EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 17.6.2021

COM(2021) 328 final

2021/0159(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION

on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Greece

{SWD(2021) 155 final}

2021/0159 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION

on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Greece

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility 1 and in particular Article 20 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)The COVID-19 outbreak has had a disruptive impact on the economy of Greece In 2019, the gross domestic product per capita in current prices (GDP per capita) of Greece was 55 % of the EU average. According to the Commission’s 2021 Spring forecast, the real GDP of Greece declined by 8,2 % in 2020 and is expected to decline by 4,5 % cumulatively in 2020 and 2021. Longer-standing aspects with an impact on medium-term economic performance include in particular the high level of long-term unemployment, low productivity growth due to a concentration of economic activity in traditional and low-innovation sectors; moreover, high regulatory burdens, red tape and a slow and inefficient justice system hamper private investments.

(2)On 9 July 2019 and on 20 July 2020, the Council addressed recommendations to Greece in the context of the European Semester. In particular, in 2019, the Council recommended to Greece to take action in 2019 and 2020 to a) achieve a sustainable economic recovery and tackle the excessive macroeconomic imbalances by continuing and completing reforms in line with the post-programme commitments given at the Eurogroup of 22 June 2018 (country-specific recommendation 1 2019) 2 ; and b) focus investment-related economic policy on sustainable transport and logistics, environmental protection, energy efficiency, renewable energy and interconnection projects, digital technologies, research and development, education, skills, employability, health, and the renewal of urban areas, taking into account regional disparities and the need to ensure social inclusion (country-specific recommendation 2 2019). In 2020, the Council recommended to Greece to take action in 2020 and 2021 to a) take all necessary measures to effectively address the pandemic, sustain the economy and support the ensuing recovery in line with the ‘general escape clause’; when economic conditions allow, pursue fiscal policies aimed at achieving prudent medium-term fiscal positions and ensuring debt sustainability, while enhancing investment; strengthen the resilience of the health system and ensure adequate and equal access to healthcare (country-specific recommendation 1 2020); b); mitigate the employment and social impacts of the crisis, including by implementing measures such as short-time work schemes and ensuring effective activation support (country-specific recommendation 2 2020); c) swiftly deploy measures to provide liquidity and continued flow of credit and other financing to the economy, focusing in particular on small and medium-sized enterprises most affected by crisis; front-load mature public investment projects and promote private investment to foster the economic recovery; focus investment on the green and digital transition, in particular on safe and sustainable transport and logistics, clean and efficient production and use of energy, environmental infrastructure and very-high capacity digital infrastructure and skills; improve the effectiveness and digitalisation of the public administration and promote digital transformation of businesses (country-specific recommendation 3 2020); and d) continue and complete reforms in line with the post-programme commitments given at the Eurogroup of 22 June 2018 to restart a sustainable economic recovery, following the gradual easing up of constraints imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak (country-specific recommendation 4 2020). Having assessed progress in the implementation of these country-specific recommendations at the time of submission of the recovery and resilience plan, the Commission finds that substantial progress has been achieved with respect to the recommendations on effectively addressing the pandemic, including by implementing measures such as short-time work schemes and providing liquidity to affected companies, as well as with respect to the recommendation to continue and complete reforms in line with the post-programme commitments given at the Eurogroup of 22 June 2018.

(3)On 2 June 2021, the Commission published an in-depth review under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 for Greece. The Commission’s analysis led it to conclude that Greece is experiencing excessive macroeconomic imbalances, in particular related to high government debt, incomplete external rebalancing and high non-performing loans, in a context of high unemployment and low potential growth.

(4)[The Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area recommended to euro area Member States to take action, including through their recovery and resilience plans, to, inter alia, ensure a policy stance which supports the recovery and to further improve convergence, resilience and sustainable and inclusive growth. The Council recommendation also recommended to strengthen national institutional frameworks, to ensure macro-financial stability and to complete EMU and strengthen the international role of the euro.] [If the Council recommendation is not adopted by the time of the CID adoption, the recital will be removed].]

(5)On 27 April 2021, Greece formally submitted its national recovery and resilience plan to the Commission, in accordance with Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. That submission followed a consultation process, conducted in accordance with the national legal framework, of local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders. The national ownership of the recovery and resilience plans is underpinning their successful implementation and lasting impact at national level and credibility at European level. Pursuant to Article 19 of that Regulation, the Commission has assessed the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and coherence of recovery and resilience plan, taking into account the assessment guidelines of Annex V to that Regulation. 

(6)The recovery and resilience plans should pursue the general objectives of the Recovery and Resilience Facility established by Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and of the EU Recovery Instrument set up by Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 4 in order to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. They should promote the Union´s economic, social and territorial cohesion by contributing to the six pillars referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241(7). The implementation of the Member States’ recovery and resilience plans will constitute a coordinated effort of investment and reforms across the Union. Through the coordinated and simultaneous implementation of these reforms and investments and the implementation of cross-border projects, these reforms and investments will mutually reinforce each other and generate positive spillovers across the whole Union. Therefore, about one third of the impact of the Facility on Member States’ growth and job creation will come from spillovers from other Member States.

Balanced response contributing to the six pillars

(7)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (a) and section 2.1 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan represents to a large extent (Rating A) a comprehensive and adequately balanced response to the economic and social situation, thereby contributing appropriately to all six pillars referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, taking the specific challenges, the financial allocation of the Member State concerned and the requested loan support into account.

(8)Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 provides that the scope of application of the Facility should refer to policy areas of European relevance structured in six pillars: (a) green transition; (b) digital transformation; (c) smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, including economic cohesion, jobs, productivity, competitiveness, research, development and innovation, and a well-functioning internal market with strong SMEs; (d) social and territorial cohesion; (e) health, and economic, social and institutional resilience, with the aim of, inter alia, increasing crisis preparedness and crisis response capacity; and (f) policies for the next generation, children and the youth, such as education and skills. The reforms and investments included in the plan contribute to all six aforementioned pillars. Further, there is an overall balance between pillars (c), (d), (e) and (f). Therefore, the plan represents to a large extent a comprehensive and adequately balanced response to Greece’s economic and social situation.

(9)More specifically, as regards green transition, the plan includes measures intended to move Greece towards a low-carbon energy model, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy sources, promote energy-efficiency and the energy renovation of buildings, introduce sustainable transport modes and protect the natural environment. Reforms and investments on digital transformation relate to enhancing connectivity and broadband coverage, digitalising public administration and key sectors of the economy, and developing digital infrastructures and digital skills. To sustain smart and inclusive growth, the plan provides for measures to reinforce private investments, including for SMEs, improve the business environment, stimulate research, development and innovation performance, increase employment and link skills to jobs, and enhance the efficiency of the public administration and the justice system. Further, targeted interventions are designed to strengthen social cohesion by addressing challenges related to labour market participation, skills development, and equal opportunities, while a number of investments facilitate territorial cohesion. Moreover, to mitigate adverse shocks and better respond to crises, the plan contains actions to tackle long standing issues of the healthcare and social protection systems (social resilience), foster sustainability of public revenues, financial sector resilience, and economic activity diversification (economic resilience), and ensure efficient public administration and sound governance (institutional resilience). Concerning policies for the next generation, reforms and investments across all levels of education aim at digitalising processes and infrastructures, and developing digital skills for the youth, while other measures focus on early childhood education and care.

(10)Greece aims to promote private investments, through a ‘Loan Facility’ which should make use of the following distribution channels: (i) international financial institutions, through operational agreements; (ii) commercial banks, through an open call for selection; (iii) an equity platform, through a mandate agreement; and (iv) InvestEU Member State compartment, through a contribution agreement. The aforementioned agreements and the call for the selection of commercial banks should include provisions on the selection criteria of supported companies for compliance with Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and the ‘do no significant harm’ technical guidance of the Commission (2021/C58/01), requiring the use of sustainability proofing, an exclusion list, mandatory legal compliance checks for transactions exempt from sustainability proof by an independent auditor and selection of activities in compliance with relevant Union and national environmental legislation. The commitment for international financial institutions, commercial banks, and InvestEU to invest funds to support the climate and digital transition should be conducted using the methodology in Annexes VI and VII to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, while independent auditors should verify compliance with the principle of do not significant harm and with the climate and digital targets under Regulation (EU) 2021/241.

Addressing all or a significant subset of challenges identified in Country Specific Recommendations

(11)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (b) and section 2.2 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 the recovery and resilience plan is expected to contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of challenges (Rating A) identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations, including fiscal aspects thereof, and recommendations made pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011, addressed to Greece or challenges identified in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the context of the European Semester. With respect to country-specific recommendation 1 2019 and country-specific recommendation 4 2020, policies pursued to address specific commitments given by Greece in the Eurogroup in June 2018 will continue to be monitored under enhanced surveillance.

(12)The recommendations related to the immediate fiscal policy response to the pandemic can be considered as falling outside the scope of Greece’s recovery and resilience plan. In line with the provisions of the General Escape Clause, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic downturn, Greece has adopted budgetary measures to strengthen the capacity of its health system, contain the pandemic and provide relief to those individuals and sectors that have been particularly affected. This forceful policy response has cushioned the contraction in GDP, which, in turn, curtailed the increase in government deficit and public debt. 5  

(13)The plan includes an extensive set of mutually reinforcing reforms and investments that contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of the economic and social challenges outlined in the country-specific recommendations addressed to Greece by the Council in the European Semester in 2019 and in 2020, notably in the areas of quality and sustainability of public finances; accessibility and resilience of the health system; active labour market policies; policies supporting public and private investments in the areas of education, skills and employability; research and development; safe and sustainable transport and logistics, clean and efficient production and use of energy including renewable energy and interconnection projects; environmental infrastructures; renewal of urban areas; and the digital transformation of the public administration and businesses. The plan also includes a significant number of measures addressing challenges in the areas of fiscal structural policies, social welfare, financial stability, labour and product markets, and the modernisation of public administration, following up, broadening and complementing post-programme commitments. In the medium-term, given its strong focus on investment, employment and productivity-enhancing policies, the implementation of the plan is expected to support the economic recovery and thus contribute to achieving a prudent fiscal position and ensuring debt sustainability in line with the relevant country-specific recommendation (country-specific recommendation 1 2020). The proposed active labour market policies are diverse and targeted at groups in need of support, aiming at job creation while contributing to the green transition (country-specific recommendation 2 2020). The plan supports addressing important challenges of the Greek education system and foresees sizeable investment in skills through life-long learning, with great focus on digital transformation in both education segments (country-specific recommendation 3 2020 and country-specific recommendation 2 2019). Targeted measures are put forward to support social integration of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and homeless people, Roma and people living in extremely poverty, while there are a number of measures to promote participation of women to the labour market (country-specific recommendation 2 2020).

(14)The plan foresees to front-load the implementation of mature public investment projects and to promote private investments in priority sectors, including those contributing to the digital and green transition, with measures related to energy efficiency, sustainable transport, environmental protection and the renewal of urban areas, commensurate to the related challenges in line with the country-specific recommendations on public and private investment (country-specific recommendation 3 2020 and country-specific recommendation 2 2019). Moreover, the plan supports addressing challenges related to the digitalisation of the public administration and businesses (country-specific recommendation 3 2020 and country-specific recommendation 2 2019). The plan builds on and complements key structural reforms started under the economic adjustment programmes to improve the broader functioning of the economy and which are currently monitored under the enhanced surveillance framework. The plan proposes ambitious reforms of the business environment, labour market and social policies, the health-care system and of the public administration including the tax administration and justice. These reforms are flanked by investments supporting their implementation (country-specific recommendation 4 2020 and country-specific recommendation 1 2019).

(15)By addressing the aforementioned challenges, the implementation of the plan is expected to also contribute to correcting the excessive macroeconomic imbalances that Greece is experiencing, notably with respect to high government debt, incomplete external rebalancing and high non-performing loans, in a context of high unemployment and low potential growth. 6  

Contribution to growth potential, job creation and economic, social and institutional resilience

(16)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (c) and section 2.3 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to have a high impact (Rating A) on strengthening the growth potential, job creation, and economic, social and institutional resilience of Greece, contributing to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including through the promotion of policies for children and youth, and on mitigating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis, thereby enhancing the economic, social and territorial cohesion and convergence within Greece and the Union.

