A number of changes have come into effect at the beginning of the year with notable implications for buying power, energy, healthcare, and security. Here is all you need to know at the beginning of 2023.
Buying power
Pensions will be reevaluated by 2.2% while the social minimum wage increases by 3.2% to reach €2,387.40 for non-skilled employees and €2,864.88 for skilled workers.
The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) forecasts two wage indexations in the first four months of 2023. The one to be made in April is the one postponed in last year's tripartite agreement.
For a majority of goods, the value-added tax will go down by 1% thanks to the tripartite agreement. Only the super-reduced VAT rate of 3% will remain unchanged. A number of businesses have already adapted their price tags to clearly demonstrate the change.
Energy
When it comes to energy costs, the price cap on gas and heating oil has been prolonged. Furthermore, the electricity price will be capped for people using less than 25,000 kWh. A similar price cap will also affect electric charging stations.
The VAT on newly installed solar stations will decrease from 17% to 3%.
Heating pumps will become the new 'reference technology' as gas and oil-based heaters are no longer allowed to be installed in new buildings.
Thanks to a new subsidy, the price of wood pellets will decrease by 35%.
The CO2 tax affecting vehicles with combustion engines will increase by €0.30 per metric tonne.
Healthcare
Contraception will become completely free. Previously, only women below the age of 30 were able to benefit from special tariffs, but as of 2023, the National Health Fund (CNS) will reimburse the costs of birth-control pills and condoms.
Security
With the beginning of the new year, it has become mandatory for households to install smoke detectors in apartments or houses. For more information on the regulation of this protective equipment read this article.
