DOCSLIB.ORG

Diagnostic Report on Undeclared Work in Greece

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Diagnostic Report on Undeclared Work in Greece Diagnostic report on undeclared work in Greece DIAGNOSTIC REPORT ON UNDECLARED WORK IN GREECE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION Copyright © International Labour Organization 2016 First published 2016 Publications of the International Labour Office enjoy copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. Nevertheless, short excerpts from them may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to ILO Publications (Rights and Licensing), International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: [email protected]. The International Labour Office welcomes such applications. Libraries, institutions and other users registered with a reproduction rights organization may make copies in accordance with the licences issued to them for this purpose. Visit www.ifrro.org to find the reproduction rights organization in your country. ILO Cataloguing in Publication Data Diagnostic report on undeclared work in Greece / International Labour Office, Employment Department, Informal Economy Unit. - Geneva: ILO, 2016. ISBN: 9789221313236; 9789221313243 (web pdf) International Labour Office. Employment Department. Clandestine employment / hidden economy / labour relations / employment policy / Greece 13.01.3 The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Office of the opinions expressed in them. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications and digital products can be obtained through major booksellers and digital distribution platforms, or ordered directly from [email protected]. For more information, visit our website: www.ilo.org/publns or contact [email protected]. FOREWORD In August 2015, the European Stability Mechanism support programme for Greece was approved by the Greek authorities and the European Commission. Its Memorandum of Understanding included the following key deliverable: “the authorities will adopt an integrated action plan to fight undeclared and under-declared work in order to strengthen the competitiveness of legal companies and protect workers as well as raise tax and social security revenues”. Addressing undeclared work is a complex and difficult challenge, especially when a country faces a difficult socioeconomic situation marked by high unemployment, a poor business environment and the lack of fiscal space. In Greece, like many other European countries, undeclared work remains a significant feature of the economy, despite measures taken in recent years to address the issue, including imposing stricter sanctions, reducing non-wage costs and reducing bureaucratic obligations and the administrative burden. In this context, the ILO, in close collaboration with the Greek Government and the social pa rtners, has formulated a project funded by the European Commission, on “Supporting the transition from informal to formal economy and addressing undeclared work in Greece”. A first and unique result of this project was the preparation, through a participative and consultative process, of the present Diagnosis of Undeclared Work in Greece. The Diagnostic Report was endorsed by the Greek Government and the social partners in a high level tripartite validation meeting held on 6 July 2016. It also provides a set of policy recommendations that reflects the ILO’s vision of a balanced approach combining incentives with compliance measures, as enshrined in the ILO Recommendation n. 204 on the transition from the informal to the formal economy, adopted at the International Labour Conference in June 2015. This Recommendation affirms that the transition to the formal economy is essential to achieve inclusive development and to realize decent work for all. It is therefore essential to improve working and living conditions, to promote sustainable small and medium enterprises and to achieve fair competition and fiscal consolidation at national level. Thus it aims to achieve greater inclusiveness and cohesion in our societies, and to better design the “Future of Work” that we wish to shape for our societies. Reaching a tripartite agreement on the main characteristics and drivers of informality in Greece was an important step. The next challenging step is to design, through tripartite dialogue, a road map for addressing undeclared work in Greece. This road map should contain a balanced regulatory and poli¢y framework for preventive and appropriate corrective measures that will facilitate the transition to the formal economy and tackle undeclared work. The Greek Government and the social partners, with the support of the ILO and of the Structural Reform Support Service/EU, will be working jointly to achieve these results. We would like to express our special thanks to the high level team of experts that prepared this comprehensive Diagnostic Report: Professor CoJin WiJJiams from SheffieJd University, Dr. Stavroula Demetriades from EUROFOUND and Professor Eleni Patra from the American College of Greece, made a remarkable analysis of the situation and a key contribution to the national policy debate on undeclared work. We would also like to thank the ILO technical team in charge of the project: Frederic Lapeyre, Head of the Informal Economy Unit; Philippe Marcadent, Chief of INWORK Branch; Maria Luz Vega Ruiz, Special Advisor of the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office; Joaquin Nunes Pintado, Senior Specialist in Labour Administration; and Athina Malagardi, National Officer in Athens. George Katrougalos Heinz Koller Minister of Labour, Social Security and Assistant Director-General Social Solidarity Regional Director for Europe and Central Hellenic Republic Asia International Labour Organization Date Diagnostic Report on undeclared work in Greece EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 9 1 Introduction: Background context 2 Undeclared work: an analytical and policy framework 2.1 Analytical framework .................