Background information

The Greek government, on 17 June 2022 (with the joint Ministerial Decision No 61929/864 - Government Gazette No. 3099), announced the start of the "Recycle-Switch Device" program; a programme that subsidizes the replacement of the old household electric appliances.

The program aims to promote the energy saving in the residential building sector (households) and reduce the energy costs for the average household. At the same time, the program is expected to contribute to the reduction of gas emissions and to achieve the target for a cleaner environment, to improve the balance in energy imports and to reduce the dependence from energy sources, as well as to increase the quality of the life of the citizens.

The program includes the replacement of the old energy-intensive electrical appliances with new friendly environmental and energy-efficient appliances and the recycling of the old appliances.

Content of measure

According to the program "recycle-switch device", as it set with the Decision No. 61929/864 (Government Gazette 3099 on 17 June 2022), beneficiaries are all the households. For the final selection of beneficiaries, social criteria are estimated with a special care for vulnerable households, families with a member with disabilities and large numbered families. Each household is entitled to replace up to three electrical appliances (two air conditioners and a refrigerator or fridge-freezer).

The grant/subsidy is provided through a voucher given by the Program to the beneficiary, which can be used when purchasing a new device in retail stores selling electrical appliances. The subsidy covers from 30% to 50% of the total cost (based on income criteria) and ranges from €135 to €710.

For each purchase of a new device, there is an obligation to deliver for recycling an old device that the consumer alters.

Applications were submitted from 21 June 2022 to 11 July 2022. The purchase of the new appliances initially had a deadline of 16 September 16 (which was extended until 1 November 2022). The measure is funded by the European Partnership Agreement (PA) 2014-2020 and the total cost is estimated at €148 million.

Use of measure

According to Statements by the Minister of Energy in August 2022, 879,026 applications were submitted, of which 151,450 were approved.

After the given extensions and the completion of the "Recycle – Change Appliance" programme, according to an announcement on 14 July 2023, the total beneficiaries of the programme amount to 653,772, covering approximately 74% of households that have applied for inclusion in the programme

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Single parents Disabled People on social benefits People on low incomes

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There is no involvement of social partners.

Views and reactions

There are no social partner reactions to the measure.

Sources

• 18 June 2022: JMD No 61929/864 (Government Gazette No 3099 on 17 June 2022 (www.newsit.gr)
• 21 June 2022: Replacement of electrical appliances with a subsidy of up to 710 euro: The platform opens today (www.newmoney.gr)
• 08 May 2023: 4η τροποποίηση Υπουργικής Απόφασης του προγράμματος Ανακυκλώνω – Αλλάζω Συσκευ (allazosyskevi.gov.gr)
• 14 July 2023: Νέοι δικαιούχοι στο πρόγραμμα Ανακυκλώνω – Αλλάζω Συσκευ (ypodomes.com)