(17)Simulations by the Commission services show that the plan has the potential to increase the real GDP of Greece by 2,1 – 3,3% by 2026. 7 The plan builds upon and is consistent with the comprehensive ‘Development Plan for the Greek Economy’, published in November 2020 8 . As such, it addresses the main obstacles affecting long-term growth in Greece, including notably the sizable investment gap and the need to improve the quality of education, as well as the efficiency and quality of public administration and of the justice system. The implementation of the planned active labour market policies, reskilling and upskilling has the potential to increase labour market participation and employment, including that of women.

(18)Several measures are expected to increase the productivity of the economy. Some reforms aim to improve business environment and to help the ease of doing business, which is complemented by advances in digitalisation. The public administration is expected to be modernised and regulatory and administrative burden is set to be reduced, while improvements in tax administration should help to create a more growth-friendly tax environment. The plan includes an ambitious agenda to improve the efficiency and quality of the justice system through digitalisation, revision of judicial maps, and projects investing in physical and human capital. Furthermore, additional funds provided to the private sector through the Loan Facility are expected to induce private investment.

(19)The plan presents a comprehensive set of measures to address labour market deficiencies and to improve social cohesion. These measures are expected to build capacities of employment and social institutions. The revision of the labour code, and improvements in public administration efficiency thanks to digitalisation and better labour market monitoring are also expected to reduce vulnerabilities to shocks. Furthermore, these measures are expected to contribute to cohesion by fostering participation in the labour market, including for vulnerable groups.

(20)The implementation of the plan is expected to effectively contribute to addressing a multitude of employment and social challenges relevant for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. To foster equal opportunities and access to the labour market, the plan envisages a new strategy for lifelong learning and a modernisation of the upskilling and reskilling system. The reform would redesign and upgrade the current fragmented programmes, establishing new curricula linked to labour market needs and an assessment framework for the providers of upskilling programmes. Investments in further upgrading of vocational education and training are also envisaged. With a view to improving labour market dynamics, Greece also plans significant investments in upskilling and reskilling programmes.

Do no significant harm

(21)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (d) and section 2.4 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to ensure that no measure for the implementation of reforms and investment projects included in the recovery and resilience plan does significant harm to environmental objectives (Rating A) within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council  9 (the principle of ‘do no significant harm’).

(22)For each of the measures, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to ensure that no significant harm is done to any of the six environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 2020/852, namely climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, circular economy, pollution prevention and control, and protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. Greece provided justifications following the ‘do no significant harm’ technical guidance adopted by the Commission (2021/C 58/01). Where needed, Greece has proposed the implementation of mitigating measures to ensure that significant harm is avoided, which should be ensured through the respective milestones and targets.

(23)Particular attention is paid to horizontal schemes, including those for which a loan is requested, where the requirements for complying with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ are enshrined in the design of the schemes and should be specified in a milestone or target.

Contribution to the green transition including biodiversity

(24)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (e) and section 2.5 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan contains measures that effectively contribute to a large extent (Rating A) to the green transition, including biodiversity, or to addressing the challenges resulting therefrom. The measures supporting climate objectives account for an amount which represents 37,5 % of the plan’s total allocation, calculated in accordance with the methodology of Annex VI to Regulation (EU) 2021/241. In accordance with Article 17 Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is consistent with the information included in the National Energy and Climate Plan 2030.

(25)Reforms and investments are expected to make a significant contribution to advance the decarbonisation and energy transition objectives of Greece as set out in the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP 2030) and the Carbon Neutrality Roadmap 2050, thereby contributing to the Union’s climate target and objective respectively. A number of the investments contributing to the green transition are embedded in broader national plans, such as the long term renovation strategy, waste management strategy, reforestation, circular economy and biodiversity, and are expected towards the implementation of these strategies.

(26)The recovery and resilience plan contains measures addressing a number of challenges in the green transition areas. On clean energy, the plan contains both reforms and investments that are expected to increase the renewable energy sources in Greece’s energy mix. Sizeable investments are planned that are expected to improve the energy efficiency of Greece’s ageing housing stock, complemented by actions targeting energy poor households. Other significant climate and environmental contributions are provided by measures supporting sustainable mobility through both reforms and investments that are expected to improve urban public transport and enhance the infrastructure for electric vehicles. The plan contains investments that are expected to support biodiversity, through reforestation aiming to restore degraded forest ecosystems, and strengthening of the environmental protection through the introduction of a monitoring system of species and habitat types. The plan includes investments on sustainable agriculture that are expected to promote innovation and protect the environment through improving the environmental profile of agricultural holdings and mitigate the effects of climate change. Finally, the Loan Facility should target climate-related activities in a selected number of intervention fields, such as energy efficiency and demonstration projects for the private sector with significant energy savings or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, new renewable energy sources’ capacity (solar and wind) and smart energy systems.

(27)On the environmental objectives as set out in Regulation (EU) No 2020/852 10 , the plan includes measures on climate change mitigation that are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mainly through enhancing energy efficiency of buildings. The plan includes a number of measures related to climate change adaptation, including preparation of local urban plans that are expected to facilitate urban renewal and make the cities more climate resilient and to strengthen flood mitigation infrastructure. Further, measures on water supply and urban wastewater are linked with specific targets that are expected to reduce water leakage and energy consumption, thus contributing to a more sustainable use of water resources. Finally, with regard to biodiversity, the plan covers a reforestation measure that is expected to increase the forest-covered area by 16 500 ha using mostly native species.

Contribution to the digital transition

(28)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (f) and section 2.6 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan contains measures that effectively contribute to a large extent (Rating A) to the digital transition or to addressing the challenges resulting from it. The measures supporting digital objectives account for an amount which represents 23,3 % of the plan’s total allocation, calculated in accordance with the methodology of Annex VII of Regulation (EU) 2021/241.

(29)The recovery and resilience plan contains measures in the digital transition areas addressing the related challenges and is overall well aligned with key objectives of the Digital Strategy of the Union and with the priorities related to digital set out by the Commission in the 2021 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy. These measures concern connectivity, interoperability in the design of public services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, development of digital skills, availability of open data and the empowerment and equal participation of women, older people and vulnerable groups in the digital age. Component 2.1 of the plan contains investments to facilitate the installation of fibre optic infrastructure in buildings, the development of 5G networks covering all major Greek highways, the deployment of submarine cables for interconnection of Greek islands and the interconnection with Cyprus and the utilisation of space technologies and applications. Reforms institute the framework needed to facilitate the switch to fast broadband connections and the transition to 5G technology. Measures in Component 2.2 target the digital transformation of public sector entities as regards archives and enhanced digital services, business process improvements, increased interoperability between systems and data, cybersecurity and data governance strategies and policies as well as extended use of advanced technologies such as cloud computing and big data. Component 2.3, in conjunction also with measures under Component 4.1, aims to boost the adoption of digital technologies by businesses, in particular SMEs by tackling key challenges of digital inclusion. These initiatives are expected to allow for the creation of the digital business ecosystem and support SMEs in obtaining digital services, data platforms and spaces, and new technology cash registers and Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminals. In conjunction with other measures under Components 4.1 and 4.6, measures under Component 2.3 are expected to contribute to the digital transition of the Greek industry, to accelerate its transition to Industry 4.0, and to transform firms’ business models to increase their competitiveness and resilience. The plan also includes, under Component 3.2, measures aimed at bridging the current digital gap in the human capital dimension, by modernizing and upgrading the life-long learning system and by providing upskilling and reskilling for the workforce that correspond to the needs of the market, with a focus on digital skills. Such measures are expected to contribute to bridging the digital divide and to reinforce basic digital literacy across the entire population. Finally, the Loan Facility should target digital-related activities in a number of intervention fields, in particular through investments in very high capacity broadband networks, investments aimed at digitalizing both SMEs and large enterprises, investments in the development and deployment of cybersecurity technologies, advanced digital technologies and other types of ICT infrastructure.

(30)The measures of the plan related to the digital transition appear well aligned with Greece’s shortcomings in the digital field as identified in the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). These measures are expected to effectively complement existing national plans and initiatives and, overall, to significantly contribute to the digital transformation of the Greek economy and society, by contributing to improving the competitiveness and resilience of the economy, while ensuring inclusiveness. In addition, these measures are expected to bring a transformational change and have a lasting impact.

Lasting impact

(31)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (g) and section 2.7 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan is expected to have a lasting impact on Greece to a large extent (Rating A).

(32)The plan comprises a series of reforms which are expected to induce lasting changes on policies and facilitate their effective implementation. Reforms to ease the administrative burden of doing business, and improve regulatory quality are conducive to creating a level-playing field for businesses and unlocking Greece’s investment potential. To this end, measures to strengthen market surveillance should facilitate effective policy enforcement. With respect to energy policy, the rationalisation of the licensing procedure for renewable energy sources (RES) plants aims to address the long lead times for RES deployment and support Greece’s green transition, while respecting environmental legislation. Financial-sector reforms aim to enhance credit decision-making and empower the non-performing loan market through tackling information asymmetries and to strengthen capital markets, thus increasing Greece’s economic resilience to future shocks. Significant initiatives to improve the governance system across public administration levels, modernising staff hiring procedures and strengthening the national public procurement and anti-corruption frameworks are expected to address inherent structural weaknesses. Important reforms of the justice system aim at modernising the system and increasing its quality and efficiency, including through the revision of the judicial map, digitalisation and upskilling of judges and judicial clerks.

(33)The investments included in the plan aim to address root causes of key challenges identified and appear sustainable from a financial and budgetary perspective. A large number of investments in digital infrastructure for the public administration are foreseen, both at central and municipal level. Coupled with a comprehensive process simplification programme, these are expected to induce a lasting structural change in the functioning of the administration and to address the currently low level of digital public services for citizens and businesses alike. Further, significant digital investments in tax administration are expected to contribute to the fight against tax evasion and smuggling and to reduce the administrative burden on taxpayers. The introduction of digital processes and tools in the justice system, coupled with the training of judges and judicial staff is conducive to the better functioning of courts. Investments in education, social welfare, health care, and employment services, and the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, with an emphasis on green and digital skills, are expected to safeguard the resilience and improve the quality of such critical services, in an inclusive and sustainable way. Significant investments are also foreseen to facilitate the achievement of the long term objectives of environmental and decarbonisation policies, including energy-efficient renovation of buildings, strategic green urban regeneration projects, land rehabilitation measures for lignite-affected areas, installation of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and measures to support reforestation and sustainable agriculture. Lasting impact of the plan can also be enhanced through synergies between the plan and other programmes financed by the European Union (including cohesion policy funds and InvestEU) notably by addressing in a substantive manner the deeply rooted territorial challenges and promoting a balanced development.

Monitoring and implementation 

(34)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (h) and section 2.8 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the arrangements proposed in the recovery and resilience plan are adequate (Rating A) to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the envisaged timetable, milestones and targets, and the related indicators.

(35)The recovery and resilience plan presents a management control system that involves four bodies, consisting of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Coordination Agency, line Ministries’ competent services, implementing bodies and the Financial Audit Committee (EDEL). The overall responsibility to coordinate the implementation and monitoring is given to the recently established Recovery and Resilience Facility Coordination Agency, which is part of the Ministry of Finance. The majority of the implementing bodies responsible for the implementation of the measures remain to be identified. In accordance with Article 20(5), point (e) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Greece should duly establish the management and control system before the first payment request is submitted to the European Commission, in order to comply with Article 22 of that Regulation. The plan provides a detailed overview of the monitoring and reporting processes foreseen.

(36)The milestones and targets of the Greek plan constitute an appropriate system for monitoring the plan’s implementation. They are in general sufficiently clear and comprehensive to ensure that their completion is traced and verified. Further, the milestones and targets are relevant and acceptable, as their scope reflects the overall objective of the measures.

(37)Milestones and targets are also relevant for measures already completed which are eligible according to Article 17(2) of the Regulation. The satisfactory fulfilment of these milestones and targets over time is required to justify a disbursement request.

