning bill submitted by the Finance Ministry was voted by ruling New Democracy, main opposition SYRIZA and KINAL (Movement for Change). Communist party KKE, Elliniki Lysi and Varoufakis’ MeRA25 voted against it.
Earlier in the debate, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras had said that the bill would provide “yet another tool to boost corporate liquidity, especially for small businesses” by allowing them to draw support funds of up to 25,000 euros.
The minister did however underline that businesses must “take on their share of responsibility for securing jobs, for boosting productivity, competitiveness and the successful transition of the Greek economy to a new model of development,” one based on “high-added-value products and services, extroversion and innovation, especially in sectors where Greece has a competitive advantage.”
The current bill version has been improved by taking into account public consultation comments and proposals from opposition parties, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Greece and other institutions.
