The Council of Ministers decided on Thursday to grant an extraordinary Easter benefit to the state aid receivers.

According to Government Spokesman, Stephanos Stephanou, the Council of Ministers decided to allocate an Easter benefit to the state aid receivers as follows: to the deportees who live in the free areas and are helped by the state a sum of €110 and to the people who live in the occupied north €150.

These amounts are 10% higher than last year, when the government had allocated the same benefit again. “Last year, it was higher by 42%”, he said.

“This means, that in two years the government increased the Easter benefit by 52%”, he added.

Responding to the relevant questions, Mr. Stephanou said that Easter benefit will be allocated to the pensioners too in a way that will be determined by the Council.

“The decisions will be taken before Ester for sure”, he stressed.

On the question whether all pensioners will receive a benefit just like last year, the Spokesman said that the issue will be discussed at the submission of the proposal. “We expect the proposal by the Labour Ministry in the next few days”, he concluded.