(38)Member States should ensure that financial support under the Facility is communicated and acknowledged in line with article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. Technical support may be requested under the Technical Support Instrument to assist Member States in the implementation of their plan.

Costing

(39)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (i) and section 2.9 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the justification provided in the plan on the amount of the estimated total costs of the plan is to a medium extent (Rating B) reasonable and plausible and is in line with the principle of cost efficiency, and is commensurate to the expected national economic and social impact.

(40)A detailed breakdown of the cost per measure was provided, with the costing methodology varying across measures and the bottom-up approach being the most prevalent. For the significant majority of the measures, the costs are assessed as reasonable, plausible, cost efficient and commensurate. The amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan is also commensurate to the expected social and economic impact of the envisaged measures and the justifications provided for the cost assessment are in general sufficient. For a limited number of cost assessments, costs exceeded the cost range set by comparable projects to a medium extent. The cost assessment was assessed by an external consultant and approved by Greece’s National Productivity Board. Finally, the estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan is in line with the principle of cost-efficiency and is commensurate to the expected national economic and social impact.

Protection of financial interests

(41)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (j) and section 2.10 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the arrangements proposed in the recovery and resilience plan are adequate (Rating A) to prevent, detect and correct corruption, fraud and conflicts of interests when using the funds provided under that Regulation, and the arrangements are expected to effectively avoid double funding from that Regulation and other Union programmes. This is without prejudice to the application of other instruments and tools to promote and enforce compliance with EU law, including for preventing, detecting and correcting corruption, fraud and conflicts of interests, and for protecting the Union finances in line with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

(42)An additional milestone is set requiring the establishment of the legal mandate of the Financial Audit Committee and the setup of the management control and audit systems to be able to: (a) ensure the collection of data and monitoring of the achievement of milestones and targets; (b) allow for the preparation of management declarations and the audit summary as well as payment claims and (c) establish the necessary procedures to collect and store data on beneficiaries, contractors, subcontractors, and beneficial owners in accordance with Article 22 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 for the first payment claim by 30 September 2021. A dedicated audit report on the system set-up should be undertaken. The report should analyse any related weaknesses found and corrective actions taken or planned.

(43)The control and audit system developed by Greece is coherently designed to meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. The internal control system is based on robust processes and structures: roles and responsibilities of the actors for controls and audits are clear, relevant control functions are appropriately segregated and the independence of actors performing audits is ensured. The Financial Audit Committee carries out audits to check whether implementing bodies that should undertake the management and implementation of the approved projects carry out procedures to prevent, detect and correct fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest, when using the funds provided under Regulation (EU) 2021/241, including arrangements aimed at avoiding double funding from other Union programmes, as well as compliance with applicable rules. Each implementing body is rated for its inherent and control risk and the Financial Audit Committee sets its audit priorities based on the risk order. Double funding under Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and other Union programmes is averted through several levels of controls. The independent certified auditors should audit the implementing bodies, responsible for the implementation and management of the investments and reforms. The Recovery and Resilience Facility Coordination Agency is tasked with the overall coordination and monitoring of the recovery and resilience plan and constitutes the single point of contact between the Greek authorities and the Commission. The payment requests should be submitted by the Recovery and Resilience Facility Coordination Agency to the Commission on a semi-annual basis, upon verification of the achievement of the milestones and targets through the RRF Management Information System, accompanied by the management declaration and the summary of the audits carried out by the Financial Audit Committee. It is anticipated that the actors responsible for controls should have the legal empowerment and administrative capacity to exercise their foreseen roles and tasks.

(44)Greece has indicated that an IT-tool for the management and reporting of the milestones and targets is being developed in order to meet specific management and reporting requirements described in the plan. In accordance with Article 20(5), point (e) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Greece should implement this measure in order to comply with Article 22 of that Regulation.

Coherence of the plan

(45)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (k) and section 2.11 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the plan includes to a high extent (Rating A) measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects that represent coherent actions.

(46)Reforms and investments presented in the Greek recovery and resilience plan are complementary to each other. They are based on a comprehensive growth plan, which ensures its coherence towards contributing to smart, inclusive and sustainable economic development in the future. The four main pillars of the Plan, (i) Green Transition, (ii) Digital Transformation, (iii) Employment, Skills and Social Cohesion, and (iv) Private Investment and Transformation of the Economy, are highly interlinked and mutually reinforcing. They contain measures related to the digital transformation, which are key enablers for the green and circular transition of the Greek economy. Similarly, the inclusion of climate-related and sustainability criteria from the green transition pillar is expected to reinforce the deployment of digital technologies and facilitate the implementation of the digital pillar. The strategic investments in digital multi-country projects and emerging technologies are expected to help achieving scale and interoperability. The third pillar is expected to ensure that digital and green transitions will be fair across the Greek society by prioritising sustainable job creation, improvement of the education system and skills, and the provision of high quality and effective health and social care services. The fourth pillar aims at mobilising private and public investment to boost competitiveness, support productivity and long-run growth and to create new jobs, while also setting up institutional frameworks, which are expected to enable the digital and green transition to materialise in Greece.

Equality

(47)The plan contains a series of measures that are expected to contribute to addressing the challenges in the area of gender equality and equal opportunities for all. These include targeted reforms and investments in the areas of employment, skills, health and social cohesion. Long-term unemployed, persons with disabilities and homeless people, persons with a minority ethnic background, migrants and asylum seekers, and people living in extreme poverty are among the beneficiaries. The plan further aims to promote diversity awareness in the private and the public sector and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms. In terms of gender equality, the plan contains a number of measures to promote the participation of women in the labour market including through targeted employment subsidies and upskilling programmes and by expanding early childhood education and care facilities. Moreover, several of other measures that not explicitly aimed at promoting equal opportunities, contain an equality aspect. During the implementation phase of the plan, the collection of disaggregated data by gender and ethnic background should be ensured in order to better assess and follow up equality issues.

Security self-assessment

(48)The plan includes a security-self assessment for investments in digital capacities and connectivity. As regards investments in connectivity and in particular in 5G networks, the plan identifies the relevant security issues and associated risks and identifies mitigating measures to be enacted for each of them based on the common objective criteria included in the EU toolbox for Cybersecurity of 5G networks.

Cross-border and multi-country projects

(49)The plan includes several cross-border and multi-country projects, mainly under the digital pillar. There are investment projects with a digital dimension, such as the ‘5G corridors’ investment, that is also expected to support the cross-border corridor Thessaloniki-Sofia-Belgrade and the ‘Small satellites’ investment that is expected to ensure interoperability with the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative 11 . In addition, the ‘Submarine fiber cables’ investment project is expected to support the installation of submarine fibre cables to interconnect mainland Greece with its islands and with Cyprus. The plan also includes investing in a new high performance computing system to upgrade the existing one of the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology and its interconnection with the EuroHPC supercomputers; and the creation of a national Cybersecurity Operations Centre and its networking with similar centres of other Member States. The plan further includes a framework of the European Common Data Infrastructure Services, that is to say the Supply of Central Cloud Computing Infrastructure and Services.

Consultation process

(50)The plan includes a dedicated section describing the consultation process, which took place ahead of the submission of the plan to the Commission. The plan further lists the stakeholders who were consulted between July 2020 and April 2021 and provided input for its preparation including representatives of local and regional authorities, industry and other economic associations, NGOs and key social partners. The plan further cites examples of recommendations of reforms and investments that were taken on board for its preparation. To ensure ownership by the relevant actors, it is crucial to involve all local authorities and stakeholders concerned, including social partners, throughout the implementation of the investments and reforms included in the plan.

Positive assessment

(51)Following the positive assessment of the Commission concerning Greece’s recovery and resilience plan with the finding that the plan satisfactorily complies with the criteria for assessment set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/241, in accordance with Article 20(2) of that Regulation, this Decision should set out the reforms and investment projects necessary for the implementation of the plan, the relevant milestones, targets and indicators, and the amount made available from the Union for the implementation of the plan in the form of non-repayable financial and loan support.

Financial contribution

(52)The estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan of Greece is EUR 31 164 331 515 As the recovery and resilience plan satisfactorily complies with the criteria for assessment set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/241, in accordance with Article 20(2) of that Regulation, and, furthermore, as the amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan is higher than the maximum financial contribution available for Greece, the financial contribution allocated for Greece’s recovery and resilience plan should be equal to the total amount of the financial contribution available for Greece.

(53)In accordance with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the calculation of the maximum financial contribution for Greece is to be updated by 30 June 2022. As such, in accordance with Article 23(1) of that Regulation, an amount for Greece should be made available now for a legal commitment by 31 December 2022. Where necessary following the updated maximum financial contribution, the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, should amend this Decision to include the updated maximum financial contribution without undue delay.

(54)Furthermore, in order to support additional reforms and investments, Greece has requested loan support. The maximum volume of the loan requested by Greece does not exceed 6,8 % of its 2019 Gross National Income in current prices. The amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan is higher than the combined financial contribution available for Greece and the requested loan support.

(55)The support to be provided is financed from the borrowing by the Commission on behalf of the Union on the basis of Article 5 of Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 12 . The support should be paid in instalments once Greece has satisfactorily fulfilled the relevant milestones and targets identified in relation to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan.

(56)Greece has requested pre-financing of 13 % of the financial contribution and of 13 % of the loan. That amount should be made available to Greece subject to the entry into force and in accordance with the Financing Agreement provided for in Article 23(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and the Loan Agreement provided for in Article 15(2) of that Regulation.

(57)This Decision should be without prejudice to the outcome of any procedures relating to the award of Union funds under any other Union programme than Regulation (EU) 2021/241 or to procedures relating to distortions of the operation of the internal market that may be undertaken, in particular under Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty. It does not override the requirement for Member States to notify instances of potential State aid to the Commission under Article 108 of the Treaty,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1
Approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan

The assessment of the recovery and resilience plan of Greece on the basis of the criteria provided for by Article 19(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 is approved. The reforms and investment projects under the recovery and resilience plan, the arrangements and timetable for monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the relevant milestones and targets and the additional milestones and targets related to the payment of the loan, the relevant indicators relating to the fulfilment of the envisaged milestones and targets, and the arrangements for providing full access by the Commission to the underlying relevant data are set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2
Financial contribution

1.The Union shall make available to Greece a financial contribution in the form of non-repayable support amounting to EUR 17 769 942 602. 13 An amount of EUR 13 515 279 418 is available to be legally committed by 31 December 2022. Subject to the update provided for in Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 calculating an amount for Greece equal to or more than this amount, a further amount of EUR 4 254 663 184 is available to be legally committed as of 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2023.

2.The Union financial contribution shall be made available by the Commission to Greece in instalments in accordance with the Annex. An amount of EUR 2 310 092 538 shall be made available as a pre-financing payment, equal to 13 per cent of the financial contribution. The pre-financing and instalments may be disbursed by the Commission in one or several tranches. The size of the tranches shall be subject to the availability of funding.

3.The pre-financing shall be released subject to the entry into force and in accordance with the Financing Agreement provided for in Article 23(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. Pre-financing shall be cleared against the payment of the instalments.

4.The release of instalments in accordance with the Financing Agreement shall be conditional on available funding and a decision by the Commission, taken in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, that Greece has satisfactorily fulfilled the relevant milestones and targets identified in relation to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan. Subject to the entry into force of the legal commitments referred to in paragraph 1, to be eligible for payment, milestones and targets shall be completed no later than 31 August 2026.

Article 3
Loan support

1.The Union shall make available to Greece a loan amounting to a maximum of EUR 12 727 538 920.

2.The loan support shall be made available by the Commission to Greece in instalments in accordance with the Annex. An amount of EUR 1 654 580 060 shall be made available as a pre-financing payment, equal to 13 per cent of the loan. The pre-financing and instalments may be disbursed by the Commission in one or several tranches. The size of the tranches shall be subject to the availability of funding.

3.The pre-financing shall be released subject to the entry into force and in accordance with the Loan Agreement provided for in Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. Pre-financing shall be cleared against the payment of the instalments.

