"End of an era" for 21 organizations

According to an announcement by the ministry of Administrative Reform, 21 organizations are being merged under a pilot scheme as part of cuts in public spending. These institutions were financed with almost 40 million euros per year.

Initially the merged organizations will be those "that provide similar services" and it is estimated that "the merger will be able to provide the same services to citizens at lower cost for the state budget and greater efficiency, because the new organizations will be able to better exploit the available resources, streamline the use of real estate, limit boards and management positions etc."

As minister Antonis Manitakis has already said the staff of these organizations, totaling 5,256 employees, will not be laid off but will be transferred to other departments of the public sector based on staff evaluation. In all cases these services will continue to be provided either by the new organizations that will emerge, or by the supervising ministries.

According to the ministry the merged institutions were organized in 213 legal bodies throughout the country. There will be 9 groupings after the mergers, which will be organized in 34 legal bodies.