How to apply for ESPA, step by step
An application for an ESPA programme is made online and is judged mainly on what you declare in it. One mistake in the activity code, the budget or the documents is enough for a rejection. Here is how the process works and where to be careful.
Before you start
Read the whole call and its annexes, not just the summary. They set the eligible activity codes, the expenses, the aid rate and the documents.
Check the de minimis aid your business has already received. Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 caps it at €300,000 per single undertaking (linked companies included) over any period of three years, with separate rules for agriculture and fisheries. Many ESPA calls give de minimis aid.
The application steps
- 1Sign in to the State Aid Information System (ΠΣΚΕ, ependyseis.gr) with the taxisnet credentials of the business or its legal representative.
- 2Choose the call and create a new application. Fill in the business details, activity codes and where the investment will be.
- 3Enter the investment plan and the budget by expense category, as the call requires.
- 4Upload the documents the call lists, for example your business registration or change-of-activity certificate, financial statements, quotes and signed declarations.
- 5Make the final submission before the deadline and keep the submission reference number.
- 6Evaluation follows: comparative or first come, first served, depending on the call. If approved, an inclusion decision is issued and the grant is paid after the expenses are checked.
Why applications are rejected
The most common reasons are an ineligible activity code, a wrong investment location, going over the de minimis cap, expenses the call does not cover and missing documents.
Read the guide on rejectionsDo you need an ESPA consultant?
It is not required. A business can submit its own application in ΠΣΚΕ.
A consultant helps when the budget is complex, when evaluation is comparative and every point counts, or when you do not have time to follow the implementation. If you want to talk about your case, write to us.
Talk to usFurther reading
ESPA 2021–2027: what it is, who can apply
What ESPA 2021–2027 funds, which programmes run it, and the steps to check whether your business can apply.
How ΚΑΔ codes affect eligibility
What a ΚΑΔ code is, why calls check it first, which code counts, and what to watch for before you add a new one.
ESPA application questions
What is ΠΣΚΕ?
The State Aid Information System (ependyseis.gr) is the platform where businesses apply for most ESPA programmes and for the Development Law.
What is the difference between ΠΣΚΕ and ΟΠΣ?
ΟΠΣ (ops.gr) is ESPA's management information system, used mainly by public bodies for their projects. Businesses apply in ΠΣΚΕ, unless the call names another platform. LEADER and fisheries calls, for example, go through ΟΠΣΚΕ (opske.gr).
Can I change the application after final submission?
As a rule, no. After final submission the application is locked, unless the call allows you to withdraw and resubmit before the deadline. The authority may ask for clarifications or additional documents during evaluation, on the terms the call sets.
How long does evaluation take?
It depends on the call and the number of applications. The authority announces the results in the same place as the call.
Official sources
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