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Policy approaches towards undeclared work ................................................................................. 18 3 Extend and nature of undeclared work in Greece 3.1 Magnitude of the undeclared economy .......................................................................................... 22 3.2 Nature of the undeclared economy ................................................................................................ 24 3.2.1 Varieties of undeclared work ......................................................................................................... 24 3.2.2 Demand for undeclared goods and services ................................................................................... 26 3.2.3 Supply of undeclared work ............................................................................................................ 28 3.2.4 Under-declared employment: envelope wages .............................................................................. 30 4 Drivers of the undeclared economy in Greece 5 Organisation of the fight against undeclared work: Institutional framework 5.1 Responsibilities of government ministries ..................................................................................... 40 5.2 The role of social partners .............................................................................................................. 47 5.3 Bodies of Social Dialogue ............................................................................................................. 47 5.4 Towards a joined-up strategic approach ........................................................................................ 51 6 Current policy approach and measures: an evaluation 6.1 Direct controls: deterrence measures ............................................................................................. 55 6.2 Penalties and sanctions .................................................................................................................. 55 6.2.1 Detection measures ........................................................................................................................ 57 6.3 Direct Controls: supply-side incentives ......................................................................................... 62 6.4 Direct Controls: demand-side incentives ....................................................................................... 67 6.5 Indirect controls ............................................................................................................................. 72 6.5.1 Altering informal institutions: awareness raising campaigns .......................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Showcasing Innovative Greece
    Showcasing Innovative Greece Edited by Christos Bezirtzoglou Foreword The first experimental activities to support innovation in relation to regional and social policy, effectively pi- oneering the development of the knowledge-based economy at regional level, were launched by the Commis- sion in 1993-94. Today, nearly one in three regional authorities across the EU-15 have formulated a Regional Innovation Strategy or a Regional Innovation Society Initiative, aimed at developing effective innovation sys- tems and spreading Information & Communication Technologies related know-how at regional level. A new system for European Regional Development Fund regional programmes of innovative actions was in- troduced in 2001 to underpin the Community priorities to increase regional competitiveness, technology and innovation by applying new forms of IT and promoting sustainable development. For first time, in 2002 the Region of Peloponnesus was actively involved into initiatives preparing the ground and paving the way for the promotion of innovation with the development of a Regional Innovation Strategy (RIPE programme). The strategic approach has been based on a widespread public debate that facilitates and promotes consensus and encourages a shared strategic view of the Region’s economy through the develop- ment of long term plans by businesses. The scheme has been fully endorsed and agreed upon by the relevant support agencies. In particularly, the project has provided an impulse for the region to tackle the issue of in- novation. In the case of the Information Society, for less information society mature prefectures of the region For prefectures with a lower level of awareness and maturity regarding the Information Society and what it entails, the RIPE programme promotion has proved crucial.
