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Enhancing Greece's Economic Resilience Through Targeted Technical Assistance Initiatives

The Task Force for Greece (TFGR) has actively engaged in improving Greece's economy through various technical assistance (TA) policy domains, including establishing effective dialogue, providing expert missions, and implementing long-term projects for economic reform. Key areas of focus involve business environment improvements, such as cutting red tape, public procurement, trade facilitation, and access to finance for SMEs. Notable results include a projected annual economic boost of EUR 5.2 billion and a 50% reduction in export processing times over three years, showcasing the comprehensive efforts to enhance market functionality.

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Enhancing Greece's Economic Resilience Through Targeted Technical Assistance Initiatives

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  1. TFGR Greece Task Force for Greece

  2. 12 active TA policy domains Task Force for Greece

  3. TA delivery methods : 1. Upstream dialogue, preparation and coordination 2. Expert missions (Sept 2011-Sept 2013): • 356 expert missions including 29 workshops • 1965 Expert Days • heavy investment of "own-resources" by MS Domain Leaders (FR, NL, DE); • 25 MS have provided experts; Most active: FR, NL, DE, SE, BE, EE, ES, AU, UK, DK 3. Small value EU COM contracts (since Nov 12): 36 signed contracts of € 418,000 4. Long-Term assistance projects: • EU COM funded projects: 6 [8,3M €] + 4 in discussion for [2M€] • GR funded projects: 2 [2,2M€] with OECD + 1 with WHO [10m]

  4. Number of Expert days (mostly funded by EC):break down by policy field:total 1965 expert days. TA missions: breakdown by policy field (total of 356 missions) Task Force for Greece

  5. Business environment Task Force for Greece

  6. Business EnvironmentOpening up markets: • OECD and Greek Administration • SectorsScreened • Food • Retail • Construction products • Tourism • OECD found 555 problematic provisions in regulations (e.g. Barriers to Entry; Price Distortions ; Third-party levies) • 329 Recomendations : total effect from rising expenditure, increased turnover and lower prices for the Greek consumer EUR 5.2 billion annually, or the equivalent of 2.5% of GDP. • Nextstep: Omnibus Law in preparation to ParliamentbeforeEaster Task Force for Greece

  7. Business Environment:Cutting red tape: OECD and Greek Administration: targetis to cutadmin, burden for companies by 25% 13 SectorsScreened: VAT, Public Procurement, Company Law/AnnualAccounts, Working Environment/EmploymentRelations, Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Fisheries, Food Safety, Pharmaceutical Legislation, Statistics, Telecommunications, Tourism OECD measured the administrative burdens of legislation & is in the process of making recommendations in thesesectors 3. Nextstep: Omnibus Law in preparation to parliamentbeforeEaster Task Force for Greece

  8. Business environment: Public procurement • 3 main working streams for which TA is provided: • 1) Comprehensive reform of public procurement legislation • TA is provided to the Single Public Procurement Authority, who presented in December a draft codified and simplified PP law • 2) Centralisation of procurement through the creation of Central Purchasing Bodies and the use of framework agreements • TA is provided to SG Commerce – first wave of framework agreements is currently being launched • 3) Effective use and enhacement of e-procurement tools • (e-notification portal+e-procurement platform) 2 independent experts evaluated the 2 systems and drafted a report with suggestions to improve their functionalities Task Force for Greece

  9. Business environment:Trade Facilitation • Achievements: • Adoption of a detailed TF roadmap (-50% time to export in 3 years) • Pre-Customs: simplification riskanalysissystems and roll-out of approvedtrader scheme for exporters of fruits and vegetables… • Customs: opening of the customs brokers profession, roll out of eCustoms, riskbasedcontrols, electronicprocedures/payments… • Priorities for TA: • Pre-Customs: simplification of national legislation, development of electronictools for traders (single-window for exports) • Customs: • Continuation of simplification reforms in customs offices • Development of a Long term strategy for Customs to support the national budget & economic policy, trade & business needs

  10. Financing of Real Economy Task Force for Greece

  11. Access to Finance (1/2) • Banking sector • 1st round of recapitalisation of Greek banks has been finalised • Total volume of loans to corporates is still decreasing • Liquidity instruments supported by EU Structural Funds • 1,7 bn EUR from EU Structural Funds (SF) were provided to generate - together with banks - in total 3,2 bn EUR new loans for SMEs • 360 million EUR of new loans were contracted until December 2013 • TA focused on two directions: • improve effectiveness of financial instruments under SF • create a new instrument to complement lending (guarantee scheme) Task Force for Greece

