The numbers sound impressive: nearly 40 million euros for employment, over 10,000 citizens covered, young people in focus. The government announced these measures for 2026 as proof that it works "with results, not just promises." But as always with announcements like this, the real story is in the details, not the headline.

Of the total sum, over 32 million euros is earmarked directly for active employment measures. Around 6,000 young people are to be enrolled in programs, while 3,500 under the age of 23 will receive a youth allowance of 3,000 denars a month. The rest goes to self-employment, training, internships, and incentives for companies that hire.

For comparison, last year's Operational Plan covered around 2,600 people, almost 1,500 of them under 29, and opened 2,200 new businesses. If the new figures hold up, that's nearly a fourfold increase in coverage - an ambitious target that won't be measurable until year's end.

And here is the skepticism every hard-working citizen is entitled to. A youth allowance of 3,000 denars is symbolic - that's pocket money, not a salary. The question isn't how many young people will be "covered" by some measure, but how many will end up with real, lasting work worth staying here for.

It's easy to hand out allowances and count the "covered." It's harder to build an economy where a young person doesn't dream about the airport. 40 million euros is a serious number - but is it an investment in jobs, or spending on a statistic that looks good in a press release?