Social Sustainability
#25Key Findings
Greece scores relatively poorly in international comparison (rank 25) with regard to social sustainability.
The public education system is still struggling to recover from austerity measures, and remains underfunded and understaffed. Education programs are not well adapted to labor market needs. Poverty levels remain high. The public healthcare system is also underfunded, with significant staff shortages, particularly in rural areas.
Greece has made strides in gender equality, but traditional cultural gender norms persist. Women continue to bear most of the responsibility for family care. The childcare system relies heavily on EU funding and informal family support. Maternity leave provisions have been expanded. Child poverty remains a persistent concern.
The pension system prioritizes the interests of middle-aged and older groups, often at the expense of younger workers. The country has struggled to manage repeated unpredictable inflows of migrants. Capacities have improved, but the state offers few integration programs for migrants, and most are granted only limited access to the labor market.
The public education system is still struggling to recover from austerity measures, and remains underfunded and understaffed. Education programs are not well adapted to labor market needs. Poverty levels remain high. The public healthcare system is also underfunded, with significant staff shortages, particularly in rural areas.
Greece has made strides in gender equality, but traditional cultural gender norms persist. Women continue to bear most of the responsibility for family care. The childcare system relies heavily on EU funding and informal family support. Maternity leave provisions have been expanded. Child poverty remains a persistent concern.
The pension system prioritizes the interests of middle-aged and older groups, often at the expense of younger workers. The country has struggled to manage repeated unpredictable inflows of migrants. Capacities have improved, but the state offers few integration programs for migrants, and most are granted only limited access to the labor market.
Graph View
Graph View
To what extent do policies and regulations in the education system hinder or facilitate high-quality education and training?
10
9
9
Education policies are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
8
7
6
7
6
Education policies are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
5
4
3
4
3
Education policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
2
1
1
Education policies are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
The public education system is underfunded and understaffed due to the austerity policies adopted during the economic crisis. The education system has not recovered since then and continues to lack necessary financial and human resources. Greece’s public expenditure on education, at 4.1% of GDP in 2021, is below the EU average (Eurostat 2023). There is no systematic monitoring of labor market demands, and education and training programs are not adapted to labor market shifts.
The share of the Greek population with tertiary attainment (ISCED 5 and above, age group 25 – 64 years) rapidly increased from 28% in 2014 to 35% in 2022. Still, Greece remains a laggard in terms of upper second and tertiary attainment (Eurostat 2022a, OECD 2020). Moreover, even though Greece has one of the best ratios of pupils to teachers (Eurostat 2021a) and the school drop-out rate in Greece is not high (Eurostat 2022b), the country ranks last among all EU nations regarding results in PISA tests (PISA 2022). Additionally, the share of people aged 16 to 74 who have at least basic digital skills is below the EU average (Eurostat 2021b).
Furthermore, the framework conditions of the education system do not facilitate the recruitment of highly skilled educators. There are many disincentives to embarking on a teaching career. Teachers and university professors generally earn meager incomes. Primary and secondary school teachers can be posted at schools in remote areas. The only incentives for a career in teaching are that teachers in public schools and universities have the status of permanent civil servants and enjoy long summer breaks, as the school period starts in mid-September and ends in late May.
Individuals, however, have access to lifelong learning opportunities at an affordable cost. Public universities also offer short- and long-term courses as part of training and continuing professional development.
Education for sustainable development is integrated into school curricula, primarily at the primary and junior high school levels, but the relevant subjects are considered a lesser priority compared to the classical subjects of language, history, religious studies, and mathematics. In Greek universities, there are relatively few departments of environmental studies, while sustainable development topics are not part of the core curriculum of the other sciences and humanities.
Nevertheless, the government has rolled out plans to address the deficiencies noted above. The government’s Greece 2.0 plan, funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, dedicates the bulk of funds earmarked for the third pillar, that is, the pillar for employment, skills, and social cohesion – to “education, vocational education and training, and skills” (Greek Government 2021). The Ministry of Education’s action plan for 2023 provides for targeted measures to upgrade all three levels of education, plus vocational training and lifelong learning (Ministry of Education 2023).
Citations:
Eurostat. 2021a. “Ratio of pupils and students to teachers and academic staff by education level and programme orientation.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/EDUC_UOE_PERP04/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2021. “Share of individuals having at least basic digital skills, by sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_04_70/default/table?lang=en.
Eurostat. 2022. “Population by educational attainment level, sex and age (%) – main indicators.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/EDAT_LFSE_03/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Early leavers from education and training by sex.” https://ec.euro
pa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_04_10/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2023. “Government expenditure on education.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/SEPDF/cache/42735.pdf
Greek Government. 2021. “Greece 2.0 – Pillars & Components.” https://greece20.gov.gr/en/pillars-and-components/
Ministry of Education. 2023. “Annual Action Plan 2023.” https://www.government.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/%CE%95%CE%A0%CE%99%CE%A4%CE%95%CE%9B%CE%99%CE%9A%CE%97_%CE%A3%CE%A5%CE%9D%CE%9F%CE%A8%CE%97_%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%94_2023_%CE%A5%CE%A0%CE%91%CE%99%CE%98.pdf
OECD. 2020. “Educational attainment and labour-force status.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=EAG_NEAC
PISA. 2022. “PISA 2022 Results (Volume I) - The State of Learning and Equity.”
Education, Tables I.2.1 to Table I.2.2”, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_53f23881-en https://stat.link/xluqor
The share of the Greek population with tertiary attainment (ISCED 5 and above, age group 25 – 64 years) rapidly increased from 28% in 2014 to 35% in 2022. Still, Greece remains a laggard in terms of upper second and tertiary attainment (Eurostat 2022a, OECD 2020). Moreover, even though Greece has one of the best ratios of pupils to teachers (Eurostat 2021a) and the school drop-out rate in Greece is not high (Eurostat 2022b), the country ranks last among all EU nations regarding results in PISA tests (PISA 2022). Additionally, the share of people aged 16 to 74 who have at least basic digital skills is below the EU average (Eurostat 2021b).
Furthermore, the framework conditions of the education system do not facilitate the recruitment of highly skilled educators. There are many disincentives to embarking on a teaching career. Teachers and university professors generally earn meager incomes. Primary and secondary school teachers can be posted at schools in remote areas. The only incentives for a career in teaching are that teachers in public schools and universities have the status of permanent civil servants and enjoy long summer breaks, as the school period starts in mid-September and ends in late May.
Individuals, however, have access to lifelong learning opportunities at an affordable cost. Public universities also offer short- and long-term courses as part of training and continuing professional development.
Education for sustainable development is integrated into school curricula, primarily at the primary and junior high school levels, but the relevant subjects are considered a lesser priority compared to the classical subjects of language, history, religious studies, and mathematics. In Greek universities, there are relatively few departments of environmental studies, while sustainable development topics are not part of the core curriculum of the other sciences and humanities.
Nevertheless, the government has rolled out plans to address the deficiencies noted above. The government’s Greece 2.0 plan, funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, dedicates the bulk of funds earmarked for the third pillar, that is, the pillar for employment, skills, and social cohesion – to “education, vocational education and training, and skills” (Greek Government 2021). The Ministry of Education’s action plan for 2023 provides for targeted measures to upgrade all three levels of education, plus vocational training and lifelong learning (Ministry of Education 2023).
Citations:
Eurostat. 2021a. “Ratio of pupils and students to teachers and academic staff by education level and programme orientation.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/EDUC_UOE_PERP04/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2021. “Share of individuals having at least basic digital skills, by sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_04_70/default/table?lang=en.
