- The European Commission formally adopted Greece’s Social Climate Plan (2026–2032)—the fifth and largest national plan approved under the EU’s Social Climate Fund.
- The framework mobilizes €4.77 billion (including €3.57B in EU funding and €1.2B in national co-financing) to offset the costs of the green transition for vulnerable citizens and micro-enterprises under the new ETS2 rules.
- Targets include funding 200,000 heat pumps and solar water heaters, 62,000 home renovations, 2,800 energy-efficient social housing units, and temporary heating allowances for up to 800,000 households annually.
- Public transport upgrades feature 200+ electric buses, 22 new Athens metro trains, accessibility retrofits across 118 rail and metro stations, and targeted subsidies for 28,000 micro-enterprises.
The European Commission approved Greece’s Social Climate Plan on Thursday, August 27, unlocking a program worth €4.77 billion through 2032 to help households, transport users, and small businesses deal with the transition away from fossil fuels.
Greece is the fifth country to have its plan approved under the EU Social Climate Fund and has the largest plan adopted so far.
The program combines €3.57 billion in EU funding with €1.2 billion in national funds. Its measures are expected to reduce Greece’s emissions by around 811,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year by 2032.
Support for Homes and Heating
The plan is expected to benefit around 460,000 vulnerable households, with funding for up to 62,000 home renovations and the installation of 200,000 heat pumps and solar water-heating systems.
Greece will also add 2,800 energy-efficient social housing units.
A temporary heating allowance will support up to 800,000 vulnerable households each year with heating costs following the introduction of the EU’s new ETS2 emissions trading system for buildings and road transport.
Another €226 million will support renovations to public student residences, improving access to higher education for around 5,930 vulnerable students.
More Electric Transport
Around 300,000 vulnerable transport users are expected to benefit from expanded public transport, including more than 200 new electric buses in areas with high transport vulnerability.
The program also includes 22 additional Athens Metro trains, on-demand transport services for remote areas, and new charging infrastructure.
A social leasing program will give up to 15,000 vulnerable households that depend heavily on cars access to electric vehicles at affordable monthly rates.
The plan also places a strong emphasis on accessibility, with funding for more than 12,000 mobility devices, including electric wheelchairs and scooters. A new school transport service for students with disabilities is also planned, along with accessibility improvements at 33 railway stations and 85 Metro stations.
Support for Small Businesses
Around 28,000 vulnerable micro-enterprises will be eligible for measures helping them move toward cleaner buildings and transport. Some €820 million will be directed toward reducing their energy and transport costs through energy-efficiency improvements and targeted subsidies.
Greece can request its first payment from the European Commission once implementation begins and the required milestones have been achieved.
The Social Climate Fund runs from 2026 to 2032 and is expected to mobilize at least €86.7 billion across the EU, combining revenues from the new ETS2 system with contributions from member states.
Greece is among the first countries to have its Social Climate Plan formally approved. Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia and Malta had their plans approved earlier, while several other EU member states have submitted plans or draft versions for assessment.
Key Projects Under Greece’s Social Climate Plan
| Project | Funding | What it delivers |
|---|---|---|
| Electric buses | €129 million | 211 new electric buses for Athens and Thessaloniki, with 101 for Athens and 110 for Thessaloniki |
| Electric taxis | €68 million | Subsidies of up to €20,000 per taxi and €29,000 for accessible taxis |
| Microbusiness energy upgrades | €395 million | Energy improvements for around 12,000 small businesses, including heat pumps and solar water heaters |
| Social leasing for EVs | €170 million | Electric vehicles for around 15,000 vulnerable households, with four-year leases and monthly payments capped at €150 |
| Athens Metro | From 2027 | Upgrades to 10 older Line 1 trains, accessibility upgrades at all 24 Line 1 stations and 12 new trains for Lines 2 and 3 |
| Public EV charging | From 2027 | 4,400 publicly accessible charging points, prioritizing areas with limited private infrastructure |
| Railway accessibility | From 2027 | Accessibility upgrades at 33 OSE railway stations |
| ATHENS MOVE | From 2027 | Four new municipal bus routes to improve local connections in Athens |
| Regional transport | From 2027 | Demand-responsive transport services in Attica, Thessaloniki and regional municipalities |
| Household energy upgrades | €1.7 billion | Energy-efficiency improvements for homes |
| Energy support centers | — | 13 regional one-stop shops for energy assistance |
| Student housing | — | Upgrades to 15 student residence buildings |
| Accessible mobility | — | Measures and equipment to improve mobility for people with disabilities |
The new electric buses are expected to cut waiting times at stops by around 15%, while the wider public transport measures are projected to reduce operating costs by approximately €35 million.
The Social Climate Plan itself mobilizes €4.77 billion in EU and national funding. The broader package of projects announced by the Greek government brings the total investment to €5.3 billion, including additional state funding.
