European Commission warns Greece over hospital debts and customs delays

The European Commission has issued new warnings to Greece regarding significant delays in public sector payments and administrative failures. A primary concern is the debt owed by public hospitals to their suppliers, which has reached approximately 1.3 billion euros. This figure represents a more than threefold increase compared to 2019 levels. These delays violate EU directives requiring public healthcare providers to settle invoices within 60 days, placing severe liquidity pressure on suppliers, many of whom are small and medium-sized enterprises.

Greece has two months to respond to these warnings and implement corrective measures. Failure to provide an adequate response could lead to the case being referred back to the European Court of Justice, potentially resulting in financial sanctions.

Additionally, the Commission has flagged delays in the implementation of the new National Import System for customs. Despite a deadline at the end of 2023, the electronic system is not yet operational. The Commission has requested that Greece complete the installation of this system immediately to ensure faster processing.