Greece’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR, 2018) was followed by the National Strategy for Sustainable and Fair Growth 2030 (2019), the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0” (2021), and the second VNR (2022), alongside other sectoral strategies. Progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is monitored through a set of quantitative national indicators developed by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

Greece does not currently have a standalone National Sustainable Development Strategy or a dedicated National Implementation Plan for the SDGs. Rather than relying on a new SDG action plan, Greece now mainstreams the SDGs through major binding strategic plans, public policies, better regulation and budgetary processes, and sectoral reforms. 

The SDGs are integrated horizontally across the Government Programme and key national policy frameworks, following a whole-of-government approach coordinated at the centre of government.

The three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social, and environmental – are embedded in national policy planning and reflected in strategic reform programmes, national strategies, and action plans. At the level of strategic policy documents, the SDGs are mainstreamed into two overarching documents, prepared by the General Secretariat of Coordination of the Presidency of the Government in cooperation with the Ministries: the Annual Ministerial Action Plans (AMAPs) and the Annual Consolidated Governmental Policy Plan (ACGPP). The AMAPs set out annual strategic options, policy axes, and main actions that each Ministry is required to implement and the number of bills to be ratified by Parliament or other regulatory acts as part of the Government’s regulatory planning. Both the planned legislative initiatives and policy measures contained in the AMAPs are inextricably linked to the SDGs. The ACGPP, which is a synthesis of the individual AMAPs, reflects the Government’s annual planning across all key policy areas linked to the SDGs, encompassing policy measures, legislative initiatives and programmes structured around specific milestones, targets and timelines.

Other key national frameworks that integrate the overarching principles and objectives of the SDGs include: (i) the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (“Greece 2.0”), adopted in 2021, which includes a wide range of policy reforms and investments closely related to the 2030 Agenda; (ii) the National Reform Programmes (until 2023); (iii) the Medium-Term Fiscal-Structural Plan 2025–2028; and (iv) several horizontal and thematic National Action Plans and Strategies that address core economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, including, inter alia, the National Energy and Climate Plan, the Just Transition Development Plan, and the National Strategy for Research, Technological Development and Innovation (2021–2027).

The Greek National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Greece 2.0), which was among the first national plans submitted to the European Commission on 27 April 2021, includes a comprehensive package of reforms and investments that are closely aligned with the key objectives and priorities of the 2030 Agenda. The Plan is structured around four (4) main pillars inextricably linked to the SDGs: (a) the green transition, (b) the digital transition, (c) employment, skills and social cohesion, and (d) private investment and the transformation of the economy.

The “Leave No One Behind” principle of the 2030 Agenda is mainstreamed through public policies and reform measures, placing particular emphasis on those who are furthest behind, promoting human rights, gender equality and social inclusion, not least for people with disabilities, minorities, women and children. Illustrative examples include the National Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2024–2030), the National Strategy for the Prevention of Violence and the Addressing of Juvenile Delinquency (2025–2030), and the National Action Plan for the Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (2022–2027). The National Action Plan for Gender Equality (2021–2025) continues to apply on a transitional basis while the new National Action Plan for 2026–2030 is being finalised. Other examples include the National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction (2022) and the National Strategy for LGBTI+ Equality (2021).

At the same time, significant reforms and investments in education, vocational training and employability of human capital are being developed.

Annual Consolidated Governmental Policy Plan (ACGPP)

Annual Ministerial Action Plans (AMAPs)

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (“Greece 2.0”)

National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP)

National Reform Programmes (until 2023)

Medium-Term Fiscal-Structural Plan 2025–2028

Horizontal and Thematic National Action Plans and Strategies:

• National Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2024–2030)
• National Strategy for the Prevention of Violence and the Addressing of Juvenile Delinquency (2025–2030)
• National Action Plan for the Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (2022–2027)
• National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction (2022)
• National Strategy for Research, Technological Development and Innovation (2021-2027),
• National Action Plan for Gender Equality (2021–2025); the 2026–2030 plan is currently being finalised
• National Strategy for LGBTI+ Equality

SDG Indicators Portal (Hellenic Statistical Authority):

https://www.statistics.gr/en/sdgs

The overall responsibility for monitoring and coordinating the national implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs lies with the Presidency of the Government.

