The Attica Region in absorbing European funds for projects and infrastructure that improve the quality of life for citizens in every neighborhood was highlighted by the Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias.
During his speech at the 5th meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the Regional Program “Attica 2021–2027,” which was attended by the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, the regional governor highlighted the developmental aspect of leveraging Attica’s cultural heritage through funds from ESPA and his excellent collaboration with the minister, stating that “behind the numbers, there is always the soul.”
Officials from the European Commission’s “Greece-Cyprus” Department, Panagiotis Pantazatos from the Directorate-General for Regional Policy and Christiana Costinescu from the Directorate-General for Employment.
The event’s panel also included the Secretary General for Public Investments, Katerina Oikonomou and the Director General of the National Coordination Authority of the General Secretariat for the NSRF, Christos Kyrkoglou, who spoke at length about the excellent cooperation with the Region and the regional governor, while praising the successful absorption of European funds.
“The NSRF is not a cold table of numbers, but a tool for regeneration. It is public property that is returned to the citizens,” Mr. Hardalias noted in his remarks, emphasizing that the Attica Region’s strategy focuses on transforming available resources into tangible and measurable results for local communities, through projects that improve daily life, foster entrepreneurship, and strengthen social cohesion.
She noted that over the past two and a half years, impressive progress has been made in implementing the program. Specifically, at the end of 2023 , approval rates stood at 18.24%, legal commitments at 10.82%, and absorption at 5.28%. Today, the corresponding figures stand at 88.47%, 67.80%, and 38.25%, with Attica now ranking first nationwide in fund absorption. “This didn’t happen on its own. It is the result of a plan, daily work, collaboration, and a clear policy choice: Not a single euro should be wasted. No opportunity should be left unexploited,” he emphasized.
With its sights set on the future, Attica
The regional governor also highlighted the revision of the “Attica” Program 2021–2027, which was approved by the European Commission in February 2026 and provided for the reallocation of 10% of available resources toward new priorities that address contemporary challenges. These include measures for affordable housing, water management, safety infrastructure, and the strengthening of critical technologies and competitiveness. “Attica cannot plan based on the conditions of yesterday. It must plan with its sights set on tomorrow,” he emphasized.
In this context, he thanked the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, for his contribution to the balanced and proportional redistribution of resources, as well as for the close cooperation that has developed to implement key projects in every neighborhood of the Athens basin.
Citing examples of ongoing initiatives, Mr. Hardalias referred to the “Attiki On” program, through which 1,044 investment projects by small and micro-enterprises were approved, with total funding of 95.5 million euros. The Kineta water supply project, with a budget of 30 million euros, as well as the 40-million-euro upgrade of the old Athens-Thebes National Highway, a project that combines road safety with flood protection.
Social Initiatives
He made special mention of the social initiatives being implemented through the Program, noting that “development has no meaning if it lacks a social dimension.” Regarding the new “Aenaon” Metropolitan Park in Faliro Bay, one of the largest urban regeneration projects in the Mediterranean with a budget of 370 million euros, he said that the project is back on track thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Region in close collaboration with European institutions.
In closing, the regional governor spoke about the new programming period and the discussion regarding the next Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union, emphasizing that cohesion policy must remain strong and continue to be based on the active role of the regions. “This is what we are calling for: A strong, protected budget for cohesion policy, a fair distribution of resources, and respect for subsidiarity and local self-government,” Mr. Hardalias noted, adding: “The regions cannot be expected to bear the burden of climate resilience, social cohesion, infrastructure, and the daily lives of citizens, while being left out of the actual planning and decision-making processes. Any talk of abolishing regional programs is an affront to citizens’ daily lives. Because Europe needs strong regions with resources, authority, and flexibility. Without strong regions, there can be no socially just development.”
Investments in culture act as catalysts for sustainable development
In her speech, Ms. Mendoni referred to the multiple benefits of investments in culture and their contribution to development and social well-being, emphasizing: “Culture is at the forefront of the national effort for economic recovery, social progress, and improving Greece’s position in a highly competitive international environment.
The Attica 2021–2027 Program is one of the most powerful tools for implementing development policy. Its effective utilization is not limited to the implementation of individual projects and actions. It involves creating the conditions for sustainable, resilient, and socially cohesive development in Greece’s largest region and, by extension, throughout the entire country.
The 2028–2034 Programming Period will unfold under different conditions for Europe. The climate crisis, the energy transition, artificial intelligence, the digital transformation, social cohesion, and the competitiveness of European economies in a new and unstable global geopolitical environment are shaping the Union’s new priorities. In this context, we must strive to ensure that culture occupies the distinct and strong position it deserves. International studies show that every euro invested in cultural projects yields a multiplier effect for the economy. In Attica, in fact, the relevant multiplier stands at 3.61, while thousands of jobs are created or sustained thanks to cultural investments.”
High absorption rates of the NSRF as a foundation for regional development
On the EU side, Mr. Pantazatos acknowledged that “the program ranks first in absorption and is on an excellent track” and congratulated the Managing Authority of the Attica Region “for the work it has done, the calls for proposals it has issued, and the projects it has approved.” He noted that this intensive pace must be maintained in the coming years, as “we have demonstrated that cohesion policy is a modern policy that responds to the needs and challenges of the European Union.”
Ms. Kostinescu observed that “social policy is constantly evolving, adapting to new needs and challenges. The goal is to substantially reduce poverty in the coming years through coordinated actions and partnerships.” She emphasized the need to create better-paying jobs, describing “cooperation with social partners as crucial for strengthening competitiveness and social cohesion.”
Finally, the head of the Special Management Service for the Regional Program (EYDP) “Attica 2021–2027,” Dimitris Drosis, while presenting data on the program’s implementation progress, noted that 93.88% of the calls for proposals have been activated, and that 1.633 projects with 2,482 sub-projects have been included so far, a fact that ranks Attica “first in the absorption of EU funds nationwide, among all Regional and Sectoral Programs”.
