Civil society demands that Greece’s Recovery Plan prioritises making society greener and fairer

Μore than 70 civil society organisations in Greece co-signed an open letter to the Deputy Minister of Finance, Theodoros Skylakakis, initiated by Common Ground and Greenpeace, outlining their priorities for a green and just recovery and seeking more public involvement in developing policies

ATHENS, 23 March 2021 – Greece, like all other member states, has until the end of April to submit a plan* to the EU outlining how it will spend the €32 billion it will receive in recovery funds to overcome the effects of the pandemic. Civil society recognises this as an unprecedented opportunity for a truly just, inclusive, and sustainable transition and seeks transparency in the planning process.

So far, civil society has been largely left out of the process and kept in the dark, despite hopes that it would be inclusive and transparent. “We demand full transparency and accountability in the process of monitoring and in order to keep the citizenry informed.  which is essential for the recovery” says Common Ground spokesperson, Dominika Spyratou.

Given that recent crises (economic, refugee reception, pandemic) have deepened social inequalities in Greece, the signatories contend that recovery policies should target typically overlooked populations such as impoverished households, the homeless, migrants, and refugees.  “The pandemic has worsened the situation of many vulnerable children and families”, says Melina Spathari, spokesperson for child protection organization, Terre des hommes in Greece, adding: “Our countries should think of a recovery that helps families build back better and quicker. COVID-19 presents an opportunity to implement climate sensitive, child sensitive, inclusive and more just recovery strategies for recovery. Our leaders including donors and public institutions  do have a role to play to explore effective interventions. But citizens and civil society, who are the driving force behind innovation and growth, should not be left out of the process”. At the same time, the signatories call for policies that prioritise protecting the environment and reducing the effects of climate change in order to ensure a sustainable future and stave off future disasters and displacement”.  

At the same time, the signatory organizations point out that priority must be given to protecting the environment and reducing the impact of climate change in order to ensure a sustainable future and prevent future disasters and displacement.

“On the one hand, we face a pandemic, the collapse of biodiversity, the climate crisis, and increasing social inequalities. On the other hand, we have an opportunity to use the Recovery Fund to protect our health, biodiversity, the planet and to promote social justice not just to pre-pandemic levels, but to make our society stronger, healthier, and more cohesive than ever” says Nikos Charalambidis, Director of Greenpeace Greece.

 Common Ground and the letter’s co-signers urge the Greek government to:

• Invite the public, and in particular civil society, to submit their proposals for spending the recovery funds before the government submits its final plan in April and ensure their meaningful participation in the plan’s design, implementation and monitoring.
• Prepare a detailed action plan detailing proposed programmes, objectives, beneficiaries and expected impact, which includes valid environmental, social and economic indicators. 
• Improve clarity and transparency around the process, including regular information exchange sessions with stakeholders and public awareness campaigns.

Why it matters: If the above-mentioned measures are implemented as part of a coordinated effort combined with other initiatives and funding opportunities to strengthen public policies, it will lead Greece out of the pandemic and toward a more just and sustainable future.

After years of austerity, the refugee reception crisis and now the pandemic, this large sum of money can enable society to turn a corner and start truly recovering from economic and social problems. To succeed, Greece must avoid repeating the policies of the past that led us to the difficult position we are in today (confronting rising inequalities, polarisation, injustice, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis).

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 * In July 2020, the European Union launched a €750 billion pandemic recovery fund, of which 37% is earmarked specifically for fighting climate change with the rest going toward other investments and reforms to strengthen resilience, a digital transformation, fairness, and macroeconomic stability. EU member states now have until the end of April to submit their final spending plans to account for their share of the financial aid. Greece will receive €32 billion in a combination of grants and loans.

 National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Greece’s official spending plan for the recovery funds.

About Common Ground:  

Common Ground is a new platform for strengthening strategic cooperation among civil society in Greece. From greening the economy to reducing inequalities to safeguarding human rights, Common Ground seeks to accelerate change through joint action.

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