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Pilot report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on the changes taken by the Greek government

11 September 2011 / 17:09:57  GRReporter
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Based on qualitative analysis of public administration, by October the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development will establish a "White Book" for an effective state. 

The report is based on the results of detailed mapping carried out by public sector employees, who were divided in 16 panels composed of the former Interior Ministry, headed by secretaries of ministries. 

The study was conducted with the support of the Secretariat of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) during the period February-June 2011. Used were also data from several studies conducted by the OECD Secretariat in Greece from 2008 to 2011. Findings are based on reforms that the Greek Government aims to undertake within the framework of the Operational Programme "Administrative Reform 2007-2013" and the "recovery program" referred to in the Memorandum. 

The main objective of these reforms is the creation of a strategic country, which is able to determine, guide and monitor the implementation of policy objectives. Field of the study application of the Greek public sector is limited to central services. "The central administration is still located in the heart of the reform program," the report said. 

A second law "Kalikratis" appears in the narrow public sector, which will bring radical changes in administrative structures, the creation of a strategic country, but also labor movements of the thousands of officials from ministries and local authorities. 

The qualitative assessment of the civil service, done by OECD, virtually ends the stage of mapping the narrow public sector and the weakness of the civil service. At the same time it gives green light for major changes in the state, prepared by the government in the last year and a half. 

The compilation of the "White Book" for a strategic state already commissioned by the Ministry of Administrative Reform, will be presented in late October and is expected to contain all the changes that will begin in 2012, according to the following information: 

Creation of a small, flexible and effective state mechanism. Created will be new organizational structures in ministries where a possibility is discussed to cut 30% of the existing organizational structures. Ministries will be left only with executive powers and the strategic planning of government policies in each sector. 

The government General Secretariat will play an enhanced role in the new government scheme. 

Powers

Executive and administrative powers of the state – i.e. those that relate to customer service - will be transferred to offices located closer to citizens, such as decentralized government bodies and local governments. This will lead to the displacement of thousands of employees from the "central state" in its decentralized agencies or municipalities and districts, with the simultaneous transfer of powers. Employees who will be transferred to decentralized government bodies and local governments will be primarily employees with elementary and secondary education, whose job will be to serve the citizens. 

Employees with higher education (university or technical degrees) will remain in ministries mainly to maintain services. 

State employee and transfer of staff 

With the introduction of the term "public servant" which will happen with the introduction of new full-time table - rank scale in the public sector, will disconnect officials with the ministries in which they work, and they will be considered employees of the Ministry of Administrative Reform. Thus, in combination with the alignment of remuneration of officials of the same service and same professional qualities will increase mobility between ministries. 

At the same time expected to be institutionalized are inter-sector employees (e.g. with a degree in Informatics), which will form groups of employees for "rapid response" in order to complete a particular project and provide expertise. As the OECD report shows the government will seek to increase the mobility of employees aiming to use the "most worthy" in key departments, after appraisal, which will be made each year and will play an important role in the careers of employees. 

Coordinator 

The Secretariat of Government will be strengthened to assume the role of coordinator of the policies pursued by ministries and budget management. Created in each ministry will be Directorate for Coordination, as a strategic unit, which will help the exchange of information between ministries and budgetary oversight of the institution. 

Tags: OECD Greece crisis measures reforms
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