Within the Presidency of the Government, the General Secretariat of Coordination ensures coherence and coordination of the whole government work, including the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies related to sustainable development.

Other units within the Presidency of the Government relevant to sustainable development governance include the Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which plays an instrumental role in ensuring the integration of the sustainability principle in the legislative process, and the Special Secretariat of Foresight, which supports and informs the long-term strategic planning and decision-making process of the Government through forward-looking analysis relevant to sustainability and the economic, social and institutional resilience of the country.

Coordination across ministries

Greece promotes Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development through a centre-of-government coordination model under the Presidency of the Government.

The General Secretariat of Coordination (GSCO) oversees the full policy cycle of the Government Programme, including the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies implemented by ministries. It supports ministries in drafting the Annual Action Plans and monitors implementation through a centralised monitoring system.

A dedicated Management Information System (“ΜΑΖΙ”) is used to track the implementation of public policies, including responsible institutions, deadlines, milestones and deliverables. 

An Inter-ministerial Coordination Network for the SDGs has been operating since 2016, bringing together focal points from all ministries responsible for mainstreaming SDG-related issues into sectoral and horizontalpublic policies. In 2021, a Working Group on the SDGs was established under the auspices of the GSCO to coordinate the preparation of Greece’s second Voluntary National Review and strengthen cooperation among ministries and stakeholders.

The Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (GSLPA) plays a central role in promoting the integration of the core principles and objectives of the 2030 Agenda into regulatory governance and the legislative process. This role is reflected in the main mandate of the GSLPA, which serves as the key institutional body within the Presidency of the Government responsible, inter alia, for coordinating and overseeing the implementation of regulatory governance; ensuring the coherence and proper coordination of the law-making process; and facilitating the effective application of the principles and tools of Better Regulation.

In addition, the Special Secretariat of Foresight contributes to long-term policy planning by identifying future challenges, trends and risks relevant to sustainable development and national resilience.

Coordination with the subnational level

Local and regional authorities are involved in SDG-related processes through consultation mechanisms and participation in policy discussions and national reporting processes.

Regional and local authorities participated in the preparation of Greece’s 2018 and 2022 Voluntary National Review reports and contribute to the implementation of sustainability-related initiatives, including urban mobility planning, environmental protection policies, and regional development programmes. Strengthening the territorial anchoring of the SDGs and enhancing cooperation between national and subnational levels has been identified as an important priority in the VNR consultation process.

Two Greek local authorities have submitted Voluntary Local Reviews to the United Nations: the Municipality of Skiathos (2020) and the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios (2023).

The National Strategy for Regional and Local Development is an integrated public policy framework that aims to reduce uneven development and enhance sustainable development in all regions of the country. This strategy is based on a multi-level planning process, which combines national development programming with local planning, through systematic consultation (consultation rounds) with regions, municipalities, productive actors and local communities. In this context, local development plans are agreed and drawn up that reflect the specific needs and comparative advantages of each region, intending to effectively utilize available national and European resources. By linking local planning with central public policies, the strategy seeks to strengthen economic activity, social cohesion and demographic sustainability of the Greek regions.

Addressing spillover effects

Potential transboundary and intergenerational effects are considered through policy impact-assessment mechanisms, including Regulatory Impact Assessment.

OECD reporting identifies Greece among the countries using impact-assessment tools to assess the transboundary impacts of policies.

Positive spillover effects associated with Greece’s development cooperation policies and remittance flows are also recognised as contributing to sustainable development in partner countries.

Coordination with stakeholders

Stakeholder participation plays an important role in Greece’s SDG implementation framework.