4.The release of instalments in accordance with the Loan Agreement shall be conditional on available funding and a decision by the Commission, taken in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, that Greece has satisfactorily fulfilled the additional milestones and targets covered by the loan and identified in relation to the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan. To be eligible for payment, the additional milestones and targets covered by the loan shall be completed no later than 31 August 2026.

Article 4
Addressee of the Decision

This Decision is addressed to the Hellenic Republic.

Done at Brussels,

(1)    OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17-75.

(2)    These policy commitments pertain to structural reforms initiated under the economic adjustment programmes to improve the functioning of the Greek economy and have a timeline of up to mid-2022. They are monitored under enhanced surveillance and the quarterly progress reviews thereof and, focus in particular, on the areas of (i) fiscal and fiscal-structural policies, (ii) social welfare, (iii) financial stability, (iv) labour and product markets, (v) Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations and privatisation, and (vi) the modernisation of public administration.

(3)    Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2011 on the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances (OJ L 306, 23.11.2011, p. 25).

(4)    Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 of 14 December 2020 establishing a European Union Recovery Instrument to support the recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis (OJ L 433I , 22.12.2020, p. 23.)

(5)    Recommendation for a Council Recommendation delivering a Council opinion on the 2021 Stability Programme of Greece, COM(2021) 508 final.

(6)    These macroeconomic imbalances refer to the recommendations made pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 in 2019 and 2020.

(7)    Such simulations reflect the overall impact of NGEU, which also includes funding for ReactEU, and increased funding for Horizon, InvestEU, JTF, Rural Development and RescEU. Such simulation does not include the possible positive impact of structural reforms, which can be substantial.

(8)    The Plan was published (in EL) and is available at the government’s website https://government.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/growth_plan_2020-11-23_1021.pdf.

(9)    Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).

(10)    Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).

(11)    See https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/quantum .

(12)    OJ L 424, 15.12.2020, p. 1.

(13)    This amount corresponds to the financial allocation after deduction of Greece’s proportional share of the expenses of Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, calculated in accordance with the methodology of Article 11 of that Regulation.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 17.6.2021

COM(2021) 328 final

ANNEX

to the

Proposal for a Council Implementing Decision

on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Greece

{SWD(2021) 155 final}

ANNEX

SECTION 1: REFORMS AND INVESTMENTS UNDER THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN

1.Description of Reforms and Investments

A. COMPONENT 1.1: POWER UP

This component of the Greek recovery and resilience plan targets reforms and investments to increase the weight of renewable energy sources in the electricity system and facilitate Greece’s process of decarbonisation. Reforms shall simplify licensing rules for renewable energy investment, make the electricity market more efficient, and secure the financial sustainability of support schemes. The component also includes key investments in networks to complete the interconnection with the Cyclades islands and make electricity distribution more environment-friendly and able to absorb a greater share of renewable energy. Storage systems shall also support the decarbonisation of the economy through accumulating surplus renewable electricity. Land rehabilitation shall also be supported in areas currently used as lignite mines, as a step of the just transition process in the territories most affected by the phase-out of lignite. The component is in line with the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and supports addressing the country-specific recommendations on public and private investment (Country Specific Recommendation 3 of 2020 and Country Specific Recommendation 2 of 2019). It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

A.1.    Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Investment: Support of the installation of storage systems to enhance renewable energy (RES) penetration (measure ID: 16926)

The investment provides public grants for the installation of up to 1 380 MW capacity of energy storage in the electricity system. These investments shall allow the system integration of new RES capacity which is required for the achievement of NECP targets. In addition, this action shall also alleviate network congestion, increase the flexibility of the electricity system and liquidity of balancing market, enhance system adequacy, enable energy efficiency, promote transparency in electricity price formation, and lower energy costs. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Revitalization actions of the most affected territories (Just transition territories) (measure ID: 16871)

The investment consists of grants for financing land rehabilitation in the areas of former lignite mines in Western Macedonia and Megalopolis. The measure shall address the just transition areas, with environmental and economic interventions, such as soil remediation, redevelopment and implementation of interventions regarding landscape and environment restoration, readjustments in land uses, and the creation of organised receptors of activities. The implementation of this investment shall be managed by a special purpose vehicle to be established by Greece. The special purpose vehicle shall become the new rightful owner and land developer of the transferred geographical areas. The special project vehicle shall be responsible for the financing and for carrying out the sanitization, restoration, rehabilitation and upgrading works. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Interventions for the electricity interconnection of islands and the upgrading of the electricity network (measure ID: 16870)

The investment includes the electricity interconnection of the Cyclades Islands (Phase D), an overhead line connecting Extra High Voltage Centre (EHVC) Corinth and EHVC Koumoundouros and accompanying projects. The projects shall boost energy system security, while also increasing the potential for electricity generation from RES in the islands and the Peloponnese. They shall reduce energy costs, leading to new investments and jobs in the energy-intensive sectors of the economy. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) network upgrades aiming at enhancing resilience and protecting the environment (measure ID: 16901)

The investment consists of undergrounding and rerouting of the electricity distribution network in settlements of special importance from a cultural or tourism point of view as well as city centres, with priority given to areas where the infrastructure is vulnerable to extreme weather. It shall improve the resilience of the distribution network and contribute to the protection of the environment. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) overhead network upgrading in forest areas (measure ID: 16900)

The investment consists of a replacement of bare conductors in the overhead electricity distribution network (with covered ones or a twisted cable), installation of insulating covers, and undergrounding or relocation of the electricity distribution network passing through forest areas. The project shall improve the resilience and reliability of the network (energy quality indicators SAIDI, SAIFI) and better protect the environment (forests, wildlife). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Installed capacity increase in Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) High Voltage/Medium Voltage substations for new RES connection (measure ID: 16899)

The investment shall increase the capacity of existing substations of the network to address the congestion of the distribution grid that are currently preventing further investment in renewable energy. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform: Restructuring and enhancement of the Renewable Energy Sources-Combined Heat and Power (RES-CHP) Account revenues (measure ID: 16865)

The reform consists of: (a) the restructuring of the existing remuneration structure for RES Producers, through the establishment for new RES units (commissioned after 1 January 2021) of a New RES-CHP Account replacing the current one complemented by new mechanisms that shall guarantee the financial viability of both of the existing and the New RES-CHP Accounts; and (b) the introduction of a Guarantees of Origin trading system, of an extraordinary “Covid-19 Duty” for RES producers and Suppliers, and of a permanent “carbon tax” on diesel fuel. The measures shall ensure the viability of the existing installed RES capacity and shall facilitate the financing of new projects in RES, as any unexpected inflows/outflows leading to a negative impact on the RES account(s) shall be addressed through the regulatory fees that shall be passed on to the customers. The implementation of the reform, including an increase of 3 Gigawatt in the electricity production capacity from renewable energy sources, shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

Reform: Streamline the efficient operation of the new electricity market model and the development of new RES plants to reach NECP targets through the implementation of monitoring mechanism, the participation of demand response and an extensive reform of the licensing procedure for new RES (measure ID: 16860)

The reform consists of streamlining of the licensing framework for RES, including simplification and digitalisation of procedures, short and binding administrative response times and accountability procedures for unnecessary delays, reduction of the necessary documentation and procedures, as well as a new dedicated framework for offshore RES plants. The aim is to accelerate the doubling of the installed capacity of RES in view of the lignite phase-out in Greece.

Finally, the reform shall also establish a market monitoring system for the National Regulatory Authority (RAE) and the participation of demand-side response (DSR) in the balancing market.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2022.

A.2.    Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Top investment 1: Interventions for the electricity interconnection of islands and the upgrading of the electricity network

Key reform 1: Restructuring and enhancement of the RES-CHP account revenues - Streamline the efficient operation of the new electricity market model and the development of new RES plants to reach NECP targets through the implementation of monitoring mechanism, the participation of demand response and an extensive reform of the licensing procedure for new RES

Group 1: Power Up

The measures included within this group are:

●    Support of the installation of storage systems to enhance RES penetration (ID: 16926)

●    Revitalization actions of the most affected territories (Just transition territories) (ID: 16871)

●    HEDNO network upgrades aiming at enhancing resilience and protecting the environment (ID: 16901)

●    HEDNO overhead network upgrading in forest areas (ID: 16900)

●    Installed capacity increase in Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) HV/MV substations for new RES connection (ID: 16899)

B. COMPONENT 1.2: RENOVATE

The renovate component of the Greek recovery and resilience plan under the green pillar shall increase energy efficiency, enhance economic growth, create job opportunities and promote social resilience. It comprises of targeted reforms and investments to reduce CO2 emissions, support for the achievement of the climate “neutrality” of urban areas and the enhancement of the climate resilience of cities’ and their building stock. The component provides incentives for building renovations and energy upgrades that shall be instrumental in the regeneration of urban areas and energy poverty mitigation and shall contribute to achieving the targets set out in Greece's National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). The component supports addressing Country Specific Recommendation 3 of 2020 and Country Specific Recommendation 2 of 2019, on public and private investment. It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

B.1.    Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform: Energy poverty action plan (measure ID: 16920)

The reform consists of the adoption of an action plan to address the challenge of energy poverty. In 2019, about 18% of the total population were reportedly unable to heat their homes compared to about 34% in the subset of the economically vulnerable population (Eurostat, EU-SILC Survey). The strategy shall outline targeted policy measures to improve energy efficiency of residential buildings among economically vulnerable households. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 September 2021.

Investment: Energy renovation on residential buildings (measure ID: 16872)

The investment shall improve the energy efficiency of residential buildings. It comprises renovations that shall yield significant primary energy savings, thus contributing to the relevant NECP targets. It shall improve the digitalisation of final energy consumption through energy management systems and promote the deployment of e-mobility infrastructure, such as charging stations for electric vehicles. It shall also provide earmarked funds targeting energy poor residences, thus establishing a link with the reform aiming to prepare an energy poverty action plan. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure requires the economic operators carrying out the construction works to ensure that at least 70% (by weight) of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (excluding naturally occurring material referred to in category 17 05 04 in the European List of Waste established by Decision 2000/532/EC of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147)) generated on the construction site shall be prepared for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Interventions in residential areas and in the building stock (measure ID: 16873)

This investment comprises: 1) Climate change adaptation and mitigation interventions in 16 urban and coastal areas such as the protection of urban landmarks of significant importance and the promotion of the climate neutrality of cities; 2) The regeneration of the former industrial area of Votanikos / Elaionas at the heart of Athens; 3) The upgrade of a seafront to make it accessible for cyclists and pedestrians along the coast of Athens (Athens Riviera); and 4) Other strategic interventions selected through an open call to municipalities that shall promote climate change adaptation and contribute to primary energy savings and reducing GHG emissions. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure requires the economic operators carrying out the construction works to ensure that at least 70% (by weight) of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (excluding naturally occurring material referred to in category 17 05 04 in the European List of Waste established by Decision 2000/532/EC of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147)) generated on the construction site shall be prepared for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Energy and entrepreneurship (measure ID: 16874)

The investment provides financial support to private companies for energy-efficient renovations of their buildings and processes. It includes two sub-programmes: (a) energy efficiency renovations in the tertiary and secondary sectors for medium, large and very large enterprises and (b) installation of energy efficient equipment in very small enterprises. Through the installation of energy efficient equipment and systems for energy conservation in production, storage, distribution of products and the operation of the companies, this measure contributes to increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and processes in line with the targets set out in the NECP and reduce greenhouse emissions.

