Support for the Regions: From now on, policy actions
and not just policy announcements

In recent years, we have noted that more and more emphasis is being placed on policies supporting regional development and convergence. Here at the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (FING), we feel that the only way forward is for the present government to implement policy measures, which support the elimination of regional inequalities and aim at regional fusion.

Furthermore, as far as the implementation of a specific regional policy is concerned, from the start of the 1st Community Support Framework (1989 – 1993) and also during the subsequent CSFs, any ‘nation-wide’ regional policy created, has been incorporated in the overall Community policies both in terms of funding and in terms of the general lines of action required by the funding in question.
However, taking into consideration that 17 years have gone by during which Greek regional policy has been implemented, we have as yet seen no sign of a reduction in inter- and intra-regional inequalities, at least in terms of GDP. In addition, it is not known if the rise in the country’s GDP, and hence in the GDP of each of the regions, is due to the impact of regional policy or to the influence of other independent factors.

We have therefore made a list of 20 proposals aimed at resolving some of these issues, with a view to eliminating regional inequalities.

We feel that it is important to focus on the following points:
1. concerted efforts by the government to attract foreign direct investment – targeted and integrated – which will be focused in the regions beyond Attica, and particularly in Northern Greece,
2. support for innovation and applied research in the regions,
3. faster implementation of the CSF, particularly as regards regional projects,
4. the reduction of bureaucracy in all spheres of public administration,
5. the creation of the Eastern Thessaloniki Innovation Zone in order to attract foreign direct investment for innovation,
6. the realisation of transport and entrepreneurship infrastructures,
7. the formation of Regional Councils for Competitiveness,
8. the removal of inconsistencies in the legislative framework regarding entrepreneurship, with priority to be given to those laws that have a direct impact on implementing investments,
9. more incentives to businesses, encouraging an outward-looking attitude and leading to improved export performance,
10. the establishment of agreed measures with a decidedly long-term scope that will support innovation and technological research,
11. the acceleration of structural changes and market liberalisation in all economic sectors,
12. persistent government policy to reduce public debt,
13. the fixing of standards by means of which public sector efficiency will be evaluated,
14. the eradication of corruption in the public sector,
15. the immediate commencement of a dialogue with business support bodies, regarding the content of the new development law to be put into force in 2007,
16. making the regional dimension as prominent as possible in the 4th Community Support Framework,
17. the improvement and/or alteration of the legislative framework regarding the labour market,
18. the development of human resources with computer and information technology skills,
19. the administration of penalties to those who do not abide by the rules of healthy competition, and
20. active support from the state for the development of actions promoting an outward-looking attitude in Northern Greek businesses.

Our proposals can be implemented at once and are realistic. They contribute substantially to development, support healthy internationalisation, promote outward-looking policies in Greek businesses and create the conditions for the further growth of businesses that remain within the Greek borders.

The only thing that remains to be done is for the government to take the relevant initiatives and decisions … The time has come for the Greek government to focus on the regions – with policy actions and not just policy announcements.