GREECE Doing Business in the European Union 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy Comparing Business Regulation for  Domestic Firms in 24 Cities in Greece, Ireland and Italy  with 187 Other Economies © 2019 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet: www.worldbank.org Some rights reserved 1 2 3 4 19 18 17 16 This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. 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Doing Business in GREECE Alexandroupoli Thessaloniki Larissa Athens Patra Heraklion ii DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY CONTENTS Main findings.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Greek entrepreneurs face different regulatory hurdles depending on where they establish their businesses ................................1 Differences in the business environment across Greece highlight opportunities for cities to learn from each other...................2 What’s next?...................................................................................................................................................................................3 Adopting the good practices of the best performing Greek city in each area measured would propel Greece 18 places higher in the global Doing Business ranking .................................................................................................................................3 Greece can also look to other EU member states for good practices to improve its business environment...................................3 1. Starting a Business ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Starting a business in Greece is easier than elsewhere in the European Union........................................................................................6 Entrepreneurs need to follow only three procedures and wait merely four days to register a business...........................................7 What can be improved?...............................................................................................................................................................................7 2. Dealing with Construction Permits........................................................................................................................................... 9 Construction permitting is inexpensive but could be more efficient ..........................................................................................................9 Builders in Larissa face less red tape and shorter wait times ......................................................................................................................10 Construction permitting fees differ between cities; transparency is lacking across the board.......................................................... 12 Athens and Patra have the strongest building quality control mechanisms............................................................................................ 13 What can be improved?............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 3. Getting Electricity.....................................................................................................................................................................16 Connecting to the grid in Greece is relatively fast and inexpensive........................................................................................................... 16 Significant performance gaps place Patra among the top 10 EU performers for getting electricity, Thessaloniki below the EU average.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 The electricity supply is most reliable in Patra.................................................................................................................................................. 18 What can be improved?............................................................................................................................................................................. 18 4. Registering Property................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Greece lags the EU in both efficiency and the quality of land administration ........................................................................................ 21 The property registration system in Greece is going through a major overhaul..................................................................................... 21 Progress in implementing cadaster reform determines cities’ performance.......................................................................................... 23 Thessaloniki scores highest on the quality of land administration index................................................................................................. 26 What can be improved?.............................................................................................................................................................................27 5. Enforcing Contracts................................................................................................................................................................. 29 Litigation is relatively affordable in Greece but there is room to improve on court efficiency ......................................................... 29 Thessaloniki court’s relative efficiency is proof that local judicial initiatives matter............................................................................ 30 Combining civil and criminal workloads, a lack of courtrooms and backlogs hamper efficiency across all cities...................... 32 Enforcement is relatively slow and costly across Greece............................................................................................................................. 32 Athens and Thessaloniki exhibit the most judicial good practices............................................................................................................ 33 What can be improved?.............................................................................................................................................................................33 City Snapshots and Indicator Details......................................................................................................................................... 39 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................................... 