In order to ensure that the measure complies with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for calls for projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use 1 ; (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 2 ; (iii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 3 and mechanical biological treatment plants 4 ; and (iv) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected. The investment shall also comply with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance with reference to the circular economy principles on recycling of construction waste and in accordance to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2010/31/EU). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Energy upgrade of public sector buildings (measure ID: 16876)

This investment comprises the renovation of public sector buildings with a view to increasing their energy efficiency, through the involvement of energy savings companies (ESCOs). The investment also contains the energy upgrade of street lighting infrastructures. This investment contributes to meeting the energy efficiency targets adopted in the NECP and reducing GHG emissions. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure requires the economic operators carrying out the construction works to ensure that at least 70% (by weight) of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (excluding naturally occurring material referred to in category 17 05 04 in the European List of Waste established by Decision 2000/532/EC of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147)) generated on the construction site shall be prepared for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Infrastructure development and buildings’ restoration in former royal estate in Tatoi (measure ID: 16875)

The investment comprises the renovation of buildings and upgrading their energy efficiency and infrastructure networks at the Tatoi estate and creation of walking and cycling routes in its vicinity. The project shall deliver a green, renovated and freely accessible area for recreation to the inhabitants of Attica, as well as a new landmark for tourists to visit. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure requires the economic operators carrying out the construction works to ensure that at least 70% (by weight) of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (excluding naturally occurring material referred to in category 17 05 04 in the European List of Waste established by Decision 2000/532/EC of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147)) generated on the construction site shall be prepared for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol.. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens (measure ID: 16932)

This investment in the Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens shall extend its use life, restore its image, reduce its running/energy costs and ensure its financial sustainability by turning it into a modern and lively urban athletics and leisure destination, with a view to the transfer of the Centre to the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure requires the economic operators carrying out the construction works to ensure that at least 70% (by weight) of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (excluding naturally occurring material referred to in category 17 05 04 in the European List of Waste established by Decision 2000/532/EC of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147)) generated on the construction site shall be prepared for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2024.

Reform: Preparation of Urban Plans in implementation of the urban policy reform (measure ID: 16879)

This reform consists of five actions: (a) the preparation of Local Urban Plans (covering municipalities or municipal units), (b) the preparation of Special Urban Plans (plans that can cover areas belonging to more than one municipality), (c) the definition of the Development Rights Transfer Zones, (d) completing the delimitation of settlements, (5) addressing land use issues related to recognition of (municipal) road access. The reform shall address weaknesses and gaps in zoning and land use with a view to promoting sustainable economic activity and protecting the environment. The Local Urban Plans shall include a dedicated chapter on climate change measures and prevention and management of climate related risks. Overall, Local Urban Plans will be produced for 700 municipalities or municipal units; five Special Urban Plans, will be produced, Development Rights Transfer Zones will be defined in 50 municipal units, the delimitation of settlements will be determined in 50 municipal units and municipal roads will be determined in 120 municipal units. In total, measures will be implemented in at least 750 municipal units.

The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform: Establishment of new maritime spatial planning (measure ID: 16891).

The reform addresses the creation of the national spatial strategy for the marine environment and maritime spatial plans. The reform shall address sustainable development in the maritime areas and coastal zones, while protecting the marine environment and biodiversity. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform: Establishment of new special spatial planning framework for renewable energy, industry, tourism and aquaculture (measure ID: 16894). The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

The reform establishes new special spatial frameworks for renewable energy, industry, tourism and aquaculture to promote climate mitigation and adaptation, protection of biodiversity, economic growth and job creation.

B.2.    Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support 

Top investment 2: Energy renovation on residential buildings

Key reform 2: Urban Plans

Group 2: Energy renovation of enterprises and public buildings

The measures included within this group are:

●    Energy and entrepreneurship (ID: 16874)

●    Energy upgrade of public sector buildings and energy infrastructure of public entities (ID: 16876)

●    Energy poverty action plan (ID: 16920)

Group 3: Interventions in residential areas and in the building stock

The measures included within this group are:

●    Interventions in residential areas and in the building stock (ID: 16873)

●    Infrastructure development and buildings’ restoration in former royal estate in Tatoi (ID: 16875)

●    Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (ID: 16932)

C. COMPONENT 1.3: RECHARGE AND REFUEL

The recharge and refuel component of the Greek recovery and resilience plan comprises targeted reforms and investments to increase sustainable mobility, enhance economic growth, create job opportunities and promote social resilience. The measures included under this component are linked to the nationwide strategy of sustainable mobility, thus supporting the implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). They shall also contribute to the green transition through providing support to enterprises carrying out operations related to the low carbon economy and climate change resilience. The component further includes reforms to support the installation of e-mobility infrastructure and revision of the public urban and regional passenger transportation services. The component also includes investments to support the development of production capacity of supplies related to e-mobility and replacement of busses and taxis with battery electric vehicles.

The component supports addressing Country Specific Recommendation 3 of 2020 and Country Specific Recommendation 2 of 2019, on public and private investment. It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

C.1.    Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Investment: Produc-E Green (measure ID: 16831)

This investment constitutes of two projects that both aim to contribute to the low carbon economy and to resilience to climate change. The first project targets the supply-side of e-mobility. It shall provide support for the development of more than 10 sites with R&D departments for innovative products or services, such as the recycling of electric car batteries through re-use of raw materials like lithium and cobalt or the designing of electric vehicles and regular or high power charge points. In order to ensure that the measure complies with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for calls for projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use 5 ; (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 6 ; (iii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 7 and mechanical biological treatment plants 8 ; and (iv) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.

The second project shall provide support to the development of the first CO2 storage facility in Greece. The carbon capture and storage facility is designed to provide long term storage for CO2 captured from local emitters (up to a distance of 150 km) and shall arrive at the facility by pipeline whilst CO2 captured at remote sites shall arrive by ship and enter a buffer storage facility. The capacity of the carbon capture and storage facility shall initially have a CO2 injection rate of one million tonnes/year and shall provide capacity for, at least, 25 years. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the carbon capture and storage facility shall operate without using any commercial oil extraction or oil recovery activities (some extraction of oil or gas may be required for safety or technical reasons. Further, the carbon capture and storage shall also comply with the requirement that there will be no technological applications, neither any type of facilities and equipment engineered towards Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) application and increased oil production. Care will be taken that any possible extraction of oil or gas is limited to the indispensable needs of managing pressure and ensuring safety of the storage sites and that any such extraction will be done only if indispensable to ensure the safe storage of CO2. The CO2 along with any oil or gas that may be extracted will be separated and fed back for permanent storage.

The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform: Framework for installation and operation of EV charging infrastructure (measure ID: 16281)

The reform shall establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the installation and operation of charging points for electric vehicles. This shall put Greece towards a path to meet the NECP target of a 30% share of electric vehicles in the domestic market by 2030. By the end of 2022, the Ministry of Environment and Energy shall adopt at least 300 plans submitted by local authorities for the installation of publicly available electric vehicle charging points. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022.

Investment: Electromobility (measure ID: 16924)

The investment addresses e-mobility in line with the objectives of the NECP and encompasses: 1) support for the installation of publicly accessible charge points in key urban and suburban locations and points of interest (such as airports, motorways, ports and in parking areas); 2) the replacement of older buses with 220 new electric ones; 3) incentives for the replacement of older taxis with 2 000 battery electric vehicles; 4) a reform of the legislation for public service obligations for bus companies in line with the current EU acquis, enabling bus companies outside Athens and Thessaloniki to securely invest in electric public transport vehicles; and 5) undertaking a feasibility study to set up an e-Transport Agency that shall ensure appropriate planning and coordination between transport and energy infrastructures, regional and local governments and other stakeholders in the research and private sector. The investment component replacing old busses and vehicles shall be compliant with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), with particular reference to the scrappage of older vehicles/busses that shall be carried out by an Authorised Treatment Facility, in accordance to the end-of-life vehicles directive (2000/53/EC). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

C.2.    Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Key reform 3: Framework for installation and operation of EV charging infrastructure

Group 4: E-mobility

The measures included within this group are:

●    Produc- E Green (ID: 16831)

●    Electromobility (ID: 16924)

D. COMPONENT 1.4: SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES, CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

This component of the Greek recovery and resilience plan aims at promoting the green transition. It comprises targeted reforms and investments to enhance protection and restoration of natural environment including protection of biodiversity, improve environmental infrastructure and recover losses in forest coverage. Moreover, it includes a waste management reform which notably includes the establishment of a National Waste Regulator to support the transition towards a circular economy based on waste prevention, reuse and recycling. It further establishes a National Water Regulatory Authority, with a view to enhance the sustainability of water utility operations and investments. Implementation of the reforms and investments included in the component shall increase the efficiency in using natural resources and advance the protection from environment-related risks and impacts for both the society and the economy. The component also includes investments to improve the supply of drinking water and provision of sewerage, and to prevent and mitigate environmental challenges due to climate change.

The component supports addressing Country Specific Recommendation 3 of 2020 and Country Specific Recommendation 2 of 2019, on public and private investment. It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

D.1.    Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Investment: Water Supply Projects (measure ID: 16898)

The investment consists of water supply works in areas of Western Greece and the islands of Lesvos and Corfu. The aim of the investment is to meet the high water supply needs during the summer months and address leakage problems. The constructed systems shall comply, on average, with an Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) that will be less or equal to 1,5. The measure requires that all works comply with the following principles: (i) all technically feasible and ecologically relevant mitigation measures shall be implemented to reduce adverse impacts on water and relevant habitats and species; (ii) for a newly built dam, ensure that it shall not result in the deterioration nor compromise the achievement of good status of the relevant and connected water bodies. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, for each sub-investment, full compliance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) shall be ensured before the commencement of the construction works. Further, the measure is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU, as well as relevant assessments in the context of Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 92/43/EEC, including the implementation of required mitigation measures. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: National Reforestation Plan and Parnitha flagship investment (measure ID: 16849)

This investment has two parts. First, the restoration of 16 500 ha of degraded forest ecosystems in Greece. The project shall cover both reforestation studies and their implementation. Second, a flagship project for Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, which shall restore its natural environment, better protect it from wildfires, improve access to it and reconstruct abandoned facilities for mild uses. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Urban Wastewater and Sludge Management Infrastructures from Wastewater Treatment (measure ID: 16846)

The investment shall reduce pollution to the natural and man-made environment arising from wastewater treatment, by constructing new and upgrading existing infrastructure. It consists of three subprojects: (a) construction of 37 new sewage network infrastructures and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), (b) upgrading, extension and modernization of 11 WWTPs and reuse of treated water and (c) construction of 16 sludge management infrastructures from WWTPs. The part of the investment relating to upgrading and modernisation of 11 WWTPs shall comply with the requirement for the renewal of the front-to-end waste water system to lead to a decreased average energy use by at least 10% achieved solely by energy efficiency measures and not by material changes or changes in load. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU, as well as relevant assessments in the context of Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 92/43/EEC, including the implementation of required mitigation measures. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Investments in the national irrigation network through Public Private Partnership schemes (measure ID: 16285)

The investment is a holistic program for the upgrade and modernisation of the national agri-environmental, land improvement and remediation framework. These investments shall strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, boost the supply and quality of available water, rationalise water consumption, mitigate salinisation and desertification risks, and address the conservation and protection of biodiversity and natural habitats. This measure also comprises a reform of the institutional, organisational and operational framework of the collective irrigation networks. The measure requires that all works comply with the following principles: (i) all technically feasible and ecologically relevant climate adaptation measures shall be implemented, as well as the mitigation of possible adverse impacts on water and relevant habitats and species where further measures appear necessary; (ii) for a newly built dam, ensure that it shall not result in the deterioration nor compromise the achievement of good status of the relevant and connected water bodies. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, for each sub-investment, full compliance with the requirements of EU law, including the Water Framework Directive, shall be ensured before, during and after the commencement of the construction works. Further, the measure is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU, as well as relevant assessments in the context of Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 92/43/EEC, including the implementation of required mitigation measures. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Drinking Water Supply and Saving Infrastructures (measure ID: 16850)

The investment aims to improve the availability and quality of drinking water, and reduce leakage and public health risks related to water infrastructure. The investment consists of four sub-projects: (a) construction of new water supply infrastructures in seven areas and three desalination plants, (b) establishment of telemetry - remote control systems for the detection of leaks in water supply networks, (c) procurement of digital hydrometers and (d) other water saving actions. The investment shall comply with the following requirements, (i) for newly constructed system to have an average Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) that will be less or equal to 1,5 and (ii) for the renovation activity to decrease the leakage by more than 20% and (iii) for desalination units to be connected to renewable energy sources. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU, as well as relevant assessments in the context of Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 92/43/EEC, including the implementation of required mitigation measures. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Aerial means for crisis management (measure ID: 16911)

