Υπεγράφη η σύμβαση για την ενεργοποίηση του Ανοιχτού Καταπιστευτικού Λογαριασμού (escrow account). Με τη λειτουργία του εξασφαλίζει αποκλειστικά στους δικαιούχους προγραμμάτων ΕΣΠΑ πρόσβαση σε ποσό ίσο με την προκαταβολή που δικαιούνται. the amund os gradually releosed for the repamente ofa their supliers' invoikis, withut to need to suvmit a leter ofa guarade.

Ειδικότερα, η σύμβαση υπογράφηκε σήμερα, Δευτέρα, από τον αναπληρωτή υπουργό Οικονομίας και Ανάπτυξης, Αλέξη Χαρίτση, τον πρόεδρο του Ταμείου Παρακαταθηκών και Δανείων, Κώστα Βαρλαμίτη, την Ειδική Γραμματέα ΕΤΠΑ του υπουργείου, Ευγενία Φωτονιάτα, και τον πρόεδρο του ΔΣ του ΕΦΕΠΑΕ, Θωμά-Φωκίωνα Αλγιανάκογλου. With today's signing of the contract, the relevant ministerial decision of June 2016 is implemented in practice.

Ανοιχτός Καταπιστευτικός Λογαριασμός (escrow account)

The Open Trust Account ensures exclusively to the beneficiaries of NSRF programs access to an amount equal to the advance payment to which they are entitled. the amund os gradually releosed for the repamente ofa their supliers' invoikis, withut to need to suvmit a leter ofa guarade. Thanks to the new facility, investors are no longer required to pre-finance the implementation of their investment project themselves.

Δηλώσεις (escrow account)

The Deputy Minister of Economy and Development, Alexis Charitsis, said on the issue:

"The Open Trust Account is a new, innovative mechanism, which enables the provision of liquidity to the beneficiaries of the NSRF programs, without paying a letter of guarantee, as was the case until today. This obligation has been a deterrent for a great many stakeholders. This initiative serves to open up the programmes to as many beneficiaries as possible and to wider social strata. The initiative was designed and implemented in cooperation with the productive actors and the social partners."

I would like to thank the officials of the Ministry, the Special Secretariat who had undertaken the whole process of drafting this proposal. Επίσης του Ταμείου Παρακαταθηκών και Δανείων και του ενδιάμεσου φορέα των προγραμμάτων, του ΕΦΕΠΑΕ, για την πολύ καλή συνεργασία που είχαμε έτσι ώστε να φτάσουμε σήμερα στο επιθυμητό αποτέλεσμα. With the Open Trust Account, in combination with the other actions we promote, we enhance liquidity in the real economy and especially in small and medium-sized enterprises".

The President of the Deposits and Loans Fund, Costas Varlamitis, said: "Creative thinking and new forms of support for small and medium-sized enterprises are needed. We need to make use of all the new data that exist, either scientifically or technologically, in order to be able to implement these new forms and, of course, to have good cooperation between all those involved. This has also happened in this form of cooperation and we are pleased as a Deposit and Loan Fund that we also contributed to this action, always aiming to accelerate as much as possible the investment initiatives that the country needs".

The procedure

Η λειτουργία του Λογαριασμού ξεκινά με την υπογραφή της σχετικής σύμβασης η οποία αναμένεται άμεσα με τους υπαχθέντες στις τέσσερις (4) δράσεις επιχειρηματικότητας του Επιχειρησιακού Προγράμματος Ανταγωνιστικότητα Επιχειρηματικότητα Καινοτομία (ΕΠΑνΕΚ). For this purpose, 4 escrow accounts / one will be created for each action.

How is the Account opened for the Beneficiary?

The use of the escrow account by State aid beneficiaries is not mandatory. Each Beneficiary may:

• either utilize the Open Trust Account,
• or follow the traditional procedure for receiving the advance and/or paying the grant.

With the signing of the approval decision for the inclusion of a Beneficiary in a financial program, the procedures for using the escrow account are activated. In particular, at the request of the investor/Beneficiary in which he/she will declare his/her will to use the escrow, and the declaration of accession to the contract, a sub-account / portion in his/her name is created in the escrow account, which concerns the action in which he/she has joined.

How will the funding be disbursed in the case of the escrow account?

In order to release the funding, the beneficiary, after having completed a part of the investment project (determined by the respective Implementation Guide of the financial program) must submit to the State Aid Information System (PSIC) a request for verification - payment of its costs, together with the partially paid invoices and any percentage of private participation.

The unpaid amount of the invoices will then be paid from the Open Trust Account.

Στις Δράσεις που το ύψος της επιδότησης ανέρχεται στο 100% (Νεοφυής Επιχειρηματικότητα -Ενίσχυση της Αυτοαπασχόλησης Πτυχιούχων Τριτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης), τα τιμολόγια θα είναι μερικώς εξοφλημένα ως προς την μη επιλέξιμη δαπάνη (π.χ ΦΠΑ). In any case, the beneficiary should have insurance and tax clearance.

After checking the submitted supporting documents by the Intermediate Management Body - EFEPAE, the Fund is instructed to release - disburse from the beneficiary's account a specific amount in favor of each provider - supplier, up to the maximum amount of public expenditure. That is, the money does not go to the beneficiary, but directly to his suppliers.

The order is then sent in electronic form digitally signed by EFEPAE to the Fund. The Fund executes payments by directly paying the amounts to the accounts held by the providers - suppliers to credit institutions.