New funding of €150.34 million is planned to support island regions and address the additional transport costs faced by residents and businesses.
Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias signed the funding call under the Sectoral Development Programme 2026–2030.
It covers measures linked to the Transport Equivalent scheme, aiming to reduce inequalities between island and mainland Greece, strengthen local businesses' competitiveness and improve islanders' living conditions.
Where the funding will go
The resources address additional transport costs arising from the islands' geographical isolation.
Planned measures include compensating passengers for travel to and from the islands, covering part of the higher freight costs faced by island businesses, compensating for the transport costs of liquid fuels, and upgrading the scheme's information systems and management procedures.
Funding is also provided for studies and technical support to assess the measure's effectiveness and examine possible changes or extensions.
Significance for the Dodecanese
The allocation is particularly relevant to the Dodecanese, where sea transport costs are a significant factor in everyday life and business activity.
For islands such as Leros, Patmos, Lipsi, Kalymnos and Agathonisi, the Transport Equivalent scheme offsets part of the additional expense associated with island life.
The call concerns funding for the measures and their supporting procedures. It does not announce immediate payments to beneficiaries or specify new amounts of support for individual residents or businesses.
Deadlines and procedure
The call is addressed to the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Insular Policy, with other partner bodies able to participate under specified conditions.
Applications opened on 26 October 2026 and will remain open until 2pm on 31 May 2027, unless the available budget is exhausted earlier.
Proposals will be assessed in order of submission, with checks on completeness, eligibility and defined evaluation criteria.
The final date for eligible expenditure is 31 December 2030.
The funding forms part of the ministry's wider plans to strengthen territorial cohesion and reduce the financial burdens faced by island communities.
