Wage growth is welcome—but we’re still at the back of the pack. While recent discussions about rising wages are positive, they shouldn’t be mistaken for a leap into prosperity. The Greek Fiscal Council’s Spring 2026 Report grounds us in reality: real worker compensation rose by just 0.1% in 2025—and another 0.1% is projected for 2026. Even the average net monthly wage—adjusted for cost of living—remains significantly lower than in most EU countries. In short: we’re climbing, but from a very low floor. When it takes special clarification to stress that wages must rise alongside productivity, the issue is not just economic—it’s deeply developmental and social.
The Recovery Fund Isn’t Paying Salaries
So, genuine wage growth won’t be decided by fanfare around Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) absorption rates or isolated pay hikes alone. It will hinge on whether billions in RRF funding leave a tangible, productive footprint on the economy. The RRF must act as a lever for productive investment—so that fund disbursement translates into higher productivity, better jobs, and meaningfully higher wages for more workers.
The Fiscal Council notes that by end-2025, Greece had drawn €23.5 billion of the total €35.95 billion RRF package. But without ensuring a strong multiplier effect from these investments, wages may rise only on paper—while Greece remains near the bottom of EU rankings.
Call Centers Face New Limits
The European Commission is preparing restrictions on telemarketing for electricity supply contracts via call centers. This measure will form part of a broader retail market reform package soon to be unveiled in Brussels. Previously, energy suppliers in Greece paid call centers up to €100–€200 per newly acquired customer—a practice now set to change, in some form, under the new rules.
Thessaloniki Port Shifts Gears
The Port of Thessaloniki is turning a new page—potentially reinforcing Northern Greece’s role as a key logistics hub. The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF)-backed expansion of Pier 6 is among the port’s largest-ever infrastructure projects: €200 million in investments, extending the quay by over 500 meters and deepening berths to accommodate larger, modern vessels. During construction, roughly 20,000 jobs are expected to be created and sustained. To fully harness this potential, however, the port needs integrated road and rail connectivity—a challenging, though not impossible, goal.
Allou! Fun Park Gets a Lifeline
Allou! Fun Park has received a major boost—one year after…