The investment comprises the delivery of the purchased of aerial means and modernisation of existing aircrafts used for civil protection such as helicopters for medical use, transportation and deployment of emergency infrastructure, drones for air surveillance and aircraft for firefighting. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, all special purpose aircraft shall be ‘best in class’ assets. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Flood mitigation projects (measure ID: 16882)

The investment comprises interventions reducing risks of flooding, providing water for irrigation purposes in areas facing drought during the summer and enhancing surface water management efficiency in several areas in Greece. The measure requires that all works comply with the following principles: (i) all technically feasible and ecologically relevant mitigation measures shall be implemented to reduce adverse impacts on water and relevant habitats and species; (ii) for a newly built dam, ensure that it shall not result in the deterioration nor compromise the achievement of good status of the relevant and connected water bodies. It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, for each sub-investment, full compliance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) shall be ensured before, during and after the commencement of the construction works. Further, the measure is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU, as well as relevant assessments in the context of Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 92/43/EEC, including the implementation of required mitigation measures. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Forest firefighting, prevention and response equipment (measure ID: 16912)

The investment comprises the delivery of the purchased of forest firefighting, prevention and response equipment; the development of prevention projects for regions and local authorities; and support to General Secretariat for Civil Protection volunteering organisations. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Biodiversity protection as a driver for sustainable growth (measure ID: 16851)

The investment consists of the following projects: (a) the establishment of a national network of paths and hiking trails, (b) the enhancement of environmental protection through the implementation of a National System for Permanent Monitoring of species and habitat types, (c) establishment of a National System for the Surveillance of Protected Areas, (d) the introduction of multimedia applications, bioclimatic and energy upgrade of the building facilities of the Protected Areas Management Units, (e) the modernisation of the information centres of the Protected Areas Management Units, (f) the creation of an integrated digital platform to offer information on protected areas such as eco-tourism, and (g) the promotion of local products under an umbrella ‘Nature Greece’ brand. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Infrastructure - Establishment of a strategic National Disaster Risk Management (measure ID: 16909)

The investment comprises the upgrade and supply of digital equipment for the General Secretariat for Civil Protection buildings, and the development of mobile administration and on-site management centres, such as air surveillance control and telecommunication equipment. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Monitoring and Management System (measure ID: 16910)

The investment consists of the supply of digital infrastructure for the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, such as a GPS Monitoring System, and early warning system, fire detection and fire extinguishing systems and emergency communication stations. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Implementation of Regional Civil Protection Centers (PEKEPP) through PPP schemes (measure ID: 16283)

Construction of 13 Regional Centres for Civil Protection through public-private partnerships. The objective of the investment is to ensure timely and effective management of risks and crises at regional level. The newly constructed buildings shall comply with a Primary Energy Demand (PED) that is at least 20% lower than the NZEB requirement (nearly zero-energy building, national directives). It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, the measure requires the economic operators carrying out the construction works to ensure that at least 70% (by weight) of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (excluding naturally occurring material referred to in category 17 05 04 in the European List of Waste established by Decision 2000/532/EC of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (notified under document number C(2000) 1147)) generated on the construction site shall be prepared for re-use, recycling and other material recovery, including backfilling operations using waste to substitute other materials, in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

Reform: Waste management law for the implementation of sustainable landfilling and recycling (measure ID: 16772)

This reform comprises a revision of the existing waste management legislation with a view to enabling the transition towards a circular economy. In particular, the reform shall introduce incentives for municipalities to achieve higher recycling rates, enforce separate collection of bio-waste by the end of 2022 and of metal, paper, glass and plastic, extend the ‘Producer’s responsibility’ scheme, upgrade the operation of recycling sorting facilities and simplify the legislation around Green points. The reform shall support the achievement of targets of increasing reuse and recycling rates of municipal solid waste to 60% and reducing the landfill rate to 10% by 2030. The national waste regulatory authority that shall be put in place in the context of this reform, shall inter alia be responsible for ensuring the soundness of the pricing policy, supervision of waste management implementation across the country, and supervision of the proper functioning of the regional and local waste management utilities. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2023.

Reform: Establishment of new water and wastewater regulatory authority (measure ID: 16979)

The reform shall establish a single body, the National Water Regulatory Authority (NWRA), responsible for implementing the policy for a rational management of water resources designed by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The new Authority is expected to strengthen the institutional framework and supervise the sector, including the rationalisation of water tariff policy in line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle and ensuring the sustainability of water services in Greece. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.

D.2.    Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Key reform 4: Waste management and water reform for sustainable use of resource

Group 5: National Reforestation Plan and Biodiversity Protection

The measures included within this group are:

●    National Reforestation Plan and Parnitha flagship investment (ID: 16849)

●    Biodiversity protection as a driver for sustainable growth (ID: 16851)

Group 6: Wastewater & water infrastructure, water savings

The measures included within this group are:

●    Urban Wastewater and Sludge Management Infrastructures (ID: 16846)

●    Drinking Water Supply and Savings infrastructures (ID: 16850)

●    Flood protection project (ID: 16882)

●    Water supply projects (ID: 16898)

Group 7: Civil Protection Projects

The measures included within this group are:

●    Aerial means for crisis management (ID: 16911)

●    Development of an innovative monitoring and management system (ID: 16910)

●    Establishment of a strategic National Disaster Risk Management (ID: 16909)

●    Forest firefighting, prevention and response equipment (ID: 16912)

●    Implementation of Regional Civil Protection Centers (PEKEPP) through PPP schemes (ID: 16283)

E. COMPONENT 2.1: CONNECT

This component of the Greek recovery and resilience plan contains measures that aim to foster and facilitate the widespread deployment of very high capacity networks, including 5G and fibre, in line with the EU’s 2025 5G and Gigabit connectivity objectives, and the development of a constellation of small satellites. The investments included under this component concern the installation of fibre optic infrastructure in buildings, the development of 5G networks covering all major Greek highways, the deployment of submarine fibre cables to connect mainland Greece with the Greek islands and Cyprus and the utilisation of space technologies and applications by developing a constellation of small-satellites that shall support secure connectivity services coupled with multipurpose applications for earth observation. The reforms included under this component establish a framework to facilitate the switch to fast broadband connections and the transition to 5G technology.

All proposed investments and reforms address the challenges resulting from the increasing need for connectivity and earth observation and surveillance. The measures support addressing the Country Specific Recommendation on public and private investment (Country Specific Recommendation 3 2020), which calls Greece to focus investment on digital transition and particularly on very-high-capacity digital infrastructure. They also respond effectively to the digital transition and/or the challenges resulting from it, as they are expected to significantly contribute to improve very-high-speed connectivity in Greece. It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

E.1.    Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Investment: Small-satellites (measure ID: 16855)

The investment concerns the development of a constellation of small satellites that shall support connectivity services, as well as earth observation applications in the fields of mapping, shipping, precision agriculture, spatial planning and others. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform: Transition to 5G technology, facilitating the development of innovative remote services (measure ID: 16844)

The reform shall establish a basis for the transition to 5G technology. The first phase of the reform focuses on the implementation of the regulatory and legislative framework, in particular using 25% of the multi-band 5G auction earnings to support the innovative Phaistos fund which invests in companies and projects providing 5G products and services. The second phase shall include a process for identifying further opportunities and risks in the development of 5G networks, the streamlining of procedures, and the assessment of requirements and risks in specific economic applications (such as transport). The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 September 2024.

Investment: 5G Corridors – Develop 5G networks that shall provide coverage of all Greek motorways that are part of the Trans-European Transport Networks (measure ID: 16834)

The investment comprises the development of 5G network infrastructure along the major Greek highways that are part of the Trans-European Transport Networks in order to serve the needs for Connected and Autonomous Mobility. The implementation of the investment is expected to start by 31 December 2021 and shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform: Switch to fast broadband connections – Transition to 100/200 Mbps (UltraFast) broadband connections and strengthening of Superfast Broadband demand (measure ID: 16857)

This reform consists in the design and implementation of an action plan for the transition to 100/200 Mbps (Ultrafast) broadband connections through the installation of fibre optics and the accompanying equipment in buildings, as well as submarine cables in the case of Greek islands, enabling greater coverage of ultra-high speed network connections. The plan shall include actions, prerequisite activities, time schedules, as well as any required changes on the existing legislative and regulatory framework to accompany and monitor the transition to Ultrafast broadband connections. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2024.

Investment: Submarine fiber cables (measure ID: 16962)

The investment consists of the deployment of modern submarine fibre cables that shall connect mainland Greece with its islands and with Cyprus. It aims to remove a major obstacle in the availability of high-speed broadband services to end-users, both through fixed and mobile networks, and enhance the capacity and resilience of the backhaul infrastructure in support of 5G. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Fiber optic infrastructure in buildings (measure ID: 16818)

The investment promotes the installation of the fibre optic infrastructure in residential and commercial buildings and end-users’ connection with very high capacity networks (VHCN) based on a demand subsidy (voucher) scheme that shall subsidize (a) the costs of internal cabling and (b) the connection fees (the one-off setup fee of broadband services). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

E.2.    Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Group 8: Connectivity

The measures included within this group are:

●    Transition to 5G technology, facilitating the development of innovative remote services. (ID: 16844)

●    Switch to fast broadband connections – Transition to 100/200 Mbps (UltraFast) broadband connections and strengthening of Superfast Broadband demand (ID: 16857)

●    Fiber optic infrastructure in buildings (ID: 16818)

●    5G Corridors – Develop 5G networks that will provide coverage of all Greek motorways that are part of the Trans-European Transport Networks (ID: 16834)

●    Small-satellites (ID: 16855)

●    Submarine fiber cables (ID: 16962)

F. COMPONENT 2.2: MODERNISE

The component “Modernise” of the Greek recovery and resilience plan aims to modernise the public administration by improving its operational model and achieving provision of high-quality services to citizens and businesses. Accelerating efforts to improve upon the public administration’s digital performance shall act as a catalyst to achieve this aim. Reforms and investments target: (a) the digital transformation of the organisations of the public sector, including the digitisation of archives and enhanced digital services; (b) business process improvements followed by the incorporation of modern IT systems; (c) increased interoperability between systems and data; (d) wide-ranging cybersecurity and data governance strategies and policies; as well as (e) extended use of advanced technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and big data.

The component aims to address the challenge of modernising and digitalising the public administration, while also streamlining and simplifying its key processes and procedures. It supports addressing the Country Specific Recommendation on public and private investment (Country Specific Recommendations 3 2020 and 2 2019) by improving the effectiveness and digitalisation of the public administration. It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

F.1.    Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform: Towards Public Administration’s “customer”-oriented services through simplification and improvement of processes, systems enhancements and compliance with European strategies and policies (measure ID 16929)

The objective of the reform is the provision of user-oriented services to Greek citizens and businesses and enhancement of the internal functioning of the Greek public administration. The reform consists of the implementation of a medium-term strategy for the reduction of administrative burden and creation of customer-centric services within the public administration and improvement of processes, systems enhancements and compliance with European strategies and policies, through 1) the adoption of regulatory changes to establish a wide regulatory basis for the interconnection and interoperability of registries and services for data exchange between national public organizations in line with the new European Interoperability framework; and 2) implementation of the National Programme for Process Simplification, including the set up of the national registry of procedures and full set up of the Observatory for monitoring the impact of regulation and the National Registry of Procedures (‘Diavlos’). The reform shall include the completion of simplification/digitalisation of: impact assessment processes, application for citizenship, start-up of sole proprietorships, simplification of procedures relating to citizen ‘life events’ including birth, passing away, and divorce, simplification of justice procedures related to lawyers, court decisions, digital signatures, certificates issued by courts, driver license renewal and operation of myfoto.gov.gr, and electronic circulation of documents within the public administration. Key reform priorities shall also include public procurement processes, start-up requirements for all types of companies and post-registration processes, social security and tax applications and other employment-related bureaucracy, planning, payment and monitoring processes for financial management. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Digitisation of archives and related services (measure ID 16778)

