Supporting Greece to establish a demographic observatory through evidence-based tools

The European Commission support the Greek Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs in its ongoing efforts to manage demographic change, through establishing and operating a Demographic Observatory with the use of evidence-based tools and methodologies for demographic analysis.  In parallel, targeted support will be provided to the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace to develop and adopt a Regional Demography Action Plan aligned with the strategic directions at national level. This project is funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the OECD, in cooperation with the European Commission’s Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM).

Context

Greece is facing severe demographic challenges, with population ageing, brain drain and large declines in the size of the population projected over the course of this century due to declining birth rates. As a response to that, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, following an extensive consultation process with line ministries and interested groups, developed a National Action Plan on Demography (NAPD) for the period 2025-2035. The plan foresees the establishment of a Demographic Observatory to support policymakers with the monitoring and evaluation of the policies under the NAPD. The Observatory will also support the country’s thirteen Regions to develop their own dedicated demographic plans, adapted to local specificities. These efforts are aligned with the European Union’s agenda on demographic change, including the European Commission’s 2023 Communication on Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action.

Support delivered

For the establishment of the Demographic Observatory, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs will receive support to: (i) create a mission statement, a vision, and a consolidated plan and operating model for the Observatory; (ii) design a monitoring and evaluation framework for the NAPD; (iii) build the methodological and technical capacities to execute its monitoring and evaluation responsibilities; and, (iv) establish guidelines for the development of Regional Demographic Action Plans. The Region of East Macedonia and Thrace will receive dedicated support to: (i) analyse the main demographic challenges the Region faces; and, (ii) develop its Regional Demographic Action Plan.

The support will be based on information gathered through exchanges with various stakeholders in Greece, both through meetings and questionnaires, as well as through exploring good practices from other EU and OECD countries.

Expected results

The technical support is expected to strengthen Greece’s data collection capacities, validation, and reporting practices to effectively monitor and evaluate the impact of policies at the national and regional level to tackle demographic issues. Once fully operational, the Demographic Observatory should be able to provide these capacities in alignment with broader social, economic, and environmental goals. In addition, the technical support is expected to help the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace to use resources and policies in a targeted way to address its demographic challenges.