58 DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 1 W hen an economy is ailing, pub- introduced several electronic platforms This report highlights the divergence lic discourse about solutions with different levels of success. For in regulatory performance among six usually focuses on changes to example, the implementation of an IT Greek cities and suggests ways to bridge broad fiscal and monetary policies. Less system in 2012, allowing traders to submit the implementation gap and converge examined are the nuts and bolts that hold export customs declarations electroni- toward best regulatory practices in the the economy together, such as the regula- cally, reduced the time exporters had to five areas benchmarked. tions that determine how easily a business wait for approvals. Registering a business can be started and operated, the rules in Greece is now easier than anywhere that set out and clarify property rights else in the European Union, thanks to a MAIN FINDINGS and facilitate the resolution of disputes, one-stop-shop electronic platform that the efficiency with which goods can be connects several government agencies. By Greek entrepreneurs face imported and exported, and the rules that contrast, the new online platform for the different regulatory hurdles govern access to utility networks. When submission and review of building permit depending on where they these fundamentals are insufficient, it applications has not yet simplified the pro- establish their businesses hinders the intended effect of the more cess for users. Several municipal officials While many of the aspects of busi- visible macroeconomic policies. noted it can be challenging to review plans ness regulation this report analyzes are and drawings on a single computer screen nationally legislated, how a regulation is Recognizing the importance of getting of inadequate size, so they sometimes ask implemented, and the efficiency of public business regulations right, the Greek applicants to re-submit documentation in agencies vary substantially within the government has taken significant action to hard copy. There have also been local ini- country. improve the business environment, attract tiatives to automate. Courts in Athens and investment and set the country on a path Thessaloniki introduced electronic filing It is easier for entrepreneurs to start a of economic recovery from its decade-long systems, but user uptake has been slower business in Alexandroupoli. Dealing with crisis. Much progress is expected in the than expected, and, in Thessaloniki, users construction permits is more efficient in coming years, given the significant num- often face technical issues that render the Larissa, thanks mainly to a more stream- ber of reforms currently underway, includ- system inoperable. lined process to obtain preconstruction ing an ambitious program to complete the clearances and shorter wait times. Patra restructuring of its land administration Creating an efficient, predictable and leads in the areas of getting electricity— system. The country also prioritized judi- inclusive environment for businesses to due to a more reliable power supply and cial reforms—an area where it lags behind grow and function effectively requires a shorter waits for a new connection—and its EU peers—focusing on modernizing coordinated effort by policy makers and registering property, but it lags behind the courts and introducing new legislation implementers at all levels of government. in construction permitting and contract to promote faster proceedings. The national government may take pains enforcement. Thessaloniki stands out for to design regulations that make it easier its performance in enforcing contracts Greece has also been focusing on informa- for entrepreneurs to start and operate and is the runner-up in dealing with tion technology improvements to increase a business, but how the regulations are construction permits, but it ranks last efficiency and provide e-government implemented on the front lines deter- in getting electricity (table 2.1). The dif- services. In recent years, the country has mines success. ferent strengths of these six cities mean TABLE 2.1  No single city excels in all five areas measured Dealing with Starting a business construction permits Getting electricity Registering property Enforcing contracts Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score Rank Score City (1–6) (0–100) (1–6) (0–100) (1–6) (0–100) (1–6) (0–100) (1–6) (0–100) Alexandroupoli 1 96.25 5 66.03 2 85.42 3 46.86 3 52.65 Athens 2 96.00 3 69.53 3 84.74 3 46.86 6 48.11 Heraklion 2 96.00 6 63.99 5 82.70 6 36.69 5 50.94 Larissa 2 96.00 1 70.85 4 84.44 2 47.09 2 55.38 Patra 2 96.00 4 69.09 1 88.11 1 47.77 4 51.32 Thessaloniki 2 96.00 2 70.13 6 81.29 5 44.68 1 57.83 Source: Doing Business database. Note: The indicator scores show how far a location is from the best performance achieved by any economy on each Doing Business indicator. The scores are normalized to range from 0 to 100 (the higher the score, the better). For more details, see the chapter “About Doing Business and Doing Business in the European Union 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy.” 2 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY they all have something to share with and control. For example, obtaining a build- obtain clearances from the Archaeology learn from each other. ing permit for a simple warehouse in Supervisory Authority. It takes between Thessaloniki takes merely 10 days, 10 and 12 days to obtain an archaeologi- Differences in the business thanks to efficient coordination between cal clearance certificate in Athens, Patra environment across Greece the municipality and the public authori- and Thessaloniki, but it takes 6 weeks in highlight opportunities for cities ties that review applications, whereas Heraklion. to learn from each other obtaining the same permit takes nearly Starting a business is the only area two months in Heraklion. Heraklion Similarly, the gap between the highest- measured in which the Greek cities show also struggles with longer wait times to ranking city and the lowest in terms more homogeneous results. Recent reforms that streamlined the registration FIGURE 2.1  There is significant variation in regulatory performance among Greek process, plus the rollout of digital tools, cities in all areas measured, except starting a business made the process more efficient than Score (0–100) anywhere else in the European Union. Starting a Dealing with Getting Registering Enforcing business construction electricity property contracts In the other four areas benchmarked, the permits 100 significant disparities in regulatory per- EU best formance among the six cities can help EU best (Germany) EU best (Greece) (Lithuania) policymakers identify opportunities for improving administrative processes and 90 EU best (Denmark) Patra building the capacity of local institutions EU average (figure 2.1). EU best For example, trial time varies from a (Lithuania) 80 Thessaloniki year and five months in Larissa to just under four years in Athens, perhaps predictably, given the higher caseload Larissa and larger backlogs at the local Single- 70 Member First-Instance Court. However, among cities more similar in size, there is evidence that local judicial initiatives Heraklion can improve efficiency. Thessaloniki 60 Thessaloniki has the second fastest trial time, at a year and eight months, despite being twice the size of Larissa, the fastest city. 50 The relative efficiency of Thessaloniki’s Patra court is due largely to proactive case Athens management and the adoption of bold practice guidelines. The court filed these 40 guidelines with the Ministry of Justice and published them on the court website, Heraklion making it a service charter of sorts. These rules on the court’s operation, including 30 provisions limiting the number of cases each judge can hear per year and adju- dication time limits, are more ambitious 0 than national standards. Highest score in country Lowest score in country Country average Obtaining construction permits is Source: Doing Business