The action "I am employed in Epirus", is funded by the "Epirus 2021-2027" Programme and more specifically within the framework of Priority 4B "Strengthening social cohesion and human resources", of the specific Objective ESO4.1 "Improving access to employment and activation measures for all job seekers, in particular young people, in particular through the implementation of guarantees for youth, the long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups in the labour market, and for economically inactive people, as well as through the promotion of self-employment and the social economy".
Basic information:
1. The total public expenditure of the actions amounts to 3.500.000€It is co-financed by the European Social Fund + (ESF+) of the European Union and by National Resources, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 (de minimis) on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid.
2. The main objective of the action is to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the cutting-edge productive sectors of the Epirus region for the creation of New Jobs (NJL), by hiring unemployed people with high qualifications. The financing concerns the full salary cost and employer contributions for a period of 18 months. Upon the expiration of the 18 months, the company undertakes the obligation to maintain the NTH for an additional period of 4 months.
3. The invitation concerns two distinct sub-actions:
• 4B.a.1a: Creation of New Jobs in the context of implementing the OCHE Strategy
The sub-action contributes to the OCHE "Journey to Ancient Theaters, Nature and Culture in Epirus". It concerns exclusively the areas:
• – North Pindos: Municipality of Konitsa
• – South Pindos: Municipalities of North Tzoumerka and Central Tzoumerka
• – Souli – Acheronta Area: Municipal Units of Souli and Acheronta of the Municipality of Souli
• 4B.a.2a: Creation of New Jobs within the framework of the regional dimension of the ESEE
The sub-action focuses on the Sectors of the regional dimension of the National Smart Specialization Strategy 2021-2027 (NSS), which are:
• – Materials – Construction and Industry
• – Tourism – Culture – Creative Industries
• – Agri-Food Chain
• – Environment – Circular Economy
• – Life Sciences – Health and Medicine
• – Sustainable Energy
• – Digital Technologies
4. Beneficiaries of the action are Small and Medium Enterprises.
5. Each Beneficiary enterprise has the right to submit for funding within the framework of this call only one proposal and in only one of the two sub-actions. Depending on the number of employees of the enterprise during the period 1/7/2024 – 30/6/2025 in EME, the following applies to the financing of the creation of NTH in EME:
• – Businesses with a staff of one (1) to three (3) EMEs can join the program for financing one (1) NHE.
• – Businesses with a staff of more than three (3) up to nine (9) EMEs can join the program for financing up to two (2) NHEs.
• – Businesses with a staff of more than nine (9) and up to nineteen (19) EMEs can join the program for financing up to three (3) NHEs.
• – Businesses with a staff of over nineteen (19) full-time employees can join the program for financing up to four (4) NTEs.
6. Each NHE may be covered by either one (1) full-time beneficiary or two (2) part-time beneficiaries, as long as the above limits are met.
7. The subsidized EMRs that will be created during the implementation of the operation must be additional (i.e., increase) to the EMRs of the enterprise for the period 1/7/2024 - 30/6/2025.
8. The eligible costs are the following:
• – Direct Personnel Costs: Full Salary Cost of Newly Hired Personnel.
• – Indirect Costs: 51% of the eligible direct costs of the investment project.
9. The grant budget of each proposal depends on the number of NHEs created and the educational level of the beneficiary. The table below presents the maximum eligible cost per full-time person-month, depending on the educational level of the beneficiary:

For the calculation of the total subsidized calculation, 18 months of employment are taken into account as well as Christmas and Easter holiday allowances and the vacation allowance, i.e. a total of 21 payrolls, as well as an additional 5% relating to the cost of eligible indirect costs.
10. Public expenditure per action is distributed as follows:

11. The funding rate is 100% except in the case of hiring a beneficiary with a salary higher than the maximum subsidy. In this case, the excess cost is borne by the company.
12. The duration of the implementation of the projects is up to twenty-four (24) months, while the financing of the NTE concerns a period of eighteen (18) months. The implementation period of the operation includes the period of finding and hiring the personnel by the company, the implementation of the physical and financial object as well as the time that may be required to hire new personnel to replace the initially hired personnel.
13. The evaluation of funding applications is immediate (FiFo), i.e. each funding application submitted is evaluated in order of priority, according to the date and time of electronic submission to OPSKE.