Eurostat. 2022. “Population by educational attainment level, sex and age (%) – main indicators.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/EDAT_LFSE_03/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Early leavers from education and training by sex.” https://ec.euro
pa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_04_10/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2023. “Government expenditure on education.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/SEPDF/cache/42735.pdf
Greek Government. 2021. “Greece 2.0 – Pillars & Components.” https://greece20.gov.gr/en/pillars-and-components/
Ministry of Education. 2023. “Annual Action Plan 2023.” https://www.government.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/%CE%95%CE%A0%CE%99%CE%A4%CE%95%CE%9B%CE%99%CE%9A%CE%97_%CE%A3%CE%A5%CE%9D%CE%9F%CE%A8%CE%97_%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%94_2023_%CE%A5%CE%A0%CE%91%CE%99%CE%98.pdf
OECD. 2020. “Educational attainment and labour-force status.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=EAG_NEAC
PISA. 2022. “PISA 2022 Results (Volume I) - The State of Learning and Equity.”
Education, Tables I.2.1 to Table I.2.2”, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_53f23881-en https://stat.link/xluqor
To what extent does the current policy approach in the education system hinder or facilitate equitable access to high-quality education and training?
10
9
9
Education policies are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
8
7
6
7
6
Education policies are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
5
4
3
4
3
Education policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
2
1
1
Education policies are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
The share of Greek children (ages 3 – 5) in early childhood education and care increased rapidly from 77% in 2015 to 81% in 2022. However, compared to other OECD countries, Greece remains a laggard in this regard (Eurostat 2022a).
However, the education system ensures equitable access to all levels of education, regardless of socioeconomic background, through tuition-free primary, secondary, and tertiary education. All Greek universities are public and do not charge any tuition for undergraduate or PhD programs.
The education system offers second-chance opportunities for individuals with low skill levels upon leaving formal education. For instance, there are “second chance” public schools for early school leavers who did not complete secondary education. Additionally, the Hellenic Open University – a public institution modeled after the Open University of the UK – provides university-level educational opportunities for high school graduates who entered the labor market directly rather than proceeding to tertiary education.
The educational opportunities and achievements of pupils vary according to their socioeconomic background. In the largest Greek cities, numerous private primary and secondary schools exist. Parents who can afford it often enroll their children in these private schools rather than the local public schools in their neighborhoods. The infrastructure and effective hours of schooling in private schools are almost always superior to those in public schools. Evidence shows the impact of socioeconomic status on educational achievement. In terms of PISA tests, Greece demonstrates one of the strongest associations between results in mathematics and economic, cultural, and social status (ESCS; PISA 2022) compared to other EU countries.
Success in the competitive entrance examinations to public universities, which 18-year-old students take, also depends on socioeconomic status. Public schools do not adequately prepare students for these highly competitive exams. To increase their chances of success, students from middle- and upper-class families enroll in fee-supported private cramming schools, where they receive more systematic instruction than they do in public high schools.
To sum up, although education in Greece is provided free of charge at all levels, allowing even the poorest strata to receive an education, the current policy approach in the education system hinders rather than facilitates equitable access to high-quality education and training.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022. “Children in Formal Childcare or Education by Age Group and Duration – % Over the Population of Each Age Group – EU-SILC Survey.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ilc_caindformal/default/table?lang=en
PISA. 2022. “PISA 2022 Results (Volume I), The State of Learning and Equity in Education, Figure I.4.13.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_53f23881-en https://stat.link/4q3apj
The website of the Hellenic Open University (EAP) is https://www.eap.gr/en/
However, the education system ensures equitable access to all levels of education, regardless of socioeconomic background, through tuition-free primary, secondary, and tertiary education. All Greek universities are public and do not charge any tuition for undergraduate or PhD programs.
The education system offers second-chance opportunities for individuals with low skill levels upon leaving formal education. For instance, there are “second chance” public schools for early school leavers who did not complete secondary education. Additionally, the Hellenic Open University – a public institution modeled after the Open University of the UK – provides university-level educational opportunities for high school graduates who entered the labor market directly rather than proceeding to tertiary education.
The educational opportunities and achievements of pupils vary according to their socioeconomic background. In the largest Greek cities, numerous private primary and secondary schools exist. Parents who can afford it often enroll their children in these private schools rather than the local public schools in their neighborhoods. The infrastructure and effective hours of schooling in private schools are almost always superior to those in public schools. Evidence shows the impact of socioeconomic status on educational achievement. In terms of PISA tests, Greece demonstrates one of the strongest associations between results in mathematics and economic, cultural, and social status (ESCS; PISA 2022) compared to other EU countries.
Success in the competitive entrance examinations to public universities, which 18-year-old students take, also depends on socioeconomic status. Public schools do not adequately prepare students for these highly competitive exams. To increase their chances of success, students from middle- and upper-class families enroll in fee-supported private cramming schools, where they receive more systematic instruction than they do in public high schools.
To sum up, although education in Greece is provided free of charge at all levels, allowing even the poorest strata to receive an education, the current policy approach in the education system hinders rather than facilitates equitable access to high-quality education and training.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022. “Children in Formal Childcare or Education by Age Group and Duration – % Over the Population of Each Age Group – EU-SILC Survey.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ilc_caindformal/default/table?lang=en
PISA. 2022. “PISA 2022 Results (Volume I), The State of Learning and Equity in Education, Figure I.4.13.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_53f23881-en https://stat.link/4q3apj
The website of the Hellenic Open University (EAP) is https://www.eap.gr/en/
Graph View
To what extent do existing institutions ensure equal access to essential services and basic income support for those in need?
10
9
9
Existing essential public services and basic income support are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
8
7
6
7
6
Existing essential public services and basic income support are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
5
4
3
4
3
Existing essential public services and basic income support are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
2
1
1
Existing essential public services and basic income support are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
Greece has made progress over time in meeting basic human needs. Between 2015 and 2022, the relative poverty rate decreased from 21% to 19% of the population. However, poverty in Greece remains higher than the EU average of 16.5% (Eurostat 2022a).
Additionally, Greece is among the EU countries with a significant proportion of the population experiencing persistent poverty, where individuals have a disposable income below the risk-of-poverty threshold in the current year and at least two of the preceding three years (Eurostat 2022b). The share of Greeks who are neither in employment nor in education and training is also among the highest in the EU (Eurostat 2022c).
Despite these challenges, Greek institutions are proactive in informing eligible individuals about their rights to access essential services and basic income support. The National Agency for Social Insurance (EFKA) at the central government level, along with local municipalities through their social welfare services, are responsible for providing social assistance. Another central government agency, OPEKA, is tasked with informing individuals about welfare transfers, such as child benefits, and distributing allowances accordingly.
OPEKA also administers a means-tested minimum income guarantee, which is provided to approximately 200,000 households in Greece. This guarantee includes not only a cash benefit but also benefits-in-kind, access to social welfare services, and referrals to active labor policies aimed at social inclusion and reintegration into the labor market (OPEKA 2024). The eligibility criteria for this minimum income guarantee also determine access to essential services like water and energy (European Social Policy Network 2020: 126).
In summary, Greece has developed a national strategy for social inclusion and poverty alleviation (Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs 2022), which is integrated with other national plans addressing housing, energy, and digital skills. For example, a set of measures is in place to support housing for young and vulnerable groups (Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family 2024).
These strategies and plans are coordinated by the General Secretariat of Government Coordination, under the Presidency of the Government. The Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, along with its branch organizations such as the National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA), monitors the implementation of the strategy and provides emergency social care.