    [Show full text]
  • The Gordian Knot: American and British Policy Concerning the Cyprus Issue: 1952-1974
    THE GORDIAN KNOT: AMERICAN AND BRITISH POLICY CONCERNING THE CYPRUS ISSUE: 1952-1974 Michael M. Carver A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of The requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2006 Committee: Dr. Douglas J. Forsyth, Advisor Dr. Gary R. Hess ii ABSTRACT Douglas J. Forsyth, Advisor This study examines the role of both the United States and Great Britain during a series of crises that plagued Cyprus from the mid 1950s until the 1974 invasion by Turkey that led to the takeover of approximately one-third of the island and its partition. Initially an ancient Greek colony, Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the late 16th century, which allowed the native peoples to take part in the island’s governance. But the idea of Cyprus’ reunification with the Greek mainland, known as enosis, remained a significant tenet to most Greek-Cypriots. The movement to make enosis a reality gained strength following the island’s occupation in 1878 by Great Britain. Cyprus was integrated into the British imperialist agenda until the end of the Second World War when American and Soviet hegemony supplanted European colonialism. Beginning in 1955, Cyprus became a battleground between British officials and terrorists of the pro-enosis EOKA group until 1959 when the independence of Cyprus was negotiated between Britain and the governments of Greece and Turkey. The United States remained largely absent during this period, but during the 1960s and 1970s came to play an increasingly assertive role whenever intercommunal fighting between the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot populations threatened to spill over into Greece and Turkey, and endanger the southeastern flank of NATO.
    [Show full text]
  • John S. Koliopoulos Unwanted Ally: Greece and the Great
    JOHN S. KOLIOPOULOS UNWANTED ALLY: GREECE AND THE GREAT POWERS, 1939-1941 Greece’s international position and national security, from the spring of 1939 when the Axis powers initiated a policy of outright conquest in Europe until the German invasion of the country two years later, have, until recently, been examined mainly from the point of view of contemporary official Greek policy, leading thus to the development of a semi - official Greek historiography1. Most of the governing as­ sumptions and premises of this historiography grew out of both war­ time rhetoric and the post - war requirements of Greek policy, to be­ come in time axiomatic. Some of these assumptions and premises are: a) that Greece followed, before the' Italian attack, a neutral policy towards the great European powers; b) that the Italian attack was unprovoked ; c ) that Anglo - Greek cooperation was subsequent — and consequent — to the Italian attack ; d ) that the Greek Government, although resolved to resist a German attack, did everything to avoid it, and e) that the German invasion was unprovoked and undertaken to rescue the defeated Italians in Albania. In this paper I propose to examine these assumptions in the light of evidence newly made avail­ able, and see particularly whether Greece followed a really neutral policy until the Italian attack, and whether the Greco - Italian war was, until Germany decided to intervene and extinguish the poten­ tially dangerous conflict in the Balkans, more than a local war loosely connected with the strategical interests of Britain and Germany. Greece’s foreign relations before World War II were first put to the test in April 1939, on the occasion of the Italian occupation of Al­ bania.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report of the Greek Bilateral and Multilateral Official Development Co-Operation
    0 HELLENIC REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION (ΥDΑS) ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GREEK BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE YEAR 2018 3 Akadimias street GR-106 71 Athens GREECE January 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (ODA)–INTERNATIONAL FLOWS .............................. 2 2. AGGREGATE OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE OF GREECE .......................................... 4 3. BILATERAL OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE OF GREECE ............................................. 4 4. MULTILATERAL OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE OF GREECE ...................................... 5 5. HELLENIC AID ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................................... 