Delivering Good Governance in Greece March 2019 – May 2021

Background limitations regarding financial and human resources. The project was implemented by the The project was designed at the request of Greece, Centre of Expertise for Good Governance of the with the aim to promote good governance at the Council of Europe, with co-funding from the DG local level, in particular supporting the REFORM of the European Commission and in close development of Inter-Municipal Cooperation (IMC) cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, the in the country. Greece has strongly reformed its National Transparency Authority and the National local government architecture during the last Center of Public Administration and Local decade, mainly through the “Kallikratis” Law in Government. The Centre of Expertise was 2010 and the “Cleisthenes” Law in 2018. Under this supported by two national partner institutions framework, IMC can be a powerful tool that specialised in local governance - the Hellenic strengthens local authorities in delivering quality Agency for Local Development and Local services to citizens while addressing their Government, and the Regional Development Institute of the Panteion University.

Picture 1: Workshop on Inter-Municipal Cooperation for Internal Audit (Larissa, November 2019)

In addition, upon request of the Ministry of Activities Interior, the Centre of Expertise also conducted a Study on the participation of women in political life The project was launched in March 2019, with a at the local level, analysing how could it be nation-wide Survey on the IMC situation in the strengthened through IMC. country (needs, challenges, areas of application). The seven island municipalities of Agathonissi, A project for Greece Astypalaia, Kalymnos, Leipsoi, Leros, Patmos and Tilos, which participated in the previous “Technical The feedback received from the project Assistance Project on Institutional Enhancement stakeholders and beneficiaries throughout its for Local Governance in Greece”, continued implementation is a testament to the quality and working with the Council of Europe experts in the usefulness of the results. For example, with order to initiate their Inter-municipal Development regard to the establishment of the Inter-municipal Network of the Dodecanese (AIGAIIS). Development Network of the Dodecanese, Mr In addition, five other municipalities were Dimitrios Diakomichalis, the Mayor of Kalymnos identified for a second pilot IMC agreement, stated that "At last the Network is a fact, as its focusing on Internal Audit (IA): Agia, Elassona, Statute has been approved by the Court of First Farsala, Kileler and Larissa. The municipality of Instance of Kos and thus obtained legal status. Thessaloniki also joined to provide technical Throughout this effort, Council of Europe's role in support and relevant expertise. both guiding and planning was determinant". The Centre of Expertise provided support to these Similarly, the Mayor of Kileler, Mr Athanasios two pilot IMC agreements through the Nasiakopoulos, stated that “Inter-municipal organisation of twelve capacity-building cooperation will contribute significantly not only to workshops, in presence and online, and making use IA but also to strengthening the administrative and of several of its specialised toolkits, such as those financial capacity of our Municipalities, as it will on Inter-Municipal Cooperation, Strategic facilitate the exchange of know-how among them Municipal Planning, Performance Management, and the adoption of good practices from bodies and the Leadership Academy Programme. that have the relevant experience. […] I would like These tools were also condensed into a Handbook to encourage all Municipalities to move in this on Inter-Municipal Cooperation, tailored to the direction for the benefit of all”. Greek legal framework and the needs of the Greek municipalities.

Picture 2: Workshop with representatives of the municipalities of the AIGAIIS Network (Athens, November 2019)

Inclusive approach Furthermore, 34 interviews were conducted with representatives from the national, regional and The Centre of Expertise ensured a participatory municipal level. approach in all activities. The work on the two pilot The map below indicates the municipalities that IMC agreements involved over 30 local authorities were mostly involved in the project: in blue the - mayors, deputy mayors, heads of units - from 13 members of the pilot IMC Network AIGAIIS; in municipalities. orange, the members of the pilot IMC on IA; and in In addition, over 120 municipalities (more than 1/3 green those who took part in the interviews under of all municipalities) participated in the general the framework of the Study. Survey on IMC, whereas over 700 representatives of municipalities and regions participated to the Survey launched in the framework of the Study.

Map of municipalities involved in the project – 2019 - 2021

Outcomes regional level. The Study contains recommendations and suggestions, in The implementation of the capacity-building particular on how IMC could be used to activities, workshops, surveys and desk research boost participation. resulted in the following outcomes:  The sustainability of the project was  The IMC Programmatic Agreement among further ensured through the Training of 5 municipalities in the field of IA was Trainers on the Council of Europe drafted and signed. The municipalities Leadership Academy Programme. 16 already started their joint capacity- Greek trainers from the National Centre building activities. for Public Administration and Local  The Inter-municipal Development Network Government participated and could lead of the Dodecanese (AIGAIIS) for 7 island trainings on leadership and IMC in the municipalities was established and future. registered. The Network will start working  The main outcomes were presented mostly on issues related to transportation through a final conference, during which and interconnectivity but will be able to the Minister of Interior, Makis Voridis, engage, in the longer term, in more areas, noted that the development of IMC is a key to deliver better services to their citizens. goal of the Ministry, as through it  For both IMC pilots, an Action Plan and a "participants gain mutual benefits and use Risk Management Plan were drafted, to economies of scale, improving the help the municipalities organise their joint allocation of resources and adopting good activities and monitor the results. practices.”  The project raised awareness on the use of IMC as a tool to deliver better services to Conclusions citizens at the local level. The Handbook on Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Greece  Greece was just starting to recover from a combines theoretical aspects with a decade of financial crisis, when the COVID- practical focus on the Greek context, 19 pandemic hit the country and took a including a detailed description of the significant toll on the capacity of relevant legal framework, templates and municipalities to work efficiently and step-by-step guidelines. The Annexes deliver quality services to their citizens. include an IA Charter, a Code of Conduct, IMC offers solutions to allow municipalities and a Protocol to ensure the independence with scarce human, financial and technical of IA activities within the framework of an resources to pool these resources together IMC setting. The Handbook was presented to jointly improve the delivery of services. through a webinar, which attracted over The Handbook and best practices of the 100 participants. A printed copy was two pilot IMC agreements of the project subsequently distributed to all Greek provide inspiration and guidance to other municipalities with an accompanying letter municipalities. of the Secretary General for Interior and  Capacity-building at the local level needs Organisation, Michalis Stavrianoudakis, to be further strengthened. Specific who stated that “Cooperation and mutual training programmes that strengthen the aid are essential components of success. capacities of staff and elected officials at People evolve and move faster together the local level could be developed through rather than individually, making a the Leadership Academy Programme, difference in the overall result. Let's make which provides useful contents and a this difference together!” A series of short flexible methodology. videos summarising the main subjects of  The Centre of Expertise for Good the Handbook was also developed. Governance is ready to continue  The project encouraged the debate on supporting Greece to reinforce participation of women in political life at governance at all levels and improve public the local level, through a specific Study administration capacity. that analyses the main reasons for the low numbers of elected women at local and