Key information about the programmes
- The programme is operated by: Management & Implementation Authority for Information Communication Technologies (M&IA ICT)
- The International Partner Organisation in this programme is: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD FR)
- The programmes’ objective is: Integrity and accountability of public administration improved
- The funding for the Good Governance, Accountable Institutions, Transparency programme amounts to € 7 million (excluding co-financing), and is funded by the EEA Grants.
Why is the programme needed?
According to the OECD Greek Review (2011), Greece faces an immense and perhaps unique and increasingly urgent challenge. It needs to reform in depth, reconciling urgent measures with long lasting reforms. These reforms depend on a well-functioning public administration. There is clear political commitment and priority to modernize Public Administration and upgrade the quality of public services provided to citizens and businesses, in accordance with the National Strategy for the Administration Reform 2017-2020 (July 2017) and fully aligned with the EU’s 10-year development Strategy “Europe 2020”.
The proposed framework for the Programming Period 2014-2021 of EEA Grants in the Priority Area 16 “Good Governance, Accountable Institutions and Transparency” is developed on the basis of the Good Governance concept and complies with the adopted National Strategy for Structural Reforms in the Public Sector , as well as with fighting corruption and fraud which complies with the adopted National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2018-2019 (NACAP). Furthermore, the reinforcement of the Greek Ombudsman’s Office, mainly by institutional capacity building and through the enhancement of its cooperation with the different public sector stakeholders, aims at ensuring integrity and accountability in the delivery of public administration services.
What will the programmes achieve and who are the beneficiaries?
The primary objectives of the programme are to improve the effectiveness of public administration, enhancement of transparency and integrity in public institutions and decrease of maladministration in the public sector.
The Good Governance programme includes 3 pre-defined projects. The first project will support the creation of an independent, effective and operational network of front offices for public administration that responds to the needs of the society, to the provision of high-level services for the citizens and enterprises, as well as to the exploitation of the capabilities of e-government and the rational use of the available resources. Through the project proposed actions, direct citizens access to public administration, technological modernization of public administration and reduction of bureaucracy will be achieved, maladministration will be reduced and management concerning citizens' problems will be enhanced
The second project aims at improving key institutional and operational elements of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2018-2021, in order to effectively prevent corruption and promote integrity and transparency in public life as integral elements and quality indicators of good governance in Greece.
The third project aims at strengthening the capacity building of the Greek Ombudsman, both in terms of human capacity and infrastructure in order to combat maladministration and promote the principles of transparency, good governance and equal treatment. In order to achieve these goals, citizens’ accessibility to the Ombudsman services is crucial. Citizens’ accessibility will be improved through an updated IT infrastructure as well as with active presence of the Ombudsman in the regions.
The beneficiaries of the programme are public entities at different levels of public administration, the general public sector (private sector included) - recipients of the relevant public services, since the Programme aims at an accountable, inclusive and transparent government in order to contribute to a societal change.
How will the programmes strengthen bilateral relations?
Although the programme does not have a Donor Programme Partner (DPP), strengthening bilateral relations will be sought through bilateral partnerships at project level. In this context, cooperation of the Project Promoters will be sought with Norwegian government institutions such as Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, Norwegian Agency for Public Management and e-government, Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, Norwegian Parliamentary Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children. All relative meetings are being prepared for instance the GO has been in contact with the Norwegian Parliamentary Ombudsman.
The aforementioned cooperation will help Greek authorities to improve their knowledge in their fields of competence, to promote the exchange of good practices with DPPs and to develop other joint initiatives with them as well. This cooperation is meant to be continued even after the completion of the programme, aiming at strengthening the relations between the Donor States and Greece.
Download the full programme agreement for more detailed information about the programme.