5 1 1. OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (ODA)–INTERNATIONAL FLOWS1 In 2018, net Official Development Assistance (ODA) by members (donors) of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) reached USD 149.85 billion, representing a slight fall of 2.3% in real terms (taking account of both inflation and exchange rate movements) compared to 2016. As a share of Gross National Income (GNI), DAC members’2 ODA also fell to 0.30% (0.31% in 2017), well below a United Nations target to keep ODA at or above 0.7% of donor GNI. In the context of 2030 Agenda and the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), at a global level (Resolution A/ RES/70/1/25.9.2015, 70th UN General Assembly, “Transforming Our World: Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”), OECD is responding to the need to capture programs that integrate the SDG dimension and thus contribute to their implementation. For this reason, new variables (fields) have been introduced for the registration of SDGs (17 Goals and 169 Targets). ODA Allocations Between 2017 and 2018, ODA for in-donor refugee costs declined from USD 14.1 billion to USD 10.77 billion.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Innovation in Regional Development in Greece
    MASTER THESIS THE ROLE OF INNOVATION IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN GREECE POSING A GREEK CASE STUDY BETWEEN THE DEBATE OF PLACE- BASED VS SPATIAL BLIND POLICIES BY THEODOROS SOUKOS SUPERVISOR PHILIP MCCANN UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN FACULTY OF SPATIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH MASTER IN REGIONAL STUDIES: SPACES AND PLACES, ANALYSIS AND INTERVENTION MASTER THESIS THE ROLE OF INNOVATION IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN GREECE POSING A GREEK CASE STUDY BETWEEN THE DEBATE OF PLACE-BASED VS SPATIAL BLIND POLICIES BY THEODOROS SOUKOS ST. NUMBER: 2351366 SUPERVISOR PHILIP MCCANN GRONINGEN, AUGUST 2014 2 ABSTRACT The role of innovation in regional economic development attracts increasingly the interest of public policies. Especially among the regions of the EU, the innovation policy and its relation to the cohesion policy framework gather much of this interest. This master thesis examines the role of innovation policy in regional development of a particular case study region in Greece. In order to investigate this role, the master thesis draws a special attention into the debate between the spatial blind policy argument (World Bank) and the place-based policy argument (OECD) and their policy implications. The review of the theory and the policy debate provides the most important insights for guidance of this research. In the first stage of this research, the investigation of prominent documents and studies on innovation performance of Greece, Greek regions and the region of Attica in particular highlights some key policy areas for consideration. The second stage of this research is devoted to interviews with policy experts with respect to innovation. The results of the interviews were extracted through the framework analysis approach to qualitative research.
    [Show full text]
  • RIS3 Regional Assessment: Central Greece
    Smart Specialisation Strategies in Greece – expert team review for DG REGIO RIS3 Regional Assessment: Central Greece A report to the European Commission, Directorate General for Regional Policy, Unit I3 - Greece & Cyprus December 2012 (final version) Alasdair Reid, Nicos Komninos, Jorge-A. Sanchez-P., Panayiotis Tsanakas Table of Contents 1. Executive summary: Overall conclusions and recommendations 1 2. Regional Innovation Performance and potential 3 2.1 Regional profile and specialisation 3 2.2 The strengths and weaknesses of the regional innovation system 5 3. Stakeholder involvement and governance of research and innovation policies 6 3.1 Stakeholder involvement in strategy design and implementation 6 3.2 Multi-level governance and synergies between policies and funds 7 3.3 Vision for the Region 8 4. Towards a regional smart specialisation strategy 8 4.1 The regional research and innovation policy 8 4.2 Cluster and entrepreneurship policies 9 4.3 Digital economy and ICT policies 11 5. Monitoring and evaluation 13 Appendix A List of people attending regional workshop 14 Appendix B List of key documents and reference materials 14 Appendix C Key Actors in the regional innovation system 14 Appendix D Regional RTDI funding under the OP Competitiveness and Innovation 16 Appendix E Total Gross value added at basic prices – Central Greece 17 Appendix F Relative regional specialisation in 20 industries – Central Greece 18 Figures Figure 1 Summary benchmark of regional innovation performance ...............................3 Figure 2 : SWOT of
    [Show full text]
  • Of Greek-Turkish Relations