Citations:
European Social Policy Network. 2020. Access to Essential Services for People on Low Incomes in Europe. Brussels: European Commission. https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9b16d965-090e-11eb-bc07-01aa75ed71a1
Eurostat. 2022a. “At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold, age and sex – EU-SILC and ECHP surveys.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Persistent at-risk-of-poverty rate by sex and age – EU-SILC and ECHP surveys.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI21/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Young people neither in employment nor in education and training by sex, age and educational attainment level (NEET rates).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/edat_lfse_21/default/table?lang=en
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. 2022. “National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Alleviation” (in Greek). https://ypergasias.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/%CE%95%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%A3%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%9A%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%88%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%B7-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CE%AF%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%A6%CF%84%CF%8E%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%82-.pdf
Μinistry of Social Cohesion and Family. 2024. “Annual Action Plan 2024.” https://gsco.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%94_%CE%A5%CE%9A%CE%9F%CE%99%CE%A3%CE%9F_e_l.pdf
OPEKA. 2024. “Minimum Income Guarantee” (in Greek). https://opeka.gr/elachisto-engyimeno-eisodima/
The website of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family is https://minscfa.gov.gr/
The website of the National Agency for Social Insurance (EFKA) is https://www.efka.gov.gr/el
The website of the public agency entrusted to make social transfers (OPEKA) is https://opeka.gr/
The website of the National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA) is https://ekka.org.gr/index.php/en/
The website of the General Secretariat of Government Coordination in which this unit collects, makes publicly available and coordinates all national strategies and plans is https://gsco.gov.gr/esd/
Additionally, Greece is among the EU countries with a significant proportion of the population experiencing persistent poverty, where individuals have a disposable income below the risk-of-poverty threshold in the current year and at least two of the preceding three years (Eurostat 2022b). The share of Greeks who are neither in employment nor in education and training is also among the highest in the EU (Eurostat 2022c).
Despite these challenges, Greek institutions are proactive in informing eligible individuals about their rights to access essential services and basic income support. The National Agency for Social Insurance (EFKA) at the central government level, along with local municipalities through their social welfare services, are responsible for providing social assistance. Another central government agency, OPEKA, is tasked with informing individuals about welfare transfers, such as child benefits, and distributing allowances accordingly.
OPEKA also administers a means-tested minimum income guarantee, which is provided to approximately 200,000 households in Greece. This guarantee includes not only a cash benefit but also benefits-in-kind, access to social welfare services, and referrals to active labor policies aimed at social inclusion and reintegration into the labor market (OPEKA 2024). The eligibility criteria for this minimum income guarantee also determine access to essential services like water and energy (European Social Policy Network 2020: 126).
In summary, Greece has developed a national strategy for social inclusion and poverty alleviation (Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs 2022), which is integrated with other national plans addressing housing, energy, and digital skills. For example, a set of measures is in place to support housing for young and vulnerable groups (Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family 2024).
These strategies and plans are coordinated by the General Secretariat of Government Coordination, under the Presidency of the Government. The Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, along with its branch organizations such as the National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA), monitors the implementation of the strategy and provides emergency social care.
Citations:
European Social Policy Network. 2020. Access to Essential Services for People on Low Incomes in Europe. Brussels: European Commission. https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9b16d965-090e-11eb-bc07-01aa75ed71a1
Eurostat. 2022a. “At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold, age and sex – EU-SILC and ECHP surveys.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Persistent at-risk-of-poverty rate by sex and age – EU-SILC and ECHP surveys.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI21/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Young people neither in employment nor in education and training by sex, age and educational attainment level (NEET rates).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/edat_lfse_21/default/table?lang=en
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. 2022. “National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Alleviation” (in Greek). https://ypergasias.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/%CE%95%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%A3%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%9A%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%88%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%B7-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CE%9C%CE%B5%CE%AF%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%A6%CF%84%CF%8E%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%82-.pdf
Μinistry of Social Cohesion and Family. 2024. “Annual Action Plan 2024.” https://gsco.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%94_%CE%A5%CE%9A%CE%9F%CE%99%CE%A3%CE%9F_e_l.pdf
OPEKA. 2024. “Minimum Income Guarantee” (in Greek). https://opeka.gr/elachisto-engyimeno-eisodima/
The website of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family is https://minscfa.gov.gr/
The website of the National Agency for Social Insurance (EFKA) is https://www.efka.gov.gr/el
The website of the public agency entrusted to make social transfers (OPEKA) is https://opeka.gr/
The website of the National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA) is https://ekka.org.gr/index.php/en/
The website of the General Secretariat of Government Coordination in which this unit collects, makes publicly available and coordinates all national strategies and plans is https://gsco.gov.gr/esd/
To what extent do existing institutions and policies ensure high-quality services and basic income support?
10
9
9
Existing essential public services and basic income support are fully aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
8
7
6
7
6
Existing essential public services and basic income support are largely aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
5
4
3
4
3
Existing essential public services and basic income support are only somewhat aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
2
1
1
Existing essential public services and basic income support are not at all aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
Greece is close to the OECD average in terms of the adequacy of Guaranteed Minimum Income benefits (OECD 2022). However, the country ranks at the bottom of the EU in terms of material and social deprivation and the inability of individuals to keep their homes adequately warm (Eurostat 2022a, 2022b), indicating that current policy measures are insufficient.
Although Greece ranks average among EU countries in reducing the risk of poverty through social transfers (Eurostat 2022c), it is not surprising that Greeks rank low in life satisfaction among OECD countries (World Happiness Report 2023). Greece also scores poorly in life satisfaction as measured by the OECD’s “Better Life” Index (OECD 2023). Additionally, Greece provides minimal financial support or benefits-in-kind for meeting basic human needs in areas such as digital infrastructure and financial services.
While various factors contribute to Greece’s low performance on these subjective indices, evidence suggests that the provision of basic income benefits, intended to meet essential human needs, is significantly lacking.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022a. “Severe Material and Social Deprivation Rate by Age and Sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDSD11/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Inability to Keep Home Adequately Warm – EU-SILC Survey.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDES01/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022c. “At-risk-of-poverty Rate by Poverty Threshold, Age and Sex – EU-SILC and ECHP Surveys.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
OECD. 2022. “Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefits as a Percentage of the Median Disposable Income in the Country.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=IA
World Happiness Report. 2023. “Variable ‘Life Ladder’.” https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/#appendices-and-data
https://happiness-report.s3.amazonaw
s.com/2022/Appendix_2_Data_for_Figure_2.1.xls
https://happiness-eport.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/Da
taForTable2.1.xls).
OECD. 2023. “Better Life Index.” https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/life-satisfaction/
Although Greece ranks average among EU countries in reducing the risk of poverty through social transfers (Eurostat 2022c), it is not surprising that Greeks rank low in life satisfaction among OECD countries (World Happiness Report 2023). Greece also scores poorly in life satisfaction as measured by the OECD’s “Better Life” Index (OECD 2023). Additionally, Greece provides minimal financial support or benefits-in-kind for meeting basic human needs in areas such as digital infrastructure and financial services.
While various factors contribute to Greece’s low performance on these subjective indices, evidence suggests that the provision of basic income benefits, intended to meet essential human needs, is significantly lacking.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022a. “Severe Material and Social Deprivation Rate by Age and Sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDSD11/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Inability to Keep Home Adequately Warm – EU-SILC Survey.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDES01/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022c. “At-risk-of-poverty Rate by Poverty Threshold, Age and Sex – EU-SILC and ECHP Surveys.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
OECD. 2022. “Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefits as a Percentage of the Median Disposable Income in the Country.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=IA
World Happiness Report. 2023. “Variable ‘Life Ladder’.” https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/#appendices-and-data
https://happiness-report.s3.amazonaw
s.com/2022/Appendix_2_Data_for_Figure_2.1.xls
https://happiness-eport.s3.amazonaws.com/2022/Da
taForTable2.1.xls).
OECD. 2023. “Better Life Index.” https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/life-satisfaction/
Graph View
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate health system resilience?