database. another area in which the cities’ per- Note: The score shows how far a location is from the best performance achieved by any economy on each Doing Business indicator. The score is normalized to range from 0 to 100 (the higher the score, the better). The averages for formance varies, which is unsurprising Greece are based on data for the six cities benchmarked in the country. The averages for the European Union are based given that many construction-permit- on economy-level data for the 28 EU member states. Other EU member states are represented by their capital city as measured by global Doing Business. For more details, see the chapter “About Doing Business and Doing Business in the ting requirements are under municipal European Union 2020: Greece, Ireland, Italy.” DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 3 of getting electricity is almost seven What regulatory changes in Athens points. Patra’s score (88.11)—high WHAT’S NEXT? could help drive such a jump in Greece’s enough to rank in the top 10 among overall ranking? For one, if Athens EU member states—is better than Eliminating unnecessary red tape and reduced the time to enforce contracts Austria’s. Meanwhile, Heraklion and improving the effectiveness of bureau- to 815 days, as in Larissa, and reduced Thessaloniki perform below the EU cracies can reduce the cost of doing the cost to enforce contracts to 18.1% average. This variation in city perfor- business for local firms, enhancing their of the claim value, as in Patra, Greece mance stems mainly from differences in efficiency and their ability to compete would rise to a ranking of 59, ahead of the efficiency of the connection process abroad. the Netherlands. Similarly, if Athens and in the reliability of the power sup- made its electricity connection process ply. Obtaining an electricity connection This report’s review of the regulatory as efficient as Alexandroupoli’s and the takes 45 days in Alexandroupoli but environment in Greece points to pos- power supply as reliable as Patra’s, the nearly twice as long in Thessaloniki sible improvements (table 2.2). Some country would place among the top 10 (83 days). In 2018, outages in Patra improvements could be achieved by EU performers in this area. Making the were three times less frequent than in replicating EU or global good practices, construction permitting process as effi- Alexandroupoli and five times shorter others by looking to domestic examples. cient as in Larissa would propel Greece in duration than in Larissa. more than 40 places higher in the cor- Adopting the good practices of responding ranking and past France and The most significant disparity between the best performing Greek city in Austria. the cities in regard to the ease of reg- each area measured would propel istering property is the time it takes to Greece 18 places higher in the The potential for cities to improve register the transfer at the local mort- global Doing Business ranking meaningfully extends beyond Athens. gage/cadaster office. It takes 12 days in An effective way forward is to promote Most Greek cities could learn from the Patra and four months in Thessaloniki. the exchange of information and experi- Thessaloniki municipality, for example, Despite lagging in this indicator, ence among cities, enabling under- how to more efficiently process building Thessaloniki stands out on the quality performing ones to learn from those permit applications. Obtaining a building of land administration index, where its with higher rankings. Replicating more permit in this city takes only 10 days, score is almost three times the average efficient processes developed by other which is three times faster, on average, of other cities. Thessaloniki is the only cities within the country could produce then in the other five cities. Similarly, the city in which not only are the cadaster significant efficiency gains without a electronic database Athens and Patra use survey and property registration com- need for major legislative changes. to conduct one-day checks before issuing plete, but the entire territory of the tax clearance certificates for property municipality has been digitally mapped. And because Athens represents Greece transfers could serve as an example to The city has a state-of-the-art website in the Doing Business global ranking, other cities, such as Heraklion, where providing both spatial data infrastruc- improvements in this city would be municipal employees take more than a ture and a geographic information reflected in the country’s ranking. If month to determine if all bills have been system (GIS) portal. These apparently Athens were to replicate the best perfor- paid by searching manually through contradictory results—between the lag mances recorded across the six cities in paper files and receipts that go back 10 time to register and the high quality of the areas of starting a business, dealing years. the registration process—are perhaps with construction permits, getting elec- expected. As with any difficult reform tricity, registering property and enforcing Greece can also look to other that disrupts multiple interest groups, contracts, Greece would rise to 61 in the EU member states for good some things get worse before they get global ranking of 190 economies on the practices to improve its business better. Thessaloniki is the city that has ease of doing business—18 places higher environment made the most progress in implement- than its current ranking according to Even the adoption of the best practices ing the cadaster reform and in tackling Doing Business 2020 (figure 2.2). found within Greece in registering prop- the challenges it faces managing the erty and enforcing contracts would still transition. Small administrative improvements can leave the country lagging most other EU make a seemingly outsize difference to member states. Looking beyond Greece’s small firms, which don’t have access to borders to other EU member states the resources and tools that larger busi- or to global good practices is another nesses can bring to bear to achieve better way to boost competitiveness on these and faster service from bureaucracies. indicators. 4 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY FIGURE 2.2  If Athens adopted each city’s best practices, Greece’s global ranking on the ease of doing business would improve by 18 places, to 61 Greece (Athens) Best of Greece Doing Business 2020 rank Potential rank 8 Starting a Business Starting a business 11 3 procedures (all cities), 3 days (Alexandroupoli), 3 procedures, 4 days, 1.5% income per capita 1.5% income per capita (all cities) 26 Getting electricity 5 procedures (all cities), 45 days (Alexandroupoli), 60% income per capita (all cities except Athens), Getting electricity 40 8 points on reliability of supply (Patra) 5 procedures, 51 days, 68.2% income per capita, 44 7 points on reliability of supply Dealing with construction permits 15 procedures (Alexandroupoli, Larissa), 59 61 133 days (Larissa), 1.2% warehouse value (Larissa, Thessaloniki), 12 points on building quality control (Athens, Patra) Enforcing contracts Ease of doing business 79 815 days (Larissa), 18.1% claim value (Patra), Dealing with construction permits 86 12.5 points on quality of judicial processes (Athens) 17 procedures, 180 days, 1.9% warehouse value, 12 points on building quality control 121 Registering property 10 procedures (Heraklion, Thessaloniki), 24 days (Patra), 4.8% property value (Alexandroupoli, Athens, Larissa), 14.5 points on quality of land administration (Thessaloniki) Enforcing contracts 146 1711 days, 22.4% claim value, 12.5 points on quality of judicial processes 156 Registering property 11 procedures, 26 days, 4.8% property value, 4.5 points on quality of land administration Source: Doing Business database. Note: For the actual rank, Greece is represented by Athens. The hypothetical best ranks for the five regulatory areas shown are based on the best performances recorded among all six cities benchmarked within the country. Those ranks are used along with Athens’s actual ranks for five other regulatory areas measured by Doing Business (getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders and resolving insolvency) to calculate the hypothetical best rank for the overall ease of doing business. To make registering property easier, use pretrial conferences to help parties Greece should conclude the implementa- find common ground and to explore set- tion of the cadaster and also transition tlement options could draw inspiration land records into a fully digital format to from Florence’s Giustizia Semplice model ensure the quality and accuracy of the in their efforts to assess cases suitability cadaster databases. Greece could also for alternative means of dispute resolu- consider making optional the involve- tion. The country could also employ and ment of the legal intermediaries (i.e., optimize electronic tools, such as e-filing lawyers and notaries) who are currently and electronic court management, to necessary to transfer property. Portugal improve court operation today, with the follows this practice, permitting land view of introducing a comprehensive registry clerks to draft deeds on the spot e-court system in the future. at one-stop service desks dedicated to property-related transactions. Greece could make enforcing contracts easier by making a more concerted effort to collect and use court-performance data to inform resource and workload allocations. Greek judges who currently DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 5 TABLE 2.2  Potential opportunities for regulatory improvement in Greece Relevant ministries and agencies* Regulatory area Reform recommendations National level Local and regional level Starting a Promote online business registration • Greek Business Register (GEMI) • Chambers of Commerce and business • Unified Social Security Agency (EFKA) Industry Expand online platform to include social security registration In the longer term, introduce a unique business identification number Dealing with Make fee schedules transparent and accessible and simplify the • Ministry of Environment and Energy • Municipalities and Building construction fee structure • Ministry of Development and offices permits Investments • Regional fire departments Review whether certain preconstruction requirements can be eliminated • Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport • Regional/local police • Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) departments Consolidate preconstruction approvals • Archaeology Supervisory Authority • Local archaeology supervisory authorities • Unified Social Security Agency (EFKA) Enhance the existing electronic building-permitting system • Local cadaster offices • Local boards of architecture Introduce stricter qualification requirements for professionals who review building permit applications Introduce mandatory liability insurance requirements to cover builders and architects in the event of structural defects Getting Identify opportunities to simplify requirements • Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) • Municipalities electricity • Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Introduce an online platform to apply and track application status Operator (DEDDIE) Introduce a geographic information system (GIS) for the electricity distribution network Enhance the reliability of supply Allow paying the connection fees in installments Registering Continue and conclude implementation of the cadaster • Hellenic Cadastre • Mortgage offices property • Ministry of Justice • Cadaster offices Address Hellenic Cadastre staffing issues in order not to discourage cadaster reform implementation • National Tax Authority • Municipalities Digitize cadastral maps and property deeds into a consistent format, in a searchable database to ensure quality and accuracy and to enable electronic registration Introduce standardized contracts for property transfers Consider setting up a separate and specific mechanism to handle complaints regarding Hellenic Cadastre services Introduce a specific compensation mechanism for erroneous transactions Enforcing Consider introducing initiatives to clear historical backlogs • Ministry of Justice • Local First-Instance Single- contracts Member Court Review courts’ staffing needs and consider temporary staffing options to help the most congested courts clear backlogs Consider enhancing case assignment to better balance workloads Actively manage the pretrial phase and encourage alternative dispute resolution (ADR) Introduce a dedicated commercial court or division and provide judges the tools to specialize on commercial matters Enhance electronic tools to improve court operation and case management for judges Consider means to lower the cost and shorten the duration of enforcement *The list includes the main ministries and agencies relevant to each regulatory area, but others might also be implicated. Note: All reform recommendations are detailed at the end of the respective indicator section. 6 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY 1. Starting a Business Small and microenterprises are the back- (figure 2.3). Only four other EU member more than 20% of income per capita. bone of the Greek economy. Unsurprisingly, states—Estonia, Finland, Ireland and To be able to register their companies, simplifying start-up requirements, which Slovenia—manage to achieve this, as Greek entrepreneurs also had to make a are often the first government regulations well. Greek entrepreneurs wait about bank deposit equal to more than 100% entrepreneurs must comply with, has four days to start a business and pay of income per capita.2 This started to been a focus of the government’s reform the equivalent of 1.5% of income per change in 2008, with Law 3661/2008, efforts in recent years. Greece now has capita, less than half the EU average. For which reduced the minimum capital a one-stop shop and online platform to EUR 250 (or less, if done online) entre- requirement and shortened the time help businesses incorporate. The impact preneurs can register directly with the needed for publication of the incorpora- of these reforms may show their effects commercial registry without having to tion announcement for limited liabil- in the coming years. A lot, however, will hire professional intermediaries. By law, ity companies. The registration process depend on creating a favorable business the minimum amount to be deposited was further streamlined in April 2011, environment