- Government officially wraps up the GRecoISLANDS Charter strategy
- Covers 39 small islands (yes, the tiny ones with fewer than 3,500 folks)
- NSRF 2021-2027 funds the project (think European piggybank)
- Published in the Government Gazette (because bureaucracy never sleeps)
- Focuses on sustainable growth, smarter tech, and greener living (so everyone can finally recycle in peace)
- Local councils will do the grunt work, not Athens
- Municipalities must submit their own Local Action Plans to get money and the snazzy ‘GRecoISLAND‘ badge
So, They Finished Planning—Now What?
The government put down their pens and finished the GRecoISLANDS Charter. After months of reports, meetings, and probably too many lukewarm coffees, Greece now has an official set of rules for spending public money on 39 little islands. If you live on one of these, congratulations—your municipality gets to play “Sim City: Aegean Edition.” The Charter, starring in the latest issue of the Government Gazette (FEK B’ 2119, for fans of government paperwork), says who gets paid, how, and for what, thanks to the NSRF 2021-2027 programs backing the whole spectacle.
Municipal councils are now in charge of planning and implementing changes, with regional offices playing a supporting role. Rolling out green projects and making small islands slightly less isolated has become a state hobby, all thanks to co-financing agreements written in legal Greek (the kind that makes your head spin).
From Strategic Plans to Municipal Foot-Dragging (AKA ‘Implementation’)
Now that the paperwork’s finished, watch for calls for expression of interest landing in local inboxes across the Ionian, North, and South Aegean islands. Every town hall with fewer than 3,500 permanent residents will soon be asked, “Interested in free money for making your island less boring?” Only the best plans win the elusive “GRecoISLAND” label—and yes, someone will probably frame that certificate in the mayor’s office.
So who gets the credit? The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, made it official. He celebrated the Charter and thanked everyone except those who’ll have to carry out the work (good luck, local bureaucrats). NSRF staff, the steering committee, and Secretary General Vasiliki Pantelopoulou all earned a pat on the back for helping Greece’s islands look less like tourist clichés and more like sustainable, modern communities.
Main Points Recap:
- Charter published; planning phase is done and dusted;
- 39 small islands covered;
- NSRF provides funding through 2027;
- Municipalities take over local planning and projects;
- New “GRecoISLAND” label as a badge of eco-friendliness and innovative ideas;
- The initiative is designed to stop small islands from falling behind in growth and social ties.
If you’re on a small Greek island, prepare for more forms, maybe some wind turbines, and a new logo for your town’s website—assuming they finally fix that, too.