10
9
9
Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
8
7
6
7
6
Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
5
4
3
4
3
Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
2
1
1
Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
During the Greek crisis of the previous decade and more recently, health policy has hindered the resilience of the health system. Although Greece’s healthy life expectancy (71 years) is above the OECD average (WHO 2019), the country is among the lowest spenders on healthcare as a percentage of GDP and on preventive health programs (OECD 2022).
The public healthcare system is underfunded and understaffed. However, the government has pledged to increase healthcare spending and hire 6,000 doctors and nurses for the country’s 130 public hospitals. These measures aim to improve the availability of health products and services and address rising costs due to an aging population and advancements in medical technology.
Despite these efforts, transparency in health services remains a concern. Chronic mismanagement of public hospitals and the high demand for private health services, including diagnostic tests, have led to Greece having the highest number of computed tomography scanners among OECD countries (OECD 2021).
The challenges of managing the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s responsiveness to demands for better public healthcare have prompted policy shifts aimed at enhancing the resilience of the public health system.
The government’s priorities now include the digital transformation of the public healthcare system and early diagnosis (International Trade Association 2023). A national strategy for healthcare reform, led by the Ministry of Health, is outlined in the “National Action Plan for Public Health 2021–2025” (Ministry of Health 2021).
The digital transformation plan, financially supported by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, is part of the “Greece 2.0” plan and includes five specific programs: National Digital Patient Health Record, Cancer Treatment Digital Transformation Program, Improvement of Hospital Digital Readiness, Telemedicine, and National Insurance Fund Digital Transformation (Greek Government 2022).
In summary, despite lingering problems, health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
Citations:
Greek Government. 2021. “Greece 2.0 – Pillars & Components.” https://greece20.gov.gr/en/pillars-and-components/
Μinistry of Health. 2021. “National Action Plan for Public Health 2021-2025.” https://www.moh.gov.gr/articles/health/domes-kai-draseis-gia-thn-ygeia/ethnika-sxedia-drashs/8776-ethniko-sxedio-drashs-gia-th-dhmosia-ygeia-2021-2025
OECD. 2021. “Health Care Resources.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_REAC
OECD. 2022. “Health Expenditure and Financing.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SHA.
WHO. 2019. “Healthy Life Expectancy – Data by Country.” https://www.who.int/data/gho/d
ata/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/gho-ghe-hale-healthy-life-expectancy-at-birth
The public healthcare system is underfunded and understaffed. However, the government has pledged to increase healthcare spending and hire 6,000 doctors and nurses for the country’s 130 public hospitals. These measures aim to improve the availability of health products and services and address rising costs due to an aging population and advancements in medical technology.
Despite these efforts, transparency in health services remains a concern. Chronic mismanagement of public hospitals and the high demand for private health services, including diagnostic tests, have led to Greece having the highest number of computed tomography scanners among OECD countries (OECD 2021).
The challenges of managing the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s responsiveness to demands for better public healthcare have prompted policy shifts aimed at enhancing the resilience of the public health system.
The government’s priorities now include the digital transformation of the public healthcare system and early diagnosis (International Trade Association 2023). A national strategy for healthcare reform, led by the Ministry of Health, is outlined in the “National Action Plan for Public Health 2021–2025” (Ministry of Health 2021).
The digital transformation plan, financially supported by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, is part of the “Greece 2.0” plan and includes five specific programs: National Digital Patient Health Record, Cancer Treatment Digital Transformation Program, Improvement of Hospital Digital Readiness, Telemedicine, and National Insurance Fund Digital Transformation (Greek Government 2022).
In summary, despite lingering problems, health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
Citations:
Greek Government. 2021. “Greece 2.0 – Pillars & Components.” https://greece20.gov.gr/en/pillars-and-components/
Μinistry of Health. 2021. “National Action Plan for Public Health 2021-2025.” https://www.moh.gov.gr/articles/health/domes-kai-draseis-gia-thn-ygeia/ethnika-sxedia-drashs/8776-ethniko-sxedio-drashs-gia-th-dhmosia-ygeia-2021-2025
OECD. 2021. “Health Care Resources.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_REAC
OECD. 2022. “Health Expenditure and Financing.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SHA.
WHO. 2019. “Healthy Life Expectancy – Data by Country.” https://www.who.int/data/gho/d
ata/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/gho-ghe-hale-healthy-life-expectancy-at-birth
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate achieving high-quality healthcare?
10
9
9
Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
8
7
6
7
6
Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
5
4
3
4
3
Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
2
1
1
Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
The quality of healthcare in Greece is far from assured. Although Greece has 67,000 practicing doctors, the country has fewer doctors and significantly fewer hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants compared to other OECD countries (OECD 2021). Greece also faces a chronic shortage of nurses – a low-status, low-paid job – and medical personnel in rural or remote areas, as most doctors prefer to work in Athens and Thessaloniki, the two largest cities. In these hospitals, there are long waiting lists for emergency ward admissions and surgeries, leading to delays in receiving timely care.
The quality of treatment in public hospitals varies significantly, depending on available infrastructure and the quality of medical personnel. Additionally, patients’ purchasing power influences the volume of unrecorded and untaxed transactions with doctors (under-the-table out-of-pocket payments).
Furthermore, health policy has not historically prioritized preventive care. Only recently has the government begun reorienting the health system toward prevention, focusing on breast, cervical, and colon cancers, cardiovascular diseases, childhood obesity, and prevention programs for adolescents and older adults (Ministry of Health 2023).
Citations:
OECD. 2021. “Health Care Resources.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_REAC
Ministry of Health. 2023. “Prevention Programs.” https://www.moh.gov.gr/articles/health/dieythynsh-prwtobathmias-frontidas-ygeias/draseis-kai-programmata-agwghs-ygeias/programmata-prolhpshs
The quality of treatment in public hospitals varies significantly, depending on available infrastructure and the quality of medical personnel. Additionally, patients’ purchasing power influences the volume of unrecorded and untaxed transactions with doctors (under-the-table out-of-pocket payments).
Furthermore, health policy has not historically prioritized preventive care. Only recently has the government begun reorienting the health system toward prevention, focusing on breast, cervical, and colon cancers, cardiovascular diseases, childhood obesity, and prevention programs for adolescents and older adults (Ministry of Health 2023).
Citations:
OECD. 2021. “Health Care Resources.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_REAC
Ministry of Health. 2023. “Prevention Programs.” https://www.moh.gov.gr/articles/health/dieythynsh-prwtobathmias-frontidas-ygeias/draseis-kai-programmata-agwghs-ygeias/programmata-prolhpshs
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate equitable access to high-quality healthcare?
10
9
9
Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
8
7
6
7
6
Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
5
4
3
4
3
Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
2
1
1
Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
Equitable healthcare provision in Greece remains suboptimal. The country ranks below the OECD average in infant mortality (World Bank 2021), and the perceived healthcare status of Greeks varies significantly by income group (Eurostat 2022a). Greece also ranks among the worst EU countries for self-reported unmet medical care needs (Eurostat 2022b), with only slight improvements over time.