beyond the start-up phase in cash, before incorporation, as paid-in when Greece implemented an elec- so businesses can grow, create jobs and capital, is a symbolic EUR 1.1 tronic platform (G.E.MI) connecting ramp up innovation. several government agencies.3 One year The process wasn’t always so easy. later, Law 4072/2012 introduced a new, Starting a business in Greece Starting a business in Greece used to simpler and more flexible corporate is easier than elsewhere in the require visiting several government form—the Private Company (IKE)—with European Union offices, completing 15 procedures, fill- a paid-in minimum capital requirement Greece regulates the business start-up ing out numerous forms, waiting more of only EUR 1. Registration costs were process using only three procedures than a month and paying fees totaling lowered again in 2014. In addition, FIGURE 2.3  Starting a business in Greece is relatively fast and inexpensive, compared to EU peers Procedures Time Cost (number) (days) (% of income per capita) 1 1 Slovenia, United Kingdom 0 (EU best) 2 2 1 3 Alexandroupoli All 6 Greek cities 3 member states (EU best) b Greece and 4 othersa Portugal 2 Greek average 4 5 Greek cities (EU best) 3 All 6 Greek cities 5 EU average 3 4 6 Portugal Spain 7 4 5 EU average 11 5 EU average 12 Portugal 6 Spain 6 13 Croatia Croatia, Spain 7 19 7 Croatia 20 8 13 36 Czech Republic, Italy (EU lowest) Germany (EU lowest) 9 Poland (EU lowest) 37 14 Source: Doing Business database. Note: The averages for the European Union are based on economy-level data for the 28 EU member states. a Estonia, Finland, Ireland and Slovenia. b Denmark, Estonia and the Netherlands. DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 7 enhanced information-sharing between TABLE 2.3  Starting a business anywhere in Greece takes 4 days or less and the the Tax Authority and the Chamber of equivalent of 1.5% of income per capita Commerce eliminated the requirement Score Procedures Time Cost for entrepreneurs to obtain a separate City Rank (0–100) (number) (days) (% of income per capita) tax clearance in 2016.4 Chamber of Alexandroupoli 1 96.25 3 3 1.5 Commerce officials can now check Athens 2 96.00 3 4 1.5 directly with the Tax Authority to deter- mine whether company founders have Heraklion 2 96.00 3 4 1.5 outstanding taxes to pay at the time of Larissa 2 96.00 3 4 1.5 registration. Patra 2 96.00 3 4 1.5 Thessaloniki 2 96.00 3 4 1.5 Hand in hand with simplification came Source: Doing Business database. electronic services. At first, the online Note: Rankings are based on the average score for the procedures, time, cost and paid-in minimum capital associated with company registration portal was acces- starting a business. The score is normalized to range from 0 to 100 (the higher the score, the better). For more details, see the chapter “About Doing Business and Doing Business in the European Union 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy.” sible only to G.E.MI representatives and notaries. In 2018, access was granted to the public. Today, an entrepreneur can the announcement, the entrepreneur access the portal5 using an electronic receives signed copies of the company WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED? ID or personal access code from the tax statute and temporary login credentials authority and register a business without to access the portals of the business reg- Given the considerable number of leaving the office or exchanging any istry and tax authority. The Unified Social improvements introduced in the busi- paperwork. Registration fees are 30% Security Agency (EFKA) is automatically ness registration process in recent years, lower for those who take advantage of informed of the company’s establishment continuous outreach campaigns famil- the online services.6 via the G.E.MI platform. iarizing private sector stakeholders with the reformed processes are essential Entrepreneurs need to follow The next step is to visit the local EFKA to ensure the full adoption of the new only three procedures and wait office to register the company manager. regulations by the business commu- merely four days to register a Registering other members of the new nity. Going forward, the country could business company is optional.9 consider the following areas of possible In Greece, starting a business anywhere improvement. in the country requires the same fees and Additionally, Greek companies need a the same three procedures, which take company seal, which can be purchased Promote online business registration three or four days to complete (table 2.3). from third-party suppliers. Seals are Thanks in part to government incentives, necessary especially when dealing with such as offering online registration at The first step when starting a business commercial banks for applications for substantially lower fees than paper- in Greece is to submit the application loans, mortgages or certificates of share based registration, the share of busi- for registration and the incorporation issuance (figure 2.4). nesses that register online is growing in documents online or in person at the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s one-stop shop. Entrepreneurs can use FIGURE 2.4  How does the business registration process work in Greece? either standard or customized incor- poration documents.7 All information provided is automatically shared among 1. Company, tax/VAT 2. Company manager the public agencies involved and, within and social security registration with a day or two8—sooner with online appli- registration at GEMI social security cations—the business founders receive confirmation of commercial registration (the so-called “announcement of estab- lishment,” which includes the company 3. Purchase company seal registration, or G.E.MI, number and the taxpayer/VAT number). The announce- ment is issued in digital form if the appli- cation was submitted online. Along with Source: Doing Business database. 8 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Greece. However, most applications for The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Norway, is to assign entrepreneurs a registration are still received in person at is currently expanding the capabilities unique ID number before they proceed the Chambers’ one-stop shops. and interoperability of its G.E.MI platform to register their business. The ID number with the view of creating a single, con- and the identifying information are then To further increase adoption of online solidated online user interface. Because made available to all agencies involved registration, the government should of these ongoing efforts, entrepreneurs in the registration process. Regardless of continue its public information campaign should soon be able to register with EFKA the approach, the reform does not neces- emphasizing its benefits and should con- online. sarily require introducing an entirely new tinue to educate stakeholders and reas- system of ID numbers. For example, the sure them about the validity of electronic Slovenia offers an aspirational example: Belgian government simply converted data. Local Chambers of Commerce and thanks to interconnectivity between the the old VAT ID number into a company Industry could support these efforts. systems of