A consultation seminar titled ‘Cohesion Policy in the 2028–2034 Programming Period – Draft National and Regional Partnership Agreement’ was held at the initiative of Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis.
A Strategic Vision, Not Just Funding
According to Papathanasis, the new National and Regional Partnership Agreement (NRPA) for 2028–2034 is far more than a financial instrument. It represents ‘a pivotal opportunity to shape a shared national development vision — one that integrates diverse European policies, priorities, and funding tools into a single, coherent strategic framework.’
Inclusive Planning as a Prerequisite
Papathanasis stressed that designing the new NRPA cannot—and must not—be driven solely by central government decisions. Instead, it requires the knowledge, experience, and creative input of all stakeholders: regional and municipal authorities, social and economic partners, the business community, academia and research institutions, and civil society at large. Their active involvement is essential to ensure the final agreement is realistic, effective, and tailored to Greece’s actual needs and developmental challenges.
High-Level Participation
The event featured opening remarks from several senior officials, including Tasos Chatzivasileiou, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs; Athanasios Kontogeorgis, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister; Themis Christofidou, Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy at the European Commission; Vasiliki Pantelopoulou, Secretary-General of the Greek Operational Programme ‘Greece 2021–2027’ (ESPA) at the Ministry of National Economy and Finance; and Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission.
Key presentations were delivered by Professor Andrés Rodríguez-Pose of the London School of Economics; Maria Kostopoulou, Director of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI) at the same ministry; and Enrique Garcilazo, Deputy Director at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Thematic Discussions
During the seminar, thematic discussions addressed both the challenges and opportunities for EU Cohesion Policy, as well as the emerging architecture of development and cohesion. Participants included Demosthenes Anagnostopoulos (Secretary-General for Information Systems and Digital Governance), Panagiotis Liargkovas (Professor of Economics, University of Peloponnese), Maria Gavouneli (National Commission for Human Rights), Apostolos Dimitropoulos (Special Advisor on Educational Policy to the Prime Minister’s Office), Christos Goulas (Director-General of the Labour Institute of GSEE), Ioli Christopoulou (Co-Founder and Director of Policy at Green Tank), Giorgos Chatzimarkos (President of the Union of Greek Regions), Fotis Mangos (Secretary-General for the Aegean and Island Policy), Ismini Papakyrrillou (Chief Executive Officer of the Hellenic Development Bank), Valia Aranitou (Scientific Director at the Institute of Commerce and Services of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship), and Athanasios Tsianos (President of the…)