THE government yesterday fought back at the “irresponsible” opposition who criticised its €300 million stimulus package before even seeing it.
“When they criticise, and in essence reject, the measures before they have even seen them, it shows irresponsibility, bad faith and unwillingness to discuss,” government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said, referring to DISY and DIKO.
On Wednesday, the government announced a €300 million stimulus package aimed at creating jobs and boosting the construction, housing and energy sectors.
The proposals were given to parties at around 1pm.
The package will be funded by the proceeds of the second hydrocarbon licensing round – €200 million -- and the rest from the European Investment Bank, the government said.
Opposition parties yesterday expressed doubts over the existence of the €200 million.
The government spokesman said the figure did not come out of thin air.
“We are already at the final stage of the second licensing round and quite safe calculations can be made about what we can expect,” Stefanou said. “And the €200 million is a very moderate figure.”
And the state was towards the end of a lengthy procedure to secure the funds from the European Investment Bank.
The package includes €9.5 million earmarked to boost employment: €3.0 million to subsidise the employment of university graduates up to 29-years-old; €2.3 million to subsidise employment in small and medium businesses; €4.2 million to train jobless people.
Some €8.0 million will go to research and education and €17 million to fund renewable energy schemes.
Around €61 million will be used to boost the construction sector – including housing and development projects -- while €100 million will be used to assist small and medium businesses.