different agencies, a single number.12 online platform (e-Vem) allows entrepre- Most countries that successfully tran- neurs to register with the business regis- Introducing a common ID number for sitioned to a fully electronic registration trar, the statistical office, the tax authority businesses requires a common database, system first encouraged its use for a few and the health institute in a single step. interoperable systems and mapping, and years, and then, once adoption was high, the conversion of existing identifiers. discontinued the paper-based system. In the longer term, introduce a The process is relatively complex and One such country is New Zealand, which unique business identification cost-intensive. Nonetheless, a growing progressively moved to an exclusively number number of countries have introduced online system more than a decade ago. Newly created companies in Greece common ID numbers to increase effi- While continuing the paper-based today receive a separate ID number ciency in the public sector and reduce the system, it offered online registration from each agency involved in business administrative burden on businesses. at substantially lower fees and with a registration. Issuing a single, unique ID guaranteed time limit. (Registration can number could facilitate information shar- be completed within 24 hours.) Once ing across agencies. This is already the use of the online registration system practice in neighboring Bulgaria, where reached a significant level, New Zealand the business registration authority gen- made online registration mandatory and erates a unique business ID number for phased out paper-based registration. tax, statistical, social security and other registration purposes. Similarly, electronic filing has become virtually universal in the United Kingdom. Greece could follow suit. Introducing a The share of new companies registered single business ID number for all interac- online grew sharply in the first few years, tions with government agencies would rising from around 25% in 2001—the facilitate compliance checks throughout year online registration was introduced— the life of a company, as well as free com- to 95% in 2009 and 98% in 2013.10 panies from the administrative burden of Entrepreneurs who prefer to visit the submitting information multiple times to Companies House in person are invited different agencies. Norway has taken this to use computer terminals on premises a step further: since 2005, it has imposed to register electronically. a legal obligation on all public authorities requiring them to use the data in the Expand online platform to include Central Coordinating Register for Legal social security registration Entities instead of asking businesses to Currently, the Unified Social Security resubmit these data.11 Agency (EFKA) receives information about the newly established company via One common approach to implementing the electronic platform G.E.MI. However, such a reform is to assign a unique ID the company representative needs to number at the time of business registra- visit the local EFKA office in person to tion that is then reused by other authori- complete the registration and ensure the ties, such as the tax authority or social company’s capacity as an employer. security agency. Another approach, used DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 9 2. Dealing with Construction Permits The construction industry is one of the But it is not always easy to find the right which is 1.9% of the warehouse value main economic drivers in an economy. In balance between safety and efficiency in (figure 2.5). In fact, in Spain, construc- the European Union, it contributes about construction regulation. Overly complex tion-permitting costs more than three 9% of overall gross domestic product regulation may push construction into times as much as it does in Greece, and and provides 18 million direct jobs.13 the informal sector, undermining their in Croatia, more than six times as much. While investment in Greece’s construc- intent. The challenge for governments is tion sector has not recovered to the level to create prudent rules that ensure safety, More than half of the time spent dealing it achieved prior to the recession, it has without needlessly hindering developers. with construction permits across Greek been steadily increasing. Projected to cities goes to obtaining the no fewer than reach an annual growth rate of 4.7% by Construction permitting is nine approvals required before construc- 2022, such investment is expected to inexpensive but could be more tion can start, including the building per- help clear the country’s infrastructure efficient mit itself and submitting commencement backlog, which grew significantly during On average, an entrepreneur completes notifications (figure 2.6). In fact, builders the multiyear recession.14 16 procedures to deal with construction must go through anywhere from nine pre- permits in Greece over 187 days, at a construction formalities in Larissa to 12 in Having a smooth process for obtaining cost of 1.4% of the warehouse value. The Alexandroupoli, Athens and Thessaloniki, building permits matters. Studies have process is slightly slower than the aver- whereas the average EU member state shown that long delays in receiving age for EU member states, which is 176.5 requires only seven. In Belgium and permits can lead to higher transaction days, but it is much less expensive than Portugal, a builder needs only four approv- costs and fewer construction projects.15 the average cost for EU member states, als before starting construction. FIGURE 2.5  It is relatively inexpensive to deal with construction permits in Greece EFFICIENCY OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING BUILDING QUALITY CONTROL Procedures Time Cost INDEX (number) (days) (% of warehouse value) (0–15) 1 1 3 member states 0 Luxembourg 15 (EU best)* (EU best) Denmark 60 Denmark (EU best) 7 (EU best) 14 80 1 Spain 13 Portugal Larissa, Thessaloniki 100 Greek average Alexandroupoli, Patra 13 Heraklion Portugal, EU average 14 120 EU average Athens 2 Larissa Athens, Alexandroupoli, 140 Croatia 12 15 Croatia Thessaloniki Patra Larissa Spain EU average Portugal 160 Greek average 16 Heraklion, Patra 4 Portugal, Spain 11 Thessaloniki, EU average 180 Athens Heraklion Greek average Greek average 17 Athens 200 Alexandroupoli Spain 10 Patra 5 18 Thessaloniki 220 9 Alexandroupoli 240 Larissa Croatia 22 Heraklion 9 260 Croatia Czech Republic, (EU lowest) Slovakia (EU lowest) 8 23 Cyprus 500 (EU lowest) Romania (EU lowest) 24 520 10 0 Source: Doing Business database. Note: The averages for the European Union are based on economy-level data for the 28 EU member states. The averages for Greece are based on the six cities benchmarked. Other EU member states are represented by their capital city as measured by global Doing Business. *The Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovakia. 