Additionally, Greeks who can afford it often rely on the private healthcare system, which has expanded in urban areas. About 5% of all healthcare spending in Greece comes directly from patients through out-of-pocket payments (OECD 2022), making Greece one of the worst performers among OECD countries in this regard. The healthcare system is notably uneven, with most facilities and medical personnel concentrated in the largest cities, exacerbating regional disparities in healthcare access.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022. “Self-perceived health by sex, age and income quintile.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/da
tabrowser/view/hlth_silc_10/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Self-reported unmet need for medical care by sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/HLTH_SILC_08__custom_6429904/default/table?lang=en
OECD. 2022. “Health at a Glance: Europe 2022 – Financial Hardship and Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/cf40210d-en.pdf?expires=1705757565&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=8E16481FF8767301F6B27B1B743557C9
World Bank. 2021. “World Development Indicators, Mortality Rate, Infant (Per 1,000 Live Births).”
https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators
Additionally, Greeks who can afford it often rely on the private healthcare system, which has expanded in urban areas. About 5% of all healthcare spending in Greece comes directly from patients through out-of-pocket payments (OECD 2022), making Greece one of the worst performers among OECD countries in this regard. The healthcare system is notably uneven, with most facilities and medical personnel concentrated in the largest cities, exacerbating regional disparities in healthcare access.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022. “Self-perceived health by sex, age and income quintile.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/da
tabrowser/view/hlth_silc_10/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Self-reported unmet need for medical care by sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/HLTH_SILC_08__custom_6429904/default/table?lang=en
OECD. 2022. “Health at a Glance: Europe 2022 – Financial Hardship and Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/cf40210d-en.pdf?expires=1705757565&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=8E16481FF8767301F6B27B1B743557C9
World Bank. 2021. “World Development Indicators, Mortality Rate, Infant (Per 1,000 Live Births).”
https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators
Graph View
How committed is the government to ensuring gender equality in all respects?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
The constitution of Greece enshrines gender equality as a fundamental principle and mandates that the state eliminate any barriers to its realization (Article 4 of the Constitution). Greece has a national action plan for gender equality, which is tied to specific goals such as reducing violence against women, increasing female labor participation, enhancing women’s roles in decision-making positions, and integrating gender equality into sectoral public policies (General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights 2021; formerly the General Secretariat for Gender Equality). These broad objectives are translated into concrete action plans within the strategy.
Existing policies reflect a society deeply rooted in traditional culture – a culture historically dominated by men and centered around the traditional family structure. However, this cultural landscape is evolving rapidly, as evidenced by the government’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage, an initiative introduced in early 2024. While this move has garnered widespread approval across Greek society, it has faced opposition from traditional institutions, such as the Greek Orthodox Church.
Despite these cultural shifts, Greece’s traditional, male-dominated culture continues to influence its performance on certain indicators. For instance, Greece ranks among the lowest countries for women’s participation in the national parliament (World Bank 2022). Additionally, women in Greece are significantly more at risk than men of falling into poverty (Eurostat 2022a) or social exclusion (Eurostat 2022b).
On the positive side, Greece performs well in areas such as the gender pay gap (OECD 2022a), the pension pay gap (Eurostat 2022c), and women’s participation in tertiary education (OECD 2022b). However, challenges remain, as women are more likely than men to drop out of school (Eurostat 2022d), and their medical needs are often less adequately met compared to those of men (Eurostat 2022e). In summary, while Greece has made progress in promoting gender equality, the results are still mixed.
The Greek state has shown signs of pursuing gender equality more systematically than in the past. The General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights, the lead government unit promoting gender equality, uses numerous indicators from the “Beijing Platform for Action,” which are also employed by the EU and other international organizations, to monitor institutional compliance with gender equality (European Institute for Gender Equality 2021). This Secretariat operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family. Meanwhile, the General Secretariat for Government Coordination, part of the Presidency of the Government, facilitates interministerial policy coordination by consolidating the national action plans of all ministries and monitoring their implementation.
Citations:
Euronews. 2024. “Greece’s Government Set to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage with the Backing of the Opposition.” https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/12/greeces-government-set-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage-with-the-backing-of-the-opposition
European Institute for Gender Equality. 2021. “Greece.” https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/countries/greece
Eurostat. 2022a. “At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold, age and sex – EU-SILC and ECHP surveys.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “People at Risk of Poverty and Social Exclusion by Age and Sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PEPS01N/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Gender Pension Gap by Age Group – EU-SILC Survey.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PNP13__custom_6268584/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Early leavers from education and training by sex.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_04_10/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022e. “Self-reported unmet need for medical care by sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/da
tabrowser/view/HLTH_SILC_08__custom_6429904/default/table?lang=en
General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights. 2021. “National Action Plan for Gender Equality.” https://isotita.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%94%CE%99%CE%A6-2021-2025.pdf
OECD. 2022a. “Gender Pay Gap – Decile Ratios of Gross Earnings.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.asp
x?DataSetCode=DEC_I
(OECD. 2022. “Educational Attainment and Labour-Force Status.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=EAG_NEAC)
World Bank. 2021. “Proportion of Seats Held by Women in National Parliaments (%).” https://databank.worldbank.org/reports.aspx?source=gender-statistics
World Bank. 2022. “Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%).” https://databank.worldbank.org/reports.aspx?source=gender-statistics
The website of the General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights is https://isotita.gr/en/home/
The website of the General Secretariat of Government Coordination in which this unit collects, makes publicly available and coordinates all national strategies and plans is https://gsco.gov.gr/esd/
Existing policies reflect a society deeply rooted in traditional culture – a culture historically dominated by men and centered around the traditional family structure. However, this cultural landscape is evolving rapidly, as evidenced by the government’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage, an initiative introduced in early 2024. While this move has garnered widespread approval across Greek society, it has faced opposition from traditional institutions, such as the Greek Orthodox Church.
Despite these cultural shifts, Greece’s traditional, male-dominated culture continues to influence its performance on certain indicators. For instance, Greece ranks among the lowest countries for women’s participation in the national parliament (World Bank 2022). Additionally, women in Greece are significantly more at risk than men of falling into poverty (Eurostat 2022a) or social exclusion (Eurostat 2022b).
On the positive side, Greece performs well in areas such as the gender pay gap (OECD 2022a), the pension pay gap (Eurostat 2022c), and women’s participation in tertiary education (OECD 2022b). However, challenges remain, as women are more likely than men to drop out of school (Eurostat 2022d), and their medical needs are often less adequately met compared to those of men (Eurostat 2022e). In summary, while Greece has made progress in promoting gender equality, the results are still mixed.
The Greek state has shown signs of pursuing gender equality more systematically than in the past. The General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights, the lead government unit promoting gender equality, uses numerous indicators from the “Beijing Platform for Action,” which are also employed by the EU and other international organizations, to monitor institutional compliance with gender equality (European Institute for Gender Equality 2021). This Secretariat operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family. Meanwhile, the General Secretariat for Government Coordination, part of the Presidency of the Government, facilitates interministerial policy coordination by consolidating the national action plans of all ministries and monitoring their implementation.
Citations:
Euronews. 2024. “Greece’s Government Set to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage with the Backing of the Opposition.” https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/12/greeces-government-set-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage-with-the-backing-of-the-opposition
European Institute for Gender Equality. 2021. “Greece.” https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/countries/greece
Eurostat. 2022a. “At-risk-of-poverty rate by poverty threshold, age and sex – EU-SILC and ECHP surveys.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “People at Risk of Poverty and Social Exclusion by Age and Sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PEPS01N/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Gender Pension Gap by Age Group – EU-SILC Survey.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PNP13__custom_6268584/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Early leavers from education and training by sex.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_04_10/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022e. “Self-reported unmet need for medical care by sex.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/da
tabrowser/view/HLTH_SILC_08__custom_6429904/default/table?lang=en
General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights. 2021. “National Action Plan for Gender Equality.” https://isotita.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%94%CE%99%CE%A6-2021-2025.pdf
OECD. 2022a. “Gender Pay Gap – Decile Ratios of Gross Earnings.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.asp
x?DataSetCode=DEC_I
(OECD. 2022. “Educational Attainment and Labour-Force Status.” https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=EAG_NEAC)
World Bank. 2021. “Proportion of Seats Held by Women in National Parliaments (%).” https://databank.worldbank.org/reports.aspx?source=gender-statistics
World Bank. 2022. “Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%).” https://databank.worldbank.org/reports.aspx?source=gender-statistics
The website of the General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights is https://isotita.gr/en/home/
The website of the General Secretariat of Government Coordination in which this unit collects, makes publicly available and coordinates all national strategies and plans is https://gsco.gov.gr/esd/
Graph View
To what extent does the current family policy approach support or hinder unpaid family care work?