  12. Access to Finance (2/2) • 4. Improve effectiveness of SF • High level discussion platform (MoD, banks, SMEs, TFGR, ETEAN, EIF, EIB)which proposes ideas to improve access to credit for SMEs • Main conclusions: Lack of collateral; simplification of instruments and procedures is needed • Electronic information platform with all existing financial instruments and creation of a National SMEs application tool • Working group on simplification (MoD – TFGR) • 5. Institution for Growth in Greece (IfG) • Steering committee (Hellenic Republic, German KfW, EIB, EIF, EU Commission, France) • Law passed in December 2013: Greece provides 350 million EUR;KfW: 100 million EUR; Onassis foundation 30 million EUR • Implementation planned before summer break • 6. Better design for next programming period financial instruments Task Force for Greece

  13. Structural Funds Task Force for Greece

  14. Structural Funds • Figures for nextprogramming period : • Total Envelope EU Funds (excl EAFRD) 15.5Bln€ • ERDF 8.37 Bln€; • ESF 3.95 Bln€; • CF 3.24Bln€; • Agri related 18.2Bln € • EAFRD 4.2Bln€; • Support to markets 14Bln€; • Priorities for TA: • Finalisation of partnership agreement for 2014-2020 + preparation of operational programmes; • Simplification of management and control procedures Task Force for Greece

  15. Public Administration Reform Task Force for Greece

  16. Reform of public administration (1/2) • Achievements: • Set-up of the Council of Reform (GCR) and of the SG interministerial coordination • Preparation of a 2 yearsstrategy and action plan for the reform (including HR topics) (imminent adoption) • GCR decisions on reorganization of the of line Ministries • Staff reduction (>200,000 staff over last 4 years) • Priorities for TA: • Optimal functioning of GCR and SG interministerial • Finalization of the evaluation of public entities • Implementation of the transformation decisions taken by the GRC • Adoption and implementation of the 2 years action plan - definition of relevant financing • Adoption and implementation of the Digital and eGovernmentstrategies • Procedure of selection of middle & senior managers Task Force for Greece

  17. Reform of public administration (2/2) • Main chapters covered by the 2 years action plan (example of actions) • Improve the coordination of the administration: capacity of the GRC to steer, development of policy, … • (2) Enhance the internal effectiveness: strengthen support functions (HR, ICT, audit, internal control, etc)…. • (3) Strengthen the efficiency and accountability of the civil servants: evaluation of civil servants performance, internal mobility capacity, etc • (4) Design a citizen-oriented public sector: improve key processes which are linked to citizens and companies' satisfaction • (5) Communicate and manage change • (6) In parellel strong ICT component to the modernisation of the state

  18. Anti corruption Task Force for Greece

  19. Anti-money-laundering/anti-corruption: • Recent developments • Extensive training for AML and AC officials (over 700 participants); • New AML law setting up a registry of bank accounts, system is operational end of January 2014; • Appointment of national coordinator on Anti-Corruption responsible for implementing the national strategy on AC; Fighting Anti-Corruption will contribute to supporting economic growth. • Strong activity of Financial Intelligence Unit (1446 cases of suspected tax evasion, 405 cases sent to Prosecutor's Office, freezing of assets worth more than EUR 140 million). • Nextpriorities for TA: • Adoption and implementation of the New Agenda for Anti Money Laundering, includingrecommendationsfrom AML Network report; • Support of anti-corruption coordinator and his office; • Developproperimplementation plan for AC strategy. • Develop actions for AC strategy in use of structural funds Task Force for Greece

  20. Conclusions Task Force for Greece

  21. Reform design phase over: time for implementation: • Political leadership remain crucial; • Change management and leadership skillslacking; • Resource constraints (staff, motivation, budget); • Cross-Ministerial coordination; • Broadening of TA programme: • >50% of TA directedtowardsadminreform and tax/budget; • Doubling of support for use of otherpolicies (cohesionfunds, AML/AC, privatisation + land registry, privatehealth). • Financing of future TA. • Centrallymanaged budget for TA • Small value contracts • Long term projects • Art 25 of new SF regulation Transfer of fund from shared management (GR) to the Commission for TA purposes Conclusions: Task Force for Greece

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