In a scene that has become all too familiar in recent years, Greece’s Government Council for Economic Policy (KYSOIP) announced its economic priorities once again on Monday, framing them with grand rhetoric about reform, investment, and digital transformation. Yet for those who have followed Greek policy over the past six years, the announcement felt more like déjà vu than a step forward.
This latest unveiling was presented with confidence and ceremony, echoing the language of change and ambition. But behind the polished delivery lies a repetition of pledges that have already been made—and remade—countless times. From the simplification of licensing procedures and the enhancement of legal certainty to the digitization of the justice system and the long-promised completion of the national land registry, the measures are not new. These exact commitments have featured in nearly every economic strategy since 2019. And despite their frequent appearance, they have either stalled or advanced at a pace that fails to meet the moment.
The same applies to broader economic goals. The push for greater competitiveness continues to rest on infrastructure projects—electricity interconnections, metro expansions—that have either already begun or have been repeatedly announced with little follow-through. Similarly, a much-touted program meant to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand into international markets remains more of a slogan than a functioning policy. After years of promotion, Greece’s SMEs remain largely absent from the global stage.
Perhaps most telling is the treatment of the labor market, a sector that is routinely described as central to the government’s agenda. Here too, the latest plan offers vague language about skills development and “active labor policies,” but no concrete steps. Even the reform of unemployment benefits, announced no fewer than five times in three years, remains unrealized.
To be clear, the direction of these policies is not inherently flawed. Most aim at real and much-needed improvements. But the problem is deeper: these are not new ideas, they lack measurable goals, and most critically, they are not being implemented. There has been no meaningful evaluation of past efforts, no analysis of delays or failures, and no accountability mechanism to ensure promises become results.
