As part of efforts to embrace innovation and benefit from the latest in information and communication technologies (ICT), Greece has set up high-tech Citizen Service Centres (KEP) right across the country.
- 17 August 2011
Projects such as this are helping the EU to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020, as set out in the EU 2020 growth strategy. The EU is facing some tough challenges, including an ageing population, an insufficiently qualified workforce, the need for greater innovation, striking a balance between economic growth and environmental degradation, and ensuring secure, clean energy supplies. Regional policy projects across the EU are playing an active role in dealing with these and many other challenges, by undertaking projects designed to generate employment, raise educational achievement, develop renewable energy sources, boost productivity and give all citizens access to opportunities. The projects and the regions play a pivotal role in this, as they generate real results that contribute to achieving the strategy’s key goals.
This advanced multi-channel system delivers public services to citizens and businesses and its impact is clear to see. Every day, thousands of Greeks are either walking into the 1 132 Citizen Service Centres set up, calling the 24/7 call centre or visiting the website to conduct their affairs with public bodies.
‘KEP and it's done’
Known also as operation Ariadni, the new system now provides services and administrative information as well as support for businesses and citizens. ‘KEP and it's done’ is the system slogan, reflecting the fast and reliable service it provides. Areas covered include tax, justice, health, the environment, public order, culture and many more including vehicle transfer registrations, licences, birth certificates, and so on. With the use of digital authentication, citizens and businesses can be assured that their information and data remain secure.
This seamless suite of integrated channels has proven to be a high-profile, e-Government project and its impact on citizens and administrations remarkable, providing a good example of synergy between the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund.
Digital gap on the way out
The Citizen Service Centres are helping Greece achieve several EU objectives, notably in the areas of innovation and social inclusion, with more Greeks having equal access to the services on offer, whether online, over the phone or in person. This is addressing the problem of low levels of ICT use in Greece in recent decades, particularly when compared to many other EU Member States. As such, the ‘digital gap’ caused by factors such as geography, age and gender is gradually being eliminated. By 2013, 38% of Greeks should be using the Internet for transactions with public services, up from the 8% mark in 2005. The project is also expected to contribute to savings in person-days for businesses and citizens in respect of transactions with public administrations.