10
9
9
Family policies are fully aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
8
7
6
7
6
Family policies are largely aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
5
4
3
4
3
Family policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
2
1
1
Family policies are not at all aligned with the goal of creating family-friendly conditions.
Greece’s family support system includes maternity leave provisions that ensure job protection and adequate wage replacement, in line with international standards. In 2021–2022, new and improved legislation was adopted in this policy area. There are two types of maternity leave: “basic” leave, which lasts 17 weeks, and “special” leave, available nine months after the “basic” leave. Additionally, each parent is entitled to four months of parental leave per child. In 2022, the “special” leave, initially available only to public sector employees, was extended to private sector employees and increased from six to nine months (Hatzivarnava and Karamesini 2023).
Greece still relies on EU funding for nursery services provided by local governments. However, the country ranks below the EU average in terms of the percentage of very young children (aged 0-2) and young children (aged 3-5) enrolled in formal childcare or education (Eurostat 2022a).
This likely stems not only from the shortage of state-run nurseries but also from traditional Greek culture, where women are primarily responsible for caring for the elderly and young children within households. Grandparents often care for preschool-aged children if both parents work, while women tend to elderly or disabled family members at home. In 2021, new legislation introduced the “nannies of the neighborhood” program, with a dedicated budget to compensate childcare workers who assist families with very young children (2 months to 2.5 years old).
Greece remains one of the worst-performing EU countries in terms of the share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (Eurostat 2022b). Relatively few resources are allocated to combating child poverty, as the Greek welfare system primarily focuses on pensioners.
However, there has been progress in family policy over time, primarily through cash outlays rather than benefits-in-kind. For example, poor families can receive a combination of a monthly Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI), a child allowance, and a housing benefit. During the COVID-19 crisis, additional allowances were provided to families in economic distress. Tax breaks are also available to all families with children, regardless of income.
Overall, the government aims to support poor families and encourage couples to have children to help curb the demographic decline of the Greek population. This focus was emphasized in 2023 with the establishment of the new Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family.
Greece ranks average among OECD countries in terms of work-life balance (OECD 2023). Despite improvements in childcare and cash transfers, gender equality and resources available to families are still shaped by the traditional household model prevalent in Greece. This model contributes to relatively low female labor force participation. In poorer families, the best option might be for the mother to enter the labor force, particularly in the public sector, but this depends on labor market conditions and traditional views on gender roles.
Citations:
The website of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family: https://minscfa.gov.gr/
The website of the program “Nannies of the neighbourhood”: https://ntantades.gov.gr/
Eurostat. 2022a. “Dataset: Children in Formal Childcare or Education by Age Group and Duration – % over the Population of Each Age Group – EU-SILC Survey [ilc_caindformal].” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ilc_caindformal/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Dataset: People at Risk of Poverty and Social Exclusion by Age and Sex [ILC_PEPS01N] URL”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PEPS01N/default/table?lang=en
Hatzivarnava-Kazassi, E., and Karamessini, M. 2023. “Greece country note.” In International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2023, eds. S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, A. Koslowski, and P. Moss. Available at: https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/
OECD. 2023. “Work-Life Balance.” https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/work-life-balance/.
Greece still relies on EU funding for nursery services provided by local governments. However, the country ranks below the EU average in terms of the percentage of very young children (aged 0-2) and young children (aged 3-5) enrolled in formal childcare or education (Eurostat 2022a).
This likely stems not only from the shortage of state-run nurseries but also from traditional Greek culture, where women are primarily responsible for caring for the elderly and young children within households. Grandparents often care for preschool-aged children if both parents work, while women tend to elderly or disabled family members at home. In 2021, new legislation introduced the “nannies of the neighborhood” program, with a dedicated budget to compensate childcare workers who assist families with very young children (2 months to 2.5 years old).
Greece remains one of the worst-performing EU countries in terms of the share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (Eurostat 2022b). Relatively few resources are allocated to combating child poverty, as the Greek welfare system primarily focuses on pensioners.
However, there has been progress in family policy over time, primarily through cash outlays rather than benefits-in-kind. For example, poor families can receive a combination of a monthly Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI), a child allowance, and a housing benefit. During the COVID-19 crisis, additional allowances were provided to families in economic distress. Tax breaks are also available to all families with children, regardless of income.
Overall, the government aims to support poor families and encourage couples to have children to help curb the demographic decline of the Greek population. This focus was emphasized in 2023 with the establishment of the new Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family.
Greece ranks average among OECD countries in terms of work-life balance (OECD 2023). Despite improvements in childcare and cash transfers, gender equality and resources available to families are still shaped by the traditional household model prevalent in Greece. This model contributes to relatively low female labor force participation. In poorer families, the best option might be for the mother to enter the labor force, particularly in the public sector, but this depends on labor market conditions and traditional views on gender roles.
Citations:
The website of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family: https://minscfa.gov.gr/
The website of the program “Nannies of the neighbourhood”: https://ntantades.gov.gr/
Eurostat. 2022a. “Dataset: Children in Formal Childcare or Education by Age Group and Duration – % over the Population of Each Age Group – EU-SILC Survey [ilc_caindformal].” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ilc_caindformal/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Dataset: People at Risk of Poverty and Social Exclusion by Age and Sex [ILC_PEPS01N] URL”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PEPS01N/default/table?lang=en
Hatzivarnava-Kazassi, E., and Karamessini, M. 2023. “Greece country note.” In International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2023, eds. S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, A. Koslowski, and P. Moss. Available at: https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/
OECD. 2023. “Work-Life Balance.” https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/work-life-balance/.
Graph View
To what extent does the current pension policy approach prevent poverty among senior citizens?
10
9
9
Pension policies are fully aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
8
7
6
7
6
Pension policies are largely aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
5
4
3
4
3
Pension policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
2
1
1
Pension policies are not at all aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
Greece ranks at the bottom of EU countries for employment among older people, particularly those aged 55–64 (Eurostat 2022a). However, the country is average among EU nations regarding the poverty rate of senior citizens (Eurostat 2022b) and their likelihood of experiencing social exclusion (Eurostat 2022c).
This relative stability is primarily due to Greece’s provision of a minimum pension to all pensioners, regardless of their employment history. This minimum pension is supplemented by a pension linked to their lifetime insurance contributions, ensuring a basic level of income security. For some categories of pensioners, such as former civil servants and banking employees, pensions – including both main and supplementary pensions – can be quite substantial, depending on their past contributions.
Greece’s pension expenditure is 16% of GDP, the highest among OECD countries (OECD 2021). This raises concerns about the sustainability of the system, as the government may struggle to maintain pension programs at their current levels and scope in the long term.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022. “Employment rates by sex, age and country of birth (%).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/LFSA_ERGACOB/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “At-risk-of-poverty Rate by Poverty Threshold, Age and Sex – EU-SILC and ECHP Surveys.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022c. “People at Risk of Poverty and Social Exclusion by Age and Sex.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PEPS01N/default/table?lang=en
OECD. 2021. “Pensions at Glance 2021 – Public Expenditure on Pensions.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/finance-and-investment/pensions-at-a-glance-2021_0cb13e61-en#:~:text=Greece%20and%20Italy%20spent%20the,%25%E2%80%9114%25%20of%20GDP
OECD. 2023. “OECD Pensions at a Glance, Country Profile – Greece.” https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2023-country-profile-Greece.pdf
This relative stability is primarily due to Greece’s provision of a minimum pension to all pensioners, regardless of their employment history. This minimum pension is supplemented by a pension linked to their lifetime insurance contributions, ensuring a basic level of income security. For some categories of pensioners, such as former civil servants and banking employees, pensions – including both main and supplementary pensions – can be quite substantial, depending on their past contributions.