The investment consists of the digitisation of key archives in various sectors (justice, health, general archives of the state, urban planning, expropriations, cadastre, immigration and asylum, maritime affairs) and integration in the relevant IT systems, and pilot implementation of secure storage of public sector and “broader” public sector archives (a total of nine subprojects). Specifically, the said subprojects shall comprise of the implementation of digitisation and other necessary actions in relation to the following archives: 1) 300 000 000 physical pages (A3/A4 bound & unbound including OCR and anonymizing process) of the justice system, 2) 190 000 000 imaging examinations of various sizes (X-rays, Axial, Magnetic C Camera, Cardiographs) of the public health system, 3) 55 000 000 physical pages (A4/A3 bound & unbound) of the General Archives of the State (30 000 000 A3/A4 pages for central and local agencies and 25 000 000 A2/A1/A0 pages for central agencies), 4) 61 500 000 pages (A4 bound & unbound) of the immigration and asylum system, 5) 17 000 000 physical pages (A0, A1, A3) of expropriations, 6) 387 200 000 imaging archives and geocoding of files (digitisation of 217 200 000 physical records/documents of various sizes and creation of metadata and geocoding for 170 000 000 files) of urban planning agencies, 7) 600 000 000 (A0/A1/A3) property titles and the respective documents in the mortgage offices of the Cadastre, 8) 7 000 000 physical records (A4/A3 bound & unbound) of maritime affairs (ship registry, companies’ files, personal seafarers’ files, other maritime files), and 9) pilot implementation for the model keeping of archives for secure storage of approximately 65 000 000 files (Α5/Α4/Α3/Α2/Α1/Α0) in other public sector archives. This is a key investment for a more efficient public administration. It aims to reduce the time cost of providing services to the public by the public administration, while better access to the archives is expected to also result in significant cost savings and the freeing-up of resources. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: CRM for the General Government (measure ID 16810)

The investment concerns the design, development, implementation and operation of an integrated system for managing the full lifecycle of Public Administration’s relationship with citizens and businesses. The project shall upgrade the existing capacity of the Public Administration to monitor its interactions and transactions with citizens and businesses. The system shall utilize the information collected by the citizens and businesses in order to personalize the approach and promote a higher level of services. The investment shall include a) integration and interoperability services through the adoption of modern software design and development methodologies, b) access to services supporting mechanism, which is a toolkit for the development of new applications based on low code technology c) a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, which will collect and manage all the data of the served citizens and will orchestrate the execution of business processes, regardless of the initiating service d) a Citizens' consensus management system for access to electronic services) Contact Centre Services, through which the service of citizens and businesses is carried out with the use of traditional channels, such as call centres, but also utilizing modern channels, such as Web Forms, Social Media, Messaging Apps, Teleconference App, e) Upgrading of the Digital Platform of KEP and its connection with the unified citizen case management system, call centre and gov.gr f) Simplification and improvement of the processes and services related to physical presence of “customers” with the expansion of the existing myKEPLive infrastructure and its integration with a system for scheduling physical presence appointments. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

Investment: Further Modernisation of Public Administration’s One-Stop Shops (measure ID 16780)

The investment consists of further modernisation of Citizen Services Centres (KEP), through the upgrading of their infrastructure and peripherals, and installation of new teleconferencing equipment and new applications compatible with the digital modern workplace (evaluation systems, mobile applications, automatic ticket machines, queue management & smart notification systems). The investment shall include: a) the upgrade of existing technological equipment, b) modern queue management & smart notification systems c) customer (citizen) evaluation systems. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

Investment: New system for Public Procurements (measure ID 16736)

The investment concerns the redesign and implementation of a new IT system for public procurement. The investment consists of the digitalisation and integration of the entire business and functional life-cycle of public procurement, the upgrade of the interoperability services, the integration of advanced public procurement techniques and tools as digital services (eShops and eMarketplaces), and ICT support for the National Centralized Health Procurement Authority (EKAPY). The investment shall include: a) the redesign and enrichment of the portal www.eprocurement.gov.gr ; b) extensive additions and customizations subsystems used for tenders; c) the reform, rearrangement and enrichment of Central Electronic Register of Public Procurement (KIMDIS), upgrading and expansion of statistical data extraction systems and their further statistical processing; d) the Configuration and implementation of Electronic Public Procurement System (ESIDIS) extensions to support new strategies and business processes in the field of Public Procurement by electronic means; e) the enhancements of the already implemented interoperability services and implementation of new ones for data exchange; f) Electronic interoperability services with gov.gr, CAs, banking organizations for integration of possibilities of digital signature of electronic documents and other data using the system and ensuring "non repudiation"; g) the implementation of a data encryption mechanism stored in the system databases to prevent malicious actions of ESIDIS and G-Cloud administrators; h) a new security study and additions and or changes to the system to increase its security, certification and interventions to enhance the security of the system in order to be certified by an independent security assessment; i) the improvement and re-launch the procurement planning system for wider support of public procurement and centralized procurement procedures using electronic catalogues; j) the addition of applications for support of economic operators: enrichment of applications for search of tenders, historical and statistical data of their involvement in procurement processes, enrichment of information and communication subsystems of suppliers and contracting authorities, ticketing system for asking questions and reporting issues-resolution or help desk tool; k) the addition of Virtual Assistant capabilities so that anyone interested can ask questions in natural language; l) the addition of an electronic file archiving system (ESIDIS - KIMDIS) that complies with the provisions of the legal framework for electronic files; m) the production of training material and publicity actions; n) technical support and project monitoring services; o) a study evaluating the possibilities and effectiveness of existing e-procurement tools and selection or upgrade or replacing them with new and more efficient ones; p) Building Information Modelling (BIM); q) ICT Support for the National Centralized Health Procurement Authority (EKAPY). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Digital transformation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (measure ID 16742)

The investment aims to modernise the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through extended digitalization of its operations and IT infrastructures. The investment shall consist of: a) the standardization of MFA’s processes, which shall ensure Strategic and Operational Planning (SOP) viability and, consequently, its success; b) contributing to the wider promotion of the MFA’s scope of work and the best possible use of its resources by aligning them with its pursued objectives c) ensuring direct access to information, in the fastest possible time frame, by incorporating semantic search support, based on state-of-the-art artificial intelligence tools; d) creating an accessible and important archival database and information centre for effective administrative duties and cover the requirements of the MFA to enable it to more efficiently exercise public and economic diplomacy e) upgrading the crypto IT and telecommunications security infrastructure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the framework of its digital transformation. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

Investment: Digital skills upgrade programs for conscripts (measure ID 16826)

The investment integrates a training program and certification for digital skills into the mandatory military service. The purpose shall be to capitalise on the conscripts' time in service to impart the digital skills needed in today’s armed forces and labour market. The implementation of this investment shall be carried out through the upgrade and expansion of the platform of the Digital Academy of Citizens and shall include: a) Personalized access of conscripts to the training portal which shall have strong cybersecurity mechanisms and deterrence of cyber-attacks, along with enhanced personal data protection architecture b) Configuration of the electronic portfolio (e-portfolio) of the conscript in which his educational profile will be reflected along with his existing qualifications c) Development and configuration of digital skills training programs d) Development and use of a self-assessment tool e) 50 000 tablets that shall be acquired and supplied to conscripts for the time of attending the distance learning programs e) certification of digital skills acquired during the training process which shall be based on European and national digital skills frameworks. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

Investment: Digital Transformation of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (measure ID 16791)

The investments consists of developing the digital capacities of the Greek National Tourism Organization, namely a digital tourism map, a digital repository of Greece’s cultural assets, and an innovative system providing tourists and citizens with information using second generation Artificial Intelligence technology. The investment shall include a) the development of a platform (digital tourism map) where the visitor will be able to get informed about special characteristics of a touristic product of a city or island, so that the potential visitor by using this platform will receive a significant source of information related to the experiences and the interests which are of their preference b) the creation of promotion tools such as digital apps, websites and promotional activities and a repository which shall also function as a library, allowing destinations and their key-stakeholders to execute well-designed and sustainable promotion strategies c) the development of an innovative system for tourist’s information, with info – kiosks with touchscreens in main hubs as well maps with historical, geographical, cultural layers, including all cultural assets and activities, provided easily accessible, from the mobile app. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025

Reform: Cybersecurity strategy and policies for the Public Sector & advanced Security Services for national critical infrastructures (measure ID 16823)

The reform concerns the development and implementation of a cybersecurity strategy and a set of cybersecurity policies, which aim to increase the reliability and security of public sector systems and data or information and improve citizens’ trust in their interaction with the public sector. In addition, the reform includes the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre (SOC) as well as the provision of advanced Security Services (SOC and DDoS) in G-Cloud critical infrastructure, aiming to the systematic and continuous improvement of the security and the limitation of cybersecurity threats to the public sector’s central infrastructures and the information systems that operate through it. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

Investment: Interoperability and web services development (measure ID 16779)

The investment consists of the development of a central interoperability infrastructure for the integrated services management and the development and provision of interfaces to the Public Administration that shall facilitate information exchange among government agencies and the provision of interactive online services. The investment shall include a) the implementation of internet services and their documentation b) the integration of services in gov.gr c) definition and performance of the required control tests d) Pilot operation of the web services e) web services transfer into production (final implementation after the pilot phase) f) support for the new web services. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024

Reform: Interconnection and interoperability of registries, systems and services for data exchange between national public organisations (measure ID 16782)

The reform aims to develop a comprehensive framework and roadmap for the interconnection and interoperability of registries and services for data exchange between public organisations, in line with the new European Interoperability Framework (EIF). The reform shall facilitate the provision of interoperable, personalised and user friendly digital public services to the citizens and businesses. The reform shall introduce organisational, procedural and legislative changes to a) align the current Greek National Interoperability Framework (eGIF) with the current version of European Interoperability Framework (EIF), b) connecting relevant national, regional and local data sources and digital infrastructures to the European Once-Only-Principle (OOP) evidence exchange system, established by the Single Digital Gateway Regulation, and c) review and analyse systems and data to target the digitalisation of certificates and official documents. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

Investment: Data Classification Studies for Public Sector’s Information Systems (measure ID 16965)

The investment aims at defining the template for data classification studies regarding Public Sector’s Information Systems installed in the Government Cloud of Public Sector (G-Cloud), operated by the General Secretariat of Information Systems for Public Administration (GSISPA). The investment consists of the design and standardisation of data classification studies of central information systems and the conduction of 220 respective studies for the entirety of the already installed central information systems and applications of Public Sector. The template shall be also used by all future information systems prior to their installation at G-Cloud. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

Investment: Next-Generation Interoperability Centre (KED) (measure ID 16964)

The investment aims at modernising the Interoperability Centre of General Secretariat of Information Systems for Public Administration (GSISPA) in order to be able to deliver cross-institutional and cross-systems interoperability with high availability. The investment consists of a) a feasibility and security study b) the supply and installation of required licenses for database and hybrid cloud application platform c) the design and implementation of Next Generation Interoperability Centre (KED), d) the implementation of new web services at Next-Generation Interoperability Centre (KED). The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

Investment: E-Registries (measure ID 16824)

The investment consists of the establishment of interoperability and interfaces between the existing registers of the central public administration bodies, as well as the collection and expansion of registers in order to gradually lead to the smooth and proper operation of digital public services, using interconnected, up to date registers containing cleaned data entries. To that end, the investment shall facilitate the    collection and expansion of existing registers, in one central source, in order to gradually lead to the smooth and proper operation of digital public services. This shall include a) data in one place: the registries shall be accessible through one interface and shall be searchable b) up-to-date data: all the data in registers shall be up-to-date and ready to use. Each register shall be accessed via a common API. c) clean data: by the end of the project the data of the registers shall be clean at the best level possible, and procedures and policies for clean data shall be in place d) linked registries: interoperability shall be ensured. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Tourism Registry e-MHTE (measure ID 16785)

The investment consists of the development of a digital registry platform for tourism enterprises (e-MHTE), which aims at interoperating with other public registries and IT systems. All data and functions of the existing register (MΗTE) shall be transferred to the new platform in order to provide better and improved services, the issuance of new operating licenses and the renewal of the existing ones. The investment also entails the digitisation of the archive (1 875 000 files of the Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Division) including meta-tagging and storing. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

