The Reform Observatory of the Centre for Planning and Economic Research (Center for Planning and Economic Research) aims to monitor developments in key areas and pillars of reform policy, as identified on the basis of the country’s reform programmes. As part of its work, the Observatory periodically publishes the Reforms Observatory Bulletin, which aims to inform public opinion on the state of play of key dimensions of the reform project.
The first issue of the KEPE Reform Observatory Bulletin was issued in February 2023 and focuses on the multidimensional reform programme implemented with a view to the digital transformation of the Greek economy.
Initially, the Bulletin recognises the use of digital technologies for the transformation of businesses and services as one of the key policy priorities at European Union level in recent years. In Greece, the necessary reforms to be implemented in order to achieve the digitalisation of the Greek economy are planned in accordance with the Digital Transformation Paper 2020-2025, which is in line with the European policy framework and supported by important financial tools available to the European Union for this purpose. These are essentially four categories of reforms, namely the development of very high capacity digital infrastructure and technologies, the promotion of the digital transformation of businesses, digital skills and the digitalisation of public administration.
Specifically for upgrading the digital skills of the workforce and citizens as a whole, it is identified as one of the main objectives of the digital transition strategy at European level, and a key condition for the efficiency of the reforms and investments implemented in the other areas of digital design. It involves cooperation both at transnational level and between domestic public and private bodies and organisations, educational institutions, social partners in areas such as:
- upgrading digital education and training programmes;
- strengthening the National Digital Competence Academy and
- strengthening the National Alliance for Digital Skills and Jobs by linking the website nationalcoalition.gov.gr to the European Digital Skills Jobs Platform (DSJP), giving users greater opportunities for information.
Finally, he points out that in order to achieve its digital transformation Greece has in its reach a number of valuable strategic texts such as the 2030 Digital Compass and financial tools such as the Connecting Europe Facility, the Technical Support Instrument, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Digital Europe Programme.
With regard to the Centre for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE)
It is the largest research institute for economic science in Greece to investigate issues relating to the Greek economy. In addition, as the advisory body of the Minister for Development and Investment, by which it is supervised, the KEPE provides the official State with technical services in economic and social policy matters. The specialisation of the research staff of the KEPE (in the majority of economists, doctoral graduates) in specific fields, as well as the maintenance of the research staff in a common roof, results in the pooling of know-how and the pooling of experience and knowledge in order to carry out complex analyses.
You can read the study at: https://www.kepe.gr/images/dpm/DPM_NO1_2023.pdf