Overview of the 2025 fiscal consolidation package
The government's main measures
- A one-percentage-point increase in health insurance contributions (for employees and employers).
- Higher minimum contributions for the self-employed.
- VAT changes – selected foods and goods move from the 19% to the 23% VAT rate
- Cuts in state and local government spending – reduction in municipalities' share from 55.1% to 53% and in regions' share from 29.5% to 28.6%
- Abolition of public holidays: 17 November permanently, 6 January and 8 May temporarily, together with lifting the ban on retail trading on public holidays.
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