Reform: Incorporation of new technologies and trends towards Public Administration’s advanced services, increase of efficiency and effectiveness, and decrease of systems operating, upgrade and maintenance costs (measure ID 16928)

The reform consists of developing a holistic framework that aims to bring technological advancements (Cloud computing, Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence - AI, Machine Learning, Distributed Ledger Technology - DLT) into the public administration for the purposes of efficient data collection, processing, presentation and storage, thus facilitating enhanced digital services, appropriate decision-making, and systems’ and infrastructure’s efficient operation and maintenance. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Smart cities (measure ID 16854)

The investment aims to gradually transform 11 Greek cities into ‘smart cities’ through the development of new infrastructure, digital platforms and IT systems. The smart city solutions shall enable cities to use technology, information and open data to improve city infrastructure and e-services, but also to boost community driven economic growth. The investment also aims to support the emergence of municipal smart city models for the rest of the municipalities to follow, in the logic of implementation blueprints. The measure shall consist of two subprojects: 1) the Greek smart cities investment initiative investing into the 11 cities, of which four have been already selected (Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus and Trikala) and seven more will be selected based on proposals developed by the cities. 2) a support mechanism for the implementation and performance monitoring of the initiative. Subproject 1 shall require the beneficiaries to prepare a detailed implementation plan, along with a ten year smart city strategy and action plan, that shall be linked with local, regional and national strategic goals. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Supply of Central Cloud Computing Infrastructure and Service (measure ID 16853)

The investment seeks to enhance the operation of key institutions of the Ministry of Digital Governance, namely GSISPA and IDIKA SA, through the deployment of cloud computing infrastructure and services (in accordance with Law 4727/2020) following international best practices for the implementation of government cloud infrastructure and services (G-Cloud). The project shall aim to deliver a modern Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure consisting of two tenants: One for the G-Cloud and another one for the H-Cloud. Each tenant shall have the private cloud component and the public cloud component in a unified management and service delivery environment. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2024.

The Data Centres of the Cloud Services Provider shall be required to comply with the “European Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency”. The requirement is in alignment with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, by supporting the green transition and contributing to the achievement of the Union’s 2030 climate targets set out in Article 2(11) amended by Article 10 of the EU Climate Law and complying with the objective of EU climate neutrality by 2050 and of the digital transition, thereby contributing to the upward economic and social convergence, restoring and promoting sustainable growth and the integration of the economies of the Union.

Investment: Upgrade of Cloud-computing infrastructure and services of the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology (GRNET) (measure ID 16955)

The investment consists of upgrading GRNET's infrastructures and services, by (a) upgrading its software and cloud computing services, mainly addressed to members of the research and academic community, (b) expanding and upgrading of the National High Performance Computing system ARIS – Phase B, and (c) leasing fibre optic infrastructure. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

The Data Centres shall be required to comply with the “European Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency”. The requirement is in alignment with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, by supporting the green transition and contributing to the achievement of the Union’s 2030 climate targets set out in Article 2(11) amended by Article 10 of the EU Climate Law and complying with the objective of EU climate neutrality by 2050 and of the digital transition, thereby contributing to the upward economic and social convergence, restoring and promoting sustainable growth and the integration of the economies of the Union.

Investment: Enhancement of Public Sector's Business Continuity (measure ID 16287)

The investment consists of the design and implementation of all required actions to ensure business continuity across the public administration, thus enabling employees of any public sector agency to fulfil their work remotely and in a secure manner. It includes the supply of the necessary corporate devices (Laptops) and network (VPN) infrastructure and expansion of G-cloud services. The investment shall initially study the needs across the Public Sector and set up a Business Continuity Plan not only for the indicative group of public servants to be covered during the implementation of this project (estimated at 71 500) but also for all public servants (approximately 550 000). Following the Business Continuity Plan, the investment will ensure the fulfilment of the prerequisites for business continuity across the entire Public Administration. These prerequisites include a) existence of a corporate device, where up-to-date operating systems as well as updated virus protection programmes are installed b) access to internet connection through an Internet Services Provider c) Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection through the SYZEFXIS network d) by using a VPN connection, secure access to data and applications of the Public Agencies that are required for the employee to work remotely, shall be achieved and if that is not possible alternative solutions shall be developed e) technical support. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Expansion of Syzefksis II (measure ID 16956)

The investment consists of the expansion of the National Public Sector Network (SYZEFXIS II) to provide a set of upgraded telecommunications services to all of the general government, the creation of a Public Sector Network (expansion) for providing a set of upgraded telecommunications services to general government bodies for three consecutive years, and more specifically providing coverage to approximately 34 000 buildings, as well as wireless telecommunications services. It shall include the expansion of the existing National Network of Public Administration "SYZEFXIS" which currently covers only 4 500 points of presence of bodies. As such, all public bodies shall have upgraded telecommunications services with an increase in internet access speeds thus offering better connections to citizens. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Reform: Data Governance strategy & policies for the Public Sector (measure ID 16827)

The reform concerns (a) the development of the Government Cloud Data Governance Strategy and policies and (b) the establishment of the framework, infrastructure, capacity and capabilities for public data governance, the policy for open and reusable data, and the provision of relevant services to the public and private sector. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Central BI - Data Analytics (measure ID 16842)

The investment aims to enable the public administration to maximise the value it obtains from its data via the implementation of a Central Business Intelligence – Data Analytics Platform. The platform shall allow public administration agencies to draw, integrate, and interpret data from any source and use them to analyse information that affects their operations and workflows, thus, facilitating decision-making. This shall be achieved through a) the identification of Key Performance Indicators b) the creation of a data dictionary, c) the creation of a data governance framework d) the design of an appropriate architectural blueprint, architectural approach, building blocks and integration points e) the configuration of a data warehouse f) the integrating with the back office information system g) the development of required business intelligence Reports & Analytics h) technical support. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.

Investment: Central Document Management System (measure ID 16738)

The investment consists of the implementation of a Central Document Management system which shall capture, store, and retrieve paper and electronic documents. This system shall facilitate interoperability between public sector organisations and accelerate the processing of citizens’ and businesses’ cases and service requests. The investment includes a) the supply of additional 20 000 approved remote digital signatures b) application development for interoperability, the creation of a unique QR code or ID to be embedded in the documents c) development of subsystems to cover the government needs for signing documents with digital signatures d) support services (including services for the development of studies), training and helpdesk services. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

F.2.    Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support

Top investment 3: Digitisation of archives and related services

Key reform 5: Towards Public Administration’s “customer”-oriented services through simplification and improvement of processes - Interconnection and interoperability of registries, systems and services

Group 9: Initiatives related to enhanced "customer"-oriented and secure digital services making use of interoperable IT systems and open data policies

The measures included within this group are:

●    Customer Relationship Management for the General Government (ID: 16810)

●    Further Modernisation of Public Administration’s One-Stop Shops (ID: 16780)

●    New system for Public Procurements (ID: 16736)

●    Digital transformation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ID: 16742)

●    Digital skills upgrade programs for conscripts (ID: 16826)

●    Digital Transformation of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (ID: 16791)

●    Cybersecurity strategy and policies for the Public Sector & Establishment of a National Cybersecurity Operations Centre (ID: 16823)

●    Interoperability and web services development (ID: 16779)

●    Data Classification Studies for Public Sector’s Information Systems (ID: 16965)

●    Next-Generation Interoperability Centre (KED) (ID: 16964)

●    ERegistries (ID: 16824)

●    Provision of advanced Security Services in the G-Cloud critical infrastructure (ID: 16823)

●    Tourism Registry e-MHTE (ID: 16785)

●    Central Document Management System (ID: 16738)

Group 10: Initiatives related to new technologies incorporation towards Public Administration’s digital transition and modernisation

●Incorporation of new technologies and trends towards Public Administration’s advanced services, increase of efficiency and effectiveness, and decrease of systems operating, upgrade and maintenance costs (ID: 16928)

●Smart cities (ID: 16854)

●Supply of Central Cloud Computing Infrastructure and Service (ID: 16853)

●Upgrade of Cloud-computing infrastructure and services of the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology (GRNET) (ID: 16955)

●Enhancement of Public Sector's Business Continuity (ID: 16287)

●Expansion of Syzefksis II (ID: 16956)

●Data Governance strategy & policies for the Public Sector (ID: 16827)

●Central BI - Data Analytics (ID: 16842)

G. COMPONENT 2.3: DIGITALISATION OF BUSINESS

This component of the Greek recovery and resilience concerns the provision of capital to Greek small and medium-sized enterprises to finance the investment in digital technologies and purchase of associated services. It aims to address the currently low levels of digital maturity among them, including due to low digital skills, whilst fostering productivity and the development of innovative businesses. At the same time, it is expected to help such businesses to adapt to new challenges and take advantage of emerging business trends. In particular, the component provides for the establishment of a single digital marketplace, to which both the suppliers of these products and services shall have access. Promoting the use of electronic payments and sales, upgrading of cash registers and POS ecosystem, and the creation of industrial data platforms are key targets of this component. Further, the component offers tax incentives that help to create a digital business ecosystem conducive to the digital transformation of small- and medium-sized enterprises. A central supporting mechanism for small- and medium-sized enterprises, facilitating the provision of training and awareness programs so that they may make the most of the tools and services offered through the digital marketplace, is also envisaged.

The measures are expected to respond to the digital transition and the challenges resulting from it, as they are expected to contribute to the uptake of digital technologies and digital upskilling of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Greece. Further, the measures are also expected to facilitate smart and sustainable growth by further stimulating private investment, thus helping to address the Country Specific Recommendation on public and private investment (CSR 3 2020). It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).

G.1.    Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support

Reform: Establishment of a digital business ecosystem and introduction of tax incentives for the facilitation of the SMEs digital transformation (measure ID 16973)

The reform aims to create a digital business ecosystem that promotes the digital transformation of SMEs. Specifically, it consists of: (a) creating a digital market place for the supply and purchase of advanced digital services and tools tailored for the digital transformation of SMEs, and increasing the digital awareness of business executives, (b) directly encouraging investments in modern digital technologies, using tax incentives on tangible and intangible assets, in order to change the business environment and (c) upgrading the cash registers and Points Of Sale ecosystem. In order to ensure that the measure complies with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria for the tax incentives shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use 9 ; (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 10 ; (iii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 11 and mechanical biological treatment plants 12 ; and (iv) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The eligibility criteria shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.

Selection/eligibility criteria shall also be targeted towards incentivising investments in digital transformation, namely the acquisition of products and services relating to e-payment, e-sales and e-invoicing applications, tools for digital advertising, systems for teleworking, business analytics, digital upskilling, backup and disaster recovery services, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, integrated solutions for contactless service, cybersecurity systems, cloud infrastructures and services, industrial data platform templates and software, cash Registers and POS ecosystem upgrade. The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

Investment: Digital Transformation of SMEs (measure ID 16706)

The investment concerns the development and provision of appropriate digital tools (products and services) to Greek SMEs in the areas of (a) electronic payments and sales, (b) industrial data platforms and (c) cash registers and POS ecosystem upgrade. This shall be achieved through the establishment of a central supporting mechanism for SMEs facilitating the provision of training and awareness programs so that they may make the most of the tools and services offered through the digital marketplace, ultimately aiming to support the digital transformation of Greek SMEs as well as to enhance transparency and healthy competition through Next-Gen POS and cash registers. The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 30 June 2025.

In order to ensure that the measure complies with the Do No Significant Harm Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01), the eligibility criteria contained in terms of reference for the calls for projects shall exclude the following list of activities: (i) activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use 13 ; (ii) activities under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks 14 ; (iii) activities related to waste landfills, incinerators 15 and mechanical biological treatment plants 16 ; and (iv) activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The terms of reference shall additionally require that only activities that comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation may be selected.

The selection/eligibility criteria shall also be targeted towards the following technologies and services, namely e-payment, e-sales and e-invoicing applications, tools for digital advertising, systems for teleworking, business analytics, digital upskilling, backup and disaster recovery services, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, supply of integrated solutions for contactless service, cybersecurity systems, cloud infrastructures and services, industrial data platform templates and software, cash Registers and POS ecosystem upgrade.

G.2.    Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support