Sophia Zacharaki, the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, announced that 20,000 more families with young children will have access to early childhood care centers. This initiative is funded by €70 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and implemented in collaboration with the Technical Chamber of Greece. The funding aims to create new early childhood care centers or expand capacity in existing ones.

The Minister called on mayors, as well as owners of nurseries and kindergartens, in a letter addressed to:

• The Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), urging them to leverage legislative provisions enabling funding for first-degree local governments.
• The Panhellenic Federation of Private Nursery School Associations (POSIPS).
• The Association of Large and Small Private Nurseries and Kindergartens of Greece (SIMMIPASE).

The goal is to utilize the subsidized program to increase spots in existing municipal nurseries or establish new ones.

Sophia Zacharaki stated:
“The creation of an additional 20,000 new spots is another step toward our shared goal—easing the daily lives of families, especially working parents. Combined with the substantial budget increase for vouchers, which this year reached €380 million, and the innovative ‘Neighborhood Nannies’ program, these 20,000 new spots are a meaningful and practical support for existing families. At the same time, they send a positive message to those considering expanding or starting a family. As the responsible Ministry, we design and implement cohesive policies and programs that aim to harmonize family, personal, and professional life for everyone. We recognize that these small ‘victories’ are crucial in the broader demographic challenge.”

Program Details:
The program provides financial support for public entities, municipalities, and private enterprises to create new nurseries or expand capacity in existing ones, with the aim of creating 20,000 additional spots for infants aged 2 months to 2.5 years by the first quarter of 2026.

The program targets public and private entities, first-degree municipalities, and public-law legal entities (NPDs). The subsidy covers up to 50% of the total cost, with a maximum of €300,000 per project. Eligible expenses include:

1. Building infrastructure and outdoor space arrangements.
2. Permanent equipment for the operation of the nursery.
3. Required preparatory and supporting studies.

Application and Funding Process:
The eligibility for expenses begins from the date of application submission via the online platform http://vns-2-0.tee.gov.gr and continues until the €70 million budget is exhausted.

Applicants may submit only one funding request per Tax Identification Number (TIN). If a nursery operates as “branches” under the same TIN (rather than as independent legal entities), a single proposal must be submitted, which may include expenses for multiple nurseries within the same region. However, independent nurseries with their own TINs may submit separate proposals.

Employer-businesses submitting applications as consortia may not also apply as individual entities.

The funding amount cannot exceed €300,000 per project. If a project’s costs exceed the subsidy limit, the applicant must cover the difference with their own funds. The public grant for each new spot cannot exceed €3,400 (including VAT).

Additional Notes:
The VAT on eligible expenses is considered an eligible cost if the applicant is exempt from VAT for all its activities.

The call for applications will remain open until the budget is fully allocated, with a first-come-first-served process based on the principle of chronological priority and available resources.

The deadline for completing approved business plans is February 28, 2026.

Grant Disbursement:
Funding will be provided in the following stages:

• An advance payment of 40% of the public grant, upon request, with the submission of an equivalent guarantee letter.
• Interim payment(s).
• Final payment upon project completion.