Greece has failed to capitalize on a key opportunity to advance its digital transition, despite committing over €7.6 billion—22% of its total allocation from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)—to digital reforms and investments. That figure exceeds the EU's 20% minimum requirement, but a new report suggests that the impact of this funding has been underwhelming.
The country's national plan included a broad range of digital initiatives, but the distribution of funds did not align with Greece’s most pressing digital needs, as identified by the EU’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). Rather than targeting weaker areas—such as digital skills and public sector digitalization—resources were often funneled into sectors where Greece already performs relatively well.
The report criticizes this approach as a missed strategic opportunity. Although Greece formally met the EU’s digital funding criteria, it appears to have neglected data-driven planning that could have ensured long-term, transformative outcomes.
This shortfall reflects a broader EU-wide issue. According to the European Court of Auditors, over half of digital projects funded under the RRF across member states have faced delays, and nearly a third of final milestones are described as either unclear or insufficiently ambitious. For Greece, this raises the risk of funding projects that may not be completed before the program’s deadline, ultimately limiting the country’s digital progress and weakening the overall return on EU investment.