The preparation of both the 2018 and 2022 Voluntary National Review reports followed a multi-stage consultation process involving ministries, regional and local authorities, social partners, civil society organisations, academia and international organisations.

The consultation process included:

• coordination with ministries through the Inter-ministerial SDG Network and the Working Group on the SDGs

• consultations with stakeholders and social partners

• public consultation through the government’s online platform opengov.gr

In addition, the Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Presidency of the Government submits significant draft laws, which are introduced to the Hellenic Parliament for discussion and adoption, to the Economic and Social Council of Greece with a view to issuing specific opinions. The Economic and Social Council of Greece constitutes the main constitutionally recognized institution of the Greek State responsible for conducting consultations and social dialogue on the country’s general policy. Through these opinions, key economic, social and environmental aspects and dimensions of draft legislation are highlighted and examined, many of which are closely linked to the SDGs.

• Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (GSLPA)
• Voluntary Local Review - City of Skiathos
• Voluntary Local Review - Municipality of Agios Dimitrios

The overall responsibility for monitoring and coordinating, at the highest political level, the national implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs lies with the Presidency of the Government (PoG), with a view to coordinating the planning process and monitoring the implementation of the work, ensuring the promotion of a whole-of-government approach and reinforcing the much-needed political ownership of public policies.

The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) maintains and regularly updates a set of national indicators for monitoring quantitative progress towards the achievement of the 17 SDGs at national level. The latest available data are accessible through ELSTAT’s SDG portal, alongside its annual publication “Sustainable Development Goals 2030: Indicators and Statistics”.

Integration of SDGs into monitoring

SDGs are integrated into the monitoring of public policies and national planning processes.

Relevant tools supporting this integration include:

• sustainability indicators integrated into the monitoring of government policies;

• The Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Presidency of the Hellenic Government and especially its Better Regulation Office monitors the alignment and compatibility of draft laws submitted to Parliament for adoption with the fundamental principles and objectives of the SDGs. In this context, it examines the manner and extent to which specific provisions of draft bills across different policy areas, as well as their accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis, integrate key economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions of sustainable development and contribute to the achievement of specific SDGs (in terms of goals and targets).
• In August 2026, the Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs completed an update of the Regulatory Impact Analysis Manual and Template. The updated framework places greater emphasis on clearly identifying the problem and the need for regulatory intervention, setting specific and measurable objectives, quantitatively and qualitatively assessing expected impacts, monitoring implementation and evaluating the results of regulatory measures.

• The Greek central government mainstreams environmental considerations into the State Budget through green and performance budgeting. Under the green budget tagging framework, the environmental impact of budgetary programmes is assessed against the six environmental objectives of the EU Taxonomy. Green budget tagging has been extended across all central government entities and decentralised administrations.

Hellenic Statistical Authority SDG Indicators Portal:

https://www.statistics.gr/en/sdgs

Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs – Updated Regulatory Impact Analysis Manual and Template (August 2026)

State Budget 2026 (green budgeting) p.93

Reporting

Greece has submitted two Voluntary National Reviews on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda:

• Voluntary National Review – 2018

• Voluntary National Review – 2022

The preparation of the 2022 VNR was coordinated by the Presidency of the Government and involved contributions from all ministries, the Hellenic Statistical Authority, the Hellenic Parliament, regional and local authorities, civil society organisations and social partners. 

Review mechanisms

Review mechanisms include:

• monitoring of government policies through the Presidency of the Government;

• parliamentary scrutiny, particularly through the Special Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection, which integrates SDG-related issues in its work and monitors relevant government initiatives;

• consultation processes involving stakeholders and civil society;

• participation in international peer exchange processes, including OECD work on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development.

Voluntary National Review 2022

Voluntary National Review 2018

Hellenic Statistical Authority SDG Indicators Portal:

https://www.statistics.gr/en/sdgs

Government Public Consultation Platform (opengov.gr)

Presidency of the Government – General Secretariat of Coordination

Presidency of the Government – Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs