REGIONS STEP UP TO STREAMLINED DECENTRALIZATION
Transport infrastructure, information technology, and commercial links with the Balkans are the keys to the empowerment of Greece’s regions

The Greek government is undergoing long-term restructuring aimed at bringing local government closer to the people and empowering the nation’s regions. Increased efficiency and transparency have resulted, and continue to be important factors. The Ministry of Interior, Public Administration, and Decentralization has been charged with the task of facilitating these goals, and has been working hard to strengthen regional economies and streamline regional governments. An important project of the Ministry has been the establishment of the Citizens’ Information Centers, which provide Greeks with a one-stop shop for many of their needs in terms of government services.

Minister of Interior, Public Administration, and Decentralization Mr. Kostas Skandalidis elaborates, “A major reform is underway in public administration. The government is trying to plan for fewer, bigger, and stronger regions, so they will be more competitive within the European Union. At the same time self-government and regional government are becoming very quickly decentralized.”

Another important project has been the implementation of an ambitious program to upgrade and modernize different government departments through the introduction of more advanced technology, which will also enhance the government’s capacity to provide services online. Other goals include the use of IT in all levels of the national education system, a computerized system for social security and welfare, and the completion of various projects aimed at updating the IT capacity of the police and justice departments.

KOSTAS SKANDALIDIS Minister of Interior, Public Admin., and Decentralization

Greece’s efforts to achieve economic decentralization have been greatly facilitated by infrastructure improvements. In particular, Northern Greece has been given new life through the major transport infrastructure projects, which will link towns in the north and facilitate trade with the Balkans. Opportunities for development in the north of the country have skyrocketed and the region’s largest metropolis, Thessaloniki, will be at the heart of this new development boom. Testimony to the strength of this trend is the creation of organizations such as the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative, supported by the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece and based in Thessaloniki, which aids investors interested in entering the Balkan market.

Tourism is another sector in Thessaloniki that should benefit tremendously from the improvement in communications. Capital of Macedonia and one of the oldest cities in Europe, Thessaloniki is a fantastic fusion of a powerful 2300-year-old history, rich culture and breathtaking bay side scenery–all with a distinctive and very cosmopolitan feel. This city of 1 million stretches over seven miles, cradled between rolling green hills and the aquamarine blue of the Gulf of Thermaikos, which houses the most important commercial port in the region. It was here that Alexander the Great established the seat of his great Macedonian Empire. The Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians also left their historical imprint on this city.

Tourism in general, always an economic mainstay for Greece, should receive a boost throughout the country as a result of the revamping that the build-up to the 2004 Olympics has entailed in many parts of the country. Shiny new updates include a modern, international airport, a new subway system, new suburban rail networks, and a general face-lift for the city in terms of beautification and public street exhibits. Mayor of Athens, Ms. Dora Bakoyannis, says, “Athens is a city ready to take up the challenges of the future. Everything related to infrastructure has been improved. Even the hotels in Athens have all been renovated.”

A rich legacy melded with breathtaking Mediterranean scenery is the backdrop for Greek tourism, which is set to benefit from improved communications

On the island of Rhodes, the opportunity to host the 7th International Symposium of the Organization of World Heritage Cities last year helped the municipality in its efforts to take advantage of Greece’s Cultural Olympiad, and Mayor of Rhodes, Mr. George Giannopoulos, says the success of the event has put Rhodes on the map as the ideal conference venue. He comments, “What we are trying to do in the period before the Olympic Games is to upgrade our tourist product, especially within the framework of the Cultural Olympiad, while maintaining Rhodes’ successful balance between its role as a modern urban center, a World Heritage site, and a tourist destination.

With the UNESCO conference, we were also able to demonstrate that we have the means to host congresses and conventions successfully, having the largest and most modern infrastructure not only in Greece but in the Balkans.” Mr. Giannopoulos also mentions that the island will be taking advantage of structural investment funds to renovate its harbor, thereby increasing its capacity to accommodate Mediterranean cruises, which he believes will be increasingly attractive for Americans.