Greece’s pension expenditure is 16% of GDP, the highest among OECD countries (OECD 2021). This raises concerns about the sustainability of the system, as the government may struggle to maintain pension programs at their current levels and scope in the long term.
Citations:
Eurostat. 2022. “Employment rates by sex, age and country of birth (%).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/LFSA_ERGACOB/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “At-risk-of-poverty Rate by Poverty Threshold, Age and Sex – EU-SILC and ECHP Surveys.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_LI02/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022c. “People at Risk of Poverty and Social Exclusion by Age and Sex.”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_PEPS01N/default/table?lang=en
OECD. 2021. “Pensions at Glance 2021 – Public Expenditure on Pensions.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/finance-and-investment/pensions-at-a-glance-2021_0cb13e61-en#:~:text=Greece%20and%20Italy%20spent%20the,%25%E2%80%9114%25%20of%20GDP
OECD. 2023. “OECD Pensions at a Glance, Country Profile – Greece.” https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2023-country-profile-Greece.pdf
To what extent does the current pension policy approach hinder or promote intergenerational equity?
10
9
9
Pension policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
8
7
6
7
6
Pension policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
5
4
3
4
3
Pension policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
2
1
1
Pension policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
Current pension arrangements in Greece primarily serve the interests of middle-aged and older groups, often at the expense of younger workers. Research by the IMF (Kangur et al. 2021) suggests that Greece’s pension system fails to incentivize individuals to build long contribution histories, leading to widespread evasion of social security contributions. This pattern has negatively affected Greece’s fiscal policy mix, and burden-sharing across generations is not as equitable as it should be.
The pension system also fails to provide sufficient incentives for individuals to either extend their working lives or retire early if their capacity is diminished. Meanwhile, the government faces challenges in funding a pension system that guarantees adequate old-age income in the future. In short, current pension policies do not adequately address intergenerational equity.
Citations:
Kangur, A., N. Kalavrezou, and D. Kim. 2021. “Reforming the Greek Pension System.” IMF Working Paper, WP/21/188. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2021/07/16/Reforming-the-Greek-Pension-System-461838
The pension system also fails to provide sufficient incentives for individuals to either extend their working lives or retire early if their capacity is diminished. Meanwhile, the government faces challenges in funding a pension system that guarantees adequate old-age income in the future. In short, current pension policies do not adequately address intergenerational equity.
Citations:
Kangur, A., N. Kalavrezou, and D. Kim. 2021. “Reforming the Greek Pension System.” IMF Working Paper, WP/21/188. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2021/07/16/Reforming-the-Greek-Pension-System-461838
Graph View
To what extent does the current policy approach hinder or facilitate the inclusion of migrants into society and the labor market?
10
9
9
Integration policies are fully aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
8
7
6
7
6
Integration policies are largely aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
5
4
3
4
3
Integration policies are only somewhat aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
2
1
1
Integration policies are not at all aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
Greece has faced repeated inflows of migrants and refugees arriving on the Aegean islands and crossing the Greek-Turkish border along the Evros River in Northeastern Greece. These inflows have been unpredictable and disproportionate to the country’s administrative capacity, economic resources, and the size of receiving communities, such as islands and border villages.
In the past, particularly during the 2015–2016 crisis, Greece struggled to manage immigration challenges, with substandard conditions for receiving and hosting migrants and refugees. However, there has been progress in infrastructure, procedures, and administrative capacity at reception points over time, and the numbers of migrants and refugees have dramatically decreased.
New reception centers were built on Greek islands between 2020 and 2023. In terms of material and social deprivation among migrants and refugees, Greece ranks average among EU countries (Eurostat 2022a). Public services and NGOs cater to the welfare needs of these populations.
Despite these improvements, Greece has not effectively managed the demands of asylum-seekers or integrated them into local communities. Migrants and refugees face limited access to the labor market, often receiving temporary residence and work permits that prevent them from pursuing long-term job opportunities. Consequently, many migrants and refugees work in the shadow economy as agricultural and construction workers, often in low-paid and uninsured temporary jobs. This is reflected in Greece’s average ranking among EU countries for the unemployment rate of migrants and refugees (Eurostat 2022b).
To address labor shortages and streamline the situation, the government passed a law in December 2023. This law allows migrants and refugees who entered the country before 2021 and have lived and worked in Greece since then to obtain a three-year residency work permit, provided they present a job offer from a prospective employer (European Travel Information and Authorization System-ETIAS 2023).
However, there are no government-funded language courses, professional training, or mentoring programs for adult migrants and refugees. Children, on the other hand, can freely attend Greek primary and secondary public schools, where they learn the language and follow the same curriculum as Greek pupils. Despite the absence of language or administrative barriers in education, migrants and refugees struggle to progress in their studies. Greece ranks among the lowest-performing countries in upper secondary and tertiary attainment for migrants and refugees (Eurostat 2022c).
Greece follows EU policies on family reunification, although most migrants and refugees entering the country do not seek to reunite with family members in Greece. Instead, they aim to join family members already residing in Northern European countries.
Until recently, conditions for migrants and refugees to obtain nationality and participate in political life were unfavorable (Migration Integration Policy Index 2020). Today, the process of obtaining Greek citizenship has been streamlined and digitalized by the General Secretariat of Migration Policy, a unit of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, although it usually takes a long time. Migrants and refugees can now track the progress of their petitions, and political participation is available for second-generation migrants and refugees.
The Ministry of Migration and Asylum leads migration policy, with specific target values set to address migrants’ needs and provide tailored support. These targets are outlined in the national strategy for integration (Ministry of Migration and Asylum 2019) and the annually updated plan for migration and asylum (Ministry of Migration and Asylum 2023).
Citations:
European Travel Information and Authorization System-ETIAS. 2023. “Greece adopts new residency permits to address labor shortages.” https://etias.com/articles/greece-residency-permit-labor-shortage
Eurostat. 2022. “Severe material deprivation rate by group of country of birth (population aged 18 and over).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDDD16__custom_6268917/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Unemployment rates by sex, age and country of birth (%).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/LFSA_URGACOB/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Population by educational attainment level, sex, age, and country of birth (%).”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/EDAT_LFS_9912/default/table?lang=en
Migration Integration Policy Index. 2020. “Greece.” https://www.mipex.eu/greece
Ministry of Migration and Asylum. 2019. “National Strategy for Integration.” https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/%CE%926.-%CE%95%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%A3%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-2019.pdf
Ministry of Migration and Asylum. 2023. “Annual Action Plan 2023.” https://www.migration.gov.gr/annual-action-plan-2023
The website of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum is https://migration.gov.gr/en/
The website of the General Secretariat of Migration Policy, in which third-country nationals can follow the progress of their petitions, is https://pf.emigrants.ypes.gr/pf/.
In the past, particularly during the 2015–2016 crisis, Greece struggled to manage immigration challenges, with substandard conditions for receiving and hosting migrants and refugees. However, there has been progress in infrastructure, procedures, and administrative capacity at reception points over time, and the numbers of migrants and refugees have dramatically decreased.
New reception centers were built on Greek islands between 2020 and 2023. In terms of material and social deprivation among migrants and refugees, Greece ranks average among EU countries (Eurostat 2022a). Public services and NGOs cater to the welfare needs of these populations.
Despite these improvements, Greece has not effectively managed the demands of asylum-seekers or integrated them into local communities. Migrants and refugees face limited access to the labor market, often receiving temporary residence and work permits that prevent them from pursuing long-term job opportunities. Consequently, many migrants and refugees work in the shadow economy as agricultural and construction workers, often in low-paid and uninsured temporary jobs. This is reflected in Greece’s average ranking among EU countries for the unemployment rate of migrants and refugees (Eurostat 2022b).
To address labor shortages and streamline the situation, the government passed a law in December 2023. This law allows migrants and refugees who entered the country before 2021 and have lived and worked in Greece since then to obtain a three-year residency work permit, provided they present a job offer from a prospective employer (European Travel Information and Authorization System-ETIAS 2023).
However, there are no government-funded language courses, professional training, or mentoring programs for adult migrants and refugees. Children, on the other hand, can freely attend Greek primary and secondary public schools, where they learn the language and follow the same curriculum as Greek pupils. Despite the absence of language or administrative barriers in education, migrants and refugees struggle to progress in their studies. Greece ranks among the lowest-performing countries in upper secondary and tertiary attainment for migrants and refugees (Eurostat 2022c).
Greece follows EU policies on family reunification, although most migrants and refugees entering the country do not seek to reunite with family members in Greece. Instead, they aim to join family members already residing in Northern European countries.
Until recently, conditions for migrants and refugees to obtain nationality and participate in political life were unfavorable (Migration Integration Policy Index 2020). Today, the process of obtaining Greek citizenship has been streamlined and digitalized by the General Secretariat of Migration Policy, a unit of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, although it usually takes a long time. Migrants and refugees can now track the progress of their petitions, and political participation is available for second-generation migrants and refugees.
The Ministry of Migration and Asylum leads migration policy, with specific target values set to address migrants’ needs and provide tailored support. These targets are outlined in the national strategy for integration (Ministry of Migration and Asylum 2019) and the annually updated plan for migration and asylum (Ministry of Migration and Asylum 2023).
Citations:
European Travel Information and Authorization System-ETIAS. 2023. “Greece adopts new residency permits to address labor shortages.” https://etias.com/articles/greece-residency-permit-labor-shortage
Eurostat. 2022. “Severe material deprivation rate by group of country of birth (population aged 18 and over).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ILC_MDDD16__custom_6268917/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022b. “Unemployment rates by sex, age and country of birth (%).” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/LFSA_URGACOB/default/table?lang=en
Eurostat. 2022. “Population by educational attainment level, sex, age, and country of birth (%).”
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/EDAT_LFS_9912/default/table?lang=en
Migration Integration Policy Index. 2020. “Greece.” https://www.mipex.eu/greece
Ministry of Migration and Asylum. 2019. “National Strategy for Integration.” https://migration.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/%CE%926.-%CE%95%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%A3%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-2019.pdf
Ministry of Migration and Asylum. 2023. “Annual Action Plan 2023.” https://www.migration.gov.gr/annual-action-plan-2023
The website of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum is https://migration.gov.gr/en/
The website of the General Secretariat of Migration Policy, in which third-country nationals can follow the progress of their petitions, is https://pf.emigrants.ypes.gr/pf/.
Graph View
How committed is the government to helping build the capacity to reduce poverty and provide social protection in low- and middle-income countries?
10
9
9
The government’s development cooperation strategy is fully aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
8
7
6
7
6
The government’s development cooperation strategy is largely aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
5
4
3
4
3
The government’s development cooperation strategy is only somewhat aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building in poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
2
1
1
The government’s development cooperation strategy is not all aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
In the previous decade, the economic crisis led to significant cuts in public sector spending, which adversely affected Greece’s ability to provide official development assistance (ODA). From 2019 to 2022, Greece’s ODA as a percentage of GNI was among the lowest in the OECD. However, Greece periodically allocates funds to receive and host refugees and migrants from developing regions.
The General Secretariat of International Economic Relations and Openness, a dedicated unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, manages development assistance. This Secretariat, led by a government appointee, oversees the “Hellenic Aid” directorate, staffed by experienced civil servants.
In 2022, the Secretariat published Greece’s development strategy and roadmap for fostering international economic relations, titled the “2022 National Strategic Openness Plan.” This document outlines planned development assistance to countries with bilateral ties to Greece, including nations in the Western Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, and Libya), and Latin America (Argentina). While the plan is gradually being implemented, it is not legally binding.
As a newcomer to international development assistance, Greece’s systems are not yet fully developed. The government monitors the spending of allocated funds but lacks the capacity to track progress in capacity-building in recipient countries. Additionally, Greece does not have binding standards for collaborative actions aimed at global poverty reduction or a specific plan to facilitate knowledge-sharing and foster innovation in developing countries.
In general, Greece has not played a leading role within the international development framework but has supported relevant EU initiatives in this area.
Citations:
Τhe website of the General Secretariat of International Economic Relations and Openness: https://agora.mfa.gr/en/general-secretariat-of-international-economic-relations-and-openness
The website of the dedicated Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://hellenicaid.mfa.gr/z-geniki-diefthynsi-anaptyxiakis-kai-anthropistikis-arogis/
The 2022 National Plan, that includes details on development assistance from Greece to developing countries, is available at https://www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr/extroversion-strategy-2022/GR/files/assets/common/downloads/Ethniko-Stratigiko-Sxedio-Exostrefeias-2022.pdf?uni=45a482e5121217ce4b53137003a3982
The Hellenic Aid Directorate issues an annual report on the results of its activities. The most recent one is from December 2023, covering 2022. The report is available at https://hellenicaid.mfa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/%CE%95%CE%A4%CE%97%CE%A3%CE%99%CE%91-%CE%95%CE%9A%CE%98%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%97-2022-.pdf
Data on ODA is available from the OECD at https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLE1#.
The General Secretariat of International Economic Relations and Openness, a dedicated unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, manages development assistance. This Secretariat, led by a government appointee, oversees the “Hellenic Aid” directorate, staffed by experienced civil servants.
In 2022, the Secretariat published Greece’s development strategy and roadmap for fostering international economic relations, titled the “2022 National Strategic Openness Plan.” This document outlines planned development assistance to countries with bilateral ties to Greece, including nations in the Western Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, and Libya), and Latin America (Argentina). While the plan is gradually being implemented, it is not legally binding.
As a newcomer to international development assistance, Greece’s systems are not yet fully developed. The government monitors the spending of allocated funds but lacks the capacity to track progress in capacity-building in recipient countries. Additionally, Greece does not have binding standards for collaborative actions aimed at global poverty reduction or a specific plan to facilitate knowledge-sharing and foster innovation in developing countries.
In general, Greece has not played a leading role within the international development framework but has supported relevant EU initiatives in this area.
Citations:
Τhe website of the General Secretariat of International Economic Relations and Openness: https://agora.mfa.gr/en/general-secretariat-of-international-economic-relations-and-openness
The website of the dedicated Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://hellenicaid.mfa.gr/z-geniki-diefthynsi-anaptyxiakis-kai-anthropistikis-arogis/
The 2022 National Plan, that includes details on development assistance from Greece to developing countries, is available at https://www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr/extroversion-strategy-2022/GR/files/assets/common/downloads/Ethniko-Stratigiko-Sxedio-Exostrefeias-2022.pdf?uni=45a482e5121217ce4b53137003a3982
The Hellenic Aid Directorate issues an annual report on the results of its activities. The most recent one is from December 2023, covering 2022. The report is available at https://hellenicaid.mfa.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/%CE%95%CE%A4%CE%97%CE%A3%CE%99%CE%91-%CE%95%CE%9A%CE%98%CE%95%CE%A3%CE%97-2022-.pdf
Data on ODA is available from the OECD at https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLE1#.