    1. GLOSSARY OF GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS Μέσο: . .INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK TIMES_ΕΙΔΙΚΗ ΕΚΔΟΣΗ Ημ. Έκδοσης: . .12/12/2020 Ημ. Αποδελτίωσης: . .14/12/2020 Σελίδα: . 99 GLOSSARY OF GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS Thanos Dokos Phd in International Relations Cambridge University The Glossary of Greek-Turkish Relations was originally written in Greek in 2018 and revised in 2019 when the author was the director general of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy ELIAMEP Some limited revisions were made to the glossary for the purposes of this publication by Kathimerini 1. GLOSSARY OF GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS Μέσο: . .INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK TIMES_ΕΙΔΙΚΗ ΕΚΔΟΣΗ Ημ. Έκδοσης: . .12/12/2020 Ημ. Αποδελτίωσης: . .14/12/2020 Σελίδα: . 100 Over the last 60 years or so Greece and Turkey have rather frequently found themselves in Introduction periods of serious crisis or even on the brink of war during the Istanbul Pogrom 1955 the various crises involving Cyprus 1963-64 1967 1974 and the S-300 missile crisis of 1997-98 a number of serious incidents in the Aegean 1976 1987 the Imia crisis in 1996 and the evolving crisis of 2020 and the Öcalan Affair of 1999 At the same time and especially during the period from 1974 to 1999 there was an escalating arms race between the two countries resulting in an ongoing low-intensity conflict with occasional lulls Despite the rapprochement between the two countries after 1999 which resulted in a noticeable improvement in economic and people-to-people relations and the political climate in general there was no real
    [Show full text]
  • Faculty Publications and Presentations 2011-12
    UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS JULY 1, 2011 – JUNE 30, 2012 Revision A Table of Contents Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences………………………………….. Page 3 Fay Jones School of Architecture…………………………………………..………………... Page 94 Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences………………………………………………………. Page 102 Sam M. Walton College of Business ……..………………………………………………….. Page 259 College of Education and Health Professions………………………………………………… Page 275 College of Engineering………………………………………………………………………... Page 303 School of Law…………………………………………………………………………………. Page 353 University Libraries………………………………………………….………………………… Page 360 DALE BUMPERS SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE Peer-reviewed publications or juried event Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business Ahrendsen, Bruce L., Dixon, B. L., Settlage, L. A., Koenig, S. R. and Dodson, C. B. 2011. “A triple hurdle model of us commercial bank use of guaranteed operating loans and interest assistance.” Agricultural Finance Review 71,3:310-328. Akaichi, F., Gil, J. and Nayga, Jr., R. M. 2011. “Bid Affiliation in repeated random nth price auction.” Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 9,1:22-27. Akaichi, F., Gil, J. and Nayga, Jr., R. M. 2012. “Assessing the market potential for local food product: evidence from a non-hypothetical economic experiment.” British Food Journal. Vol 114, Issue 1. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0007-070X&show=latest Campbell, B., Nayga, Jr., R. M., Park, J. and Silva, A. 2011. “Does the national school lunch program improve children’s dietary outcomes?” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 93,4:1099-1130. Doi: 10,1093/ajae/aar031 Chang, H.-H. and Nayga, Jr., R. M. 2011. “Mother’s nutritional label use and children’s body weight.” Food Policy 36:171-178.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Compendium
    Country Compendium A companion to the English Style Guide July 2021 Translation © European Union, 2011, 2021. The reproduction and reuse of this document is authorised, provided the sources and authors are acknowledged and the original meaning or message of the texts are not distorted. The right holders and authors shall not be liable for any consequences stemming from the reuse. CONTENTS Introduction ...............................................................................1 Austria ......................................................................................3 Geography ................................................................................................................... 3 Judicial bodies ............................................................................................................ 4 Legal instruments ........................................................................................................ 5 Government bodies and administrative divisions ....................................................... 6 Law gazettes, official gazettes and official journals ................................................... 6 Belgium .....................................................................................9 Geography ................................................................................................................... 9 Judicial bodies .......................................................................................................... 10 Legal instruments .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Turkish Minority in Western Thrace
    report The Turkish Minority in Western Thrace: The Long Struggle for Rights and Recognition Evelin Verhás A woman holds a child at a “Khatim” ceremony, during which a complete reading of the Quran is held for pupils who successfully complete the Quran courses in Western Thrace. During Khatim ceremonies, villagers wear traditional clothes, and pilaf rice is served to the guests mostly from neighboring villages and the cities of Komotini (Gümülcine) and Xanthi (İskeçe). Author Minority Rights Group Europe (MRGE) Evelin Verhás is the Head of Programmes at the Tom Lantos Minority Rights Group Europe (MRGE) is registered as a not Institute, a minority rights organization based in Budapest, for profit company under Hungarian Law. Based in Budapest Hungary. She worked at Minority Rights Group International since 1996, Minority Rights Group Europe is the European (MRG) between 2010-2016, implementingadvocacy and regional partner of Minority Rights Group International strategic litigation programmes in Europe, South-East Asia, (MRGI), with the aim of promoting and protecting the rights East-Africa, Middle East and North Africa. She holds a of minorities and indigenous peoples across Europe and Masters in Human Rights from the London School of Central Asia. MRG Europe does this through capacity Economics. building, international advocacy, media advocacy and networking. © Minority Rights Group Europe (MRGE), September 2019 All rights reserved Material from this publication may be reproduced for teaching or for other non-commercial purposes. No part of it may be reproduced in any form for commercial purposes without the prior express permission of the copyright holders. For further information please contact MRGE.
    [Show full text]
  • Study on the Sharing of Information and Reporting of Suspicious Sports
    Study on the sharing of information and reporting of suspicious sports betting activity in the EU 28 A study for DIRECTORATE‐GENERAL EDUCATION AND CULTURE, Directorate Youth and Sport, Unit Sport FINAL REPORT Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you). More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014 ISBN 978-92-79-39389-1 doi: 10.2766/8026 © European Union, 2014 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Study on the sharing of information and reporting of suspicious sports betting activity in the EU 28 HOW TO OBTAIN EU PUBLICATIONS Free publications: • one copy: via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu); • more than one copy or posters/maps: from the European Union’s representations (http://ec.europa.eu/represent_en.htm); from the delegations in non-EU countries (http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/index_en.htm); by contacting the Europe Direct service (http://europa.eu/europedirect/index_en.htm) or calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (freephone number from anywhere in the EU) (*). (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you). Priced publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu). Priced subscriptions: • via one of the sales agents of the Publications Office of the European Union (http://publications.europa.eu/others/agents/index_en.htm).
    [Show full text]
  • Notio Aigaio
    The added value of regional programmes of innovative actions stems from the lessons that can be drawn from these innovative approaches, which allow for experimentation with new ideas and the demonstration of new hypotheses. This ranges from the possibilities of identification of good practice, to the exchange of knowledge and experience that can be trans- ferred to the Community Support Framework mainstream programmes. This publication takes a closer look both at the first and second genera- tion of the Greek regional programmes of innovative actions. Based on their implementation experiences, it illustrates their individual actions in addition to attempting to produce diverse classification typologies of these Greek "innovative actions". Europe is more than a bloc of nations. It is also a collection of regions. But regional wealth variations remain high and in most Member States it is the regions with the capital cities that have the highest per capita GDP. It is widely accepted that each region needs to brand her global (global and local) image according to its unique physical and intangible assets. Practical activities need to be designed, implemented and monitored on the spot. I hope that this book will help policy makers and other regional innova- Showcasing Innovative Greece Innovative Showcasing tion policy practitioners to make more informed choices towards this goal. Anna ANDRICOPOULOU Project Manager Net Force 2006 ISBN: 960-89350-0-8 Edited by Christos Bezirtzoglou by Christos Edited Co-financed by the ERDF Showcasing Innovative Greece EU Region of Peloponnesus Showcasing Innovative Greece Edited by Christos Bezirtzoglou Foreword The first experimental activities to support innovation in relation to regional and social policy, effectively pi- oneering the development of the knowledge-based economy at regional level, were launched by the Commis- sion in 1993-94.
    [Show full text]