Piraeus Chamber of Commerce proposes energy shield for small businesses

The Piraeus Chamber of Commerce (ESP) has submitted a letter to relevant ministries proposing five specific measures to create an ‘energy shield’ for small and very small enterprises (SMEs). The organization argues that small businesses should not be treated with the same criteria as large corporations, noting that supporting them is a key measure to combat inflation.

ESP highlights that rising energy and fuel prices increase operational costs and financial pressures for SMEs, which eventually impacts consumer prices through the supply chain. Drawing on experiences from the 2022 energy crisis, the Chamber proposes:

1. Scaled electricity subsidies, providing stronger protection for small professional supplies and initial consumption levels. 2. Additional support for energy-intensive small businesses based on objective energy criteria. 3. Intervention in professional transport and distribution costs if fuel prices remain high. 4. A simplified ‘Save – Business’ program for very small enterprises with higher subsidies and lower participation costs. 5. Support for small energy investments.