10 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Builders in Larissa face less red FIGURE 2.6  Preconstruction approvals account for about 70% of the total number of steps required to deal with construction permits in Greece tape and shorter wait times Although the construction permitting Larissa system in Greece is regulated nation- ally under Law 4495/2017, differences in Alexandroupoli implementation at the local level prevail. It is easiest to deal with construction per- Patra mits in Larissa, where it takes 133 days Heraklion and costs 1.2% of the warehouse value (table 2.4). The process is most difficult Athens in Heraklion, where it takes almost twice Thessaloniki as long and costs 25% more. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Larissa is also the city that requires the Number of procedures fewest number of procedures, along Before construction During construction After construction Utilities with Alexandroupoli. In Larissa, a 2008 ministerial decision18 defined only the city Source: Doing Business database. center as being of archaeological interest. Since the warehouse used for the Doing In Greece, an entrepreneur must first permit/approval is now optional under Business case study would be built on the obtain proof of ownership, a cadastral Law 4495/2017, most companies still city’s periphery, it is outside the area of extract and a cadastral plan from the local choose to go through the process because archaeological interest. Therefore, Larissa Cadastre office. They must also hire a pri- it saves time later when obtaining the is the only city that does not require a vate firm to prepare a topographical survey actual building permit, particularly if any site inspection and a subsequent clear- map, which, together with the approved legal claims or issues arise.16 ance from the Archaeology Supervisory building terms, provides the specifica- Authority, nor a notification to the tions of what can be built on the land The responsibility for quality control Authority before the commencement of plot. Approval of the active fire protection during and after construction resides works. In Alexandroupoli, the Municipal study from the regional fire department is with a supervising engineer. As a result, Water Supply and Sewerage Service also needed, as is approval of the project there are few interactions with any local does not conduct a site inspection of the from the Board of Architecture and proof authority during and after the construc- owner’s connection works, as other cities of advanced payment from the Unified tion process, except for a foundation do. Instead, it is the responsibility of the Social Security Agency (EFKA). Most inspection and a final inspection from the contractor to ensure that the connection cities require an archaeological clearance Board of Building Inspectors, which are works on the owner’s private land have certificate as well. regulated nationally.17 been done properly. Once all the pre-approvals have been obtained, an entrepreneur can apply TABLE 2.4  Dealing with construction permits is easier in Larissa and more difficult in for an initial building permit/approval Heraklion from the municipality. At this stage, the Cost Building quality builder’s architect submits general draw- Score Procedures Time (% of warehouse control index City Rank (0–100) (number) (days) value) (0–15) ings (i.e., the conceptual design) of the building, including the diagram of the Larissa 1 70.85 15 133 1.2 9 coverage and structure, the topographi- Thessaloniki 2 70.13 18 146 1.2 11 cal survey map, the land use certificate Athens 3 69.53 17 180 1.9 12 and proof-of-ownership documents. The Patra 4 69.09 16 209 1.4 12 initial permit/approval does not allow the builder to start construction. That permit Alexandroupoli 5 66.03 15 196 1.4 9 is only valid for one year, during which Heraklion 6 63.99 16 255 1.5 11 the builder must submit the inception Source: Doing Business database. design, including the detailed engineer- Note: Rankings are based on the average score for the procedures, time and cost associated with dealing with ing studies (e.g., structural, electrical, construction permits, as well as for the building quality control index. The score is normalized to range from 0 to 100 (the higher the score, the better). For more details, see the chapter “About Doing Business and Doing Business in the mechanical, plumbing). While the initial European Union 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy.” DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 11 On the other hand, construction- must issue a separate permission before from various agencies such as the permitting takes 18 procedures in construction begins. Building Office, the municipality, and Thessaloniki, the only city where local the Technical Chamber of Greece, authorities require a preliminary feasibil- In Heraklion and Patra, where 16 proce- meets every two weeks. In Athens, ity verification by the water company dures are required, the municipality does however, board members have much before construction to ensure the building not need to be notified before construc- heavier workloads, hence it takes longer can be connected to a local water supply tion commences (table 2.5). to obtain their approval. and sewerage network. This extra step in Thessaloniki is in addition to the more Not only does Larissa require the fewest The time to deal with construction permits detailed verification done by the water procedures to deal with construction per- is slowest in Heraklion, where obtain- companies of all the cities at the time mits, it also issues them more quickly, at ing the building permit takes nearly two when an owner applies for a water and 133 days. Not involving the Archaeology months. Entrepreneurs who frequently sewerage connection after construction Supervisory Authority speeds things up apply for building permits in Heraklion is completed. Moreover, Thessaloniki in Larissa, but approval from the Board have pointed to administrative inef- and Alexandroupoli are the only cities of Architecture only takes 18 days there, ficiencies at the Municipality’s Building where, if construction requires occupying whereas the process takes up to 45 Office, including heavy workloads and a the pavement (as it does in the Doing days in Athens. In all cities, the Board of shortage of staff. In fact, entrepreneurs Business case study), the local authorities Architecture, made up of representatives noted that Heraklion’s local Archaeology TABLE 2.5  Builders in Alexandroupoli and Larissa need to comply with fewer formalities to deal with construction permits Procedure Alexandroupoli Athens Heraklion Larissa Patra Thessaloniki 1. Obtain proof of ownership, cadastral extract and cadastral Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes plan 2. Obtain topographical survey map Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 3. Submit a petition for an archaeological clearance certificate Yes Yes Yes n.a. Yes Yes 4. Obtain archaeological clearance certificate Yes Yes Yes n.a. Yes Yes 5. Obtain approval of project from the Board of Architecture Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 6. Obtain active fire protection approval Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7. Obtain preliminary verification by the water company on the n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Yes feasibility of the project 8. Obtain proof of advanced payment from the Unified Social Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Security Agency (EFKA) 9. Request and obtain initial permit/approval from the Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes municipality 10. Request and obtain building permit from the municipality Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 11. Notify the Archaeology Supervisory Authority of Yes Yes Yes n.a. Yes Yes commencement of works and receive on-site inspection at excavation 12. Obtain stamp from the police on the final building permit Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 13. Obtain permission to commence construction; notify the Yes Yes n.a. Yes n.a. Yes municipality of commencement of works 14. Request and obtain foundation work inspection Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 15. Receive final inspection from Board of Building inspectors Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes and receive completion certificate 16. Apply for water and sewage connection Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 17. Receive inspection by the water company n.a. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 18. Receive inspection by the water company on owner’s n.a. n.a. n.a. Yes n.a. n.a. connection works and pay connection fees 19. Obtain water and sewage connection Included in Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes procedure 16 Source: Doing Business database. 12 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Supervisory Authority also has a staff accuracy lies with the project engineer. 1.2% of the warehouse value in Larissa shortage. While it takes anywhere from More in-depth checks are sometimes per- and Thessaloniki to 1.9% in Athens. These 10 to 12 days to obtain the archaeological formed, depending on the city. In Athens variations are mainly due to differences clearance certificate in Athens, Patra and and Larissa, for example, the municipal- in building permit fees, which are set by Thessaloniki, it takes over six weeks in ity will check the topographical survey in municipalities in compliance with national Heraklion. detail, as well as the coverage plan of the legislation. The manner in which fees are building. In Thessaloniki, in addition to the set differs from city to city, and there is a Thessaloniki stands out as the most effi- aforementioned reviews, the municipal- lack of transparency across the board. No cient municipality in dealing with building ity will also more thoroughly check the municipality offers a fee schedule online permit applications. Thanks to efficient ownership documents. In Alexandroupoli, or via hard copy, and private professionals coordination between the municipal- in addition to checking the topographical and public officials alike cite the complex- ity and the public authorities that review survey and coverage plan, the municipal- ity of calculating such fees.19 applications, obtaining a building permit ity will also conduct a technical check for here takes only 10 days, compared to 45 the archaeology clearance certificate and In Alexandroupoli, Larissa, Patra and days in Patra and 53 in Heraklion (figure a check that the submitted architectural Thessaloniki—where public officials were 2.7). Thessaloniki’s example demon- drawings are consistent with the approval able to provide information on the esti- strates the potential for large cities to issued by the Board of Architecture. mated cost, after inputting the specifica- achieve regulatory efficiency and quality tions of the case study warehouse in their by capitalizing on economies of scale and Lastly, the time to deal with construction proprietary software—the fee structure investing in administrative modernization. permits is impacted by the efficiency of was complex, comprising municipal fees, the utility companies. The time to obtain separate fees for the Building Office, a Despite a common law governing the a water and sewage connection ranges fee for the Technical Chamber of Greece construction permitting process, dif- from 41 days in Larissa to 75 days in (TEE), advance insurance fees, two differ- ferences exist in the types of checks Heraklion. ent stamp fees (each based on the project conducted by Greek municipalities when value), separate stamp fees on the insur- reviewing building permit applications. Construction permitting ance fee and TEE payment, and a fee for In general, all municipalities ensure that fees differ between cities; the Agricultural Insurance Organization the required plans have been submitted transparency is lacking across (OGA).20 Patra also charges a fee related according to national legislation, but not the board to the National Technical University all municipalities review these plans for The cost to deal with construction permits of Athens (NTUA), as well as a tax on accuracy because the responsibility for is relatively low in Greece, ranging from remunerations. FIGURE 2.7  Obtaining the building permit takes the least time in Thessaloniki Larissa 18 14 15 30 12 41 3 Thessaloniki 11 23 13 13 10 7 62 7 Athens 13 45 12 16 15 5 67 7 Alexandroupoli 31 30 10 30 19 7 61 8 Patra 12 30 20 18 45 6 71 7 Heraklion 46 23 13 30 53 6 75 9 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 Time to deal with construction permits (days) Archaeological clearance certificate Board of Architects approval Other prebuilding approvals Initial permit approval Final building permit Final inspection and completion certificate Water and sewerage connection Other Source: Doing Business database. DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 13 Another source of the variation in costs better than others (table 2.6). Athens and among cities stems from utility fees, set Patra have the strongest quality control WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED? at the local level by the water and sewer- mechanisms, while Alexandroupoli and age companies. While not very expensive, Larissa have the weakest. In Athens and Make fee schedules transparent connecting to water and sewage can cost Patra, only licensed engineers or archi- and accessible and simplify the fee from a little more than EUR 900 in Patra tects with a minimum number of years structure to nearly EUR 3,000 in Alexandroupoli. of experience can work in the Building Given the absence of fee schedules and Office to review the building plans and the reported complexity in calculating Athens and Patra have the ensure compliance with the regulations. In the building permit fees in all six cities, strongest building quality control Alexandroupoli and Larissa, staff with only local authorities should explore ways to mechanisms a technical degree and no required mini- simplify and better communicate this With respect to the quality of building mum years of experience can also do the information. Municipalities that make regulations, all Greek cities benefit from job, when there is a lack of licensed engi- clear and complete information easily strong quality control mechanisms dur- neers or architects available. Like Athens accessible help professionals and inves- ing and after construction, as described and Patra, Heraklion and Thessaloniki only tors better predict the cost of complying in Law 4030, of 2011, which regulates hire licensed architects and engineers, but with construction formalities. inspections.21 they do not require them to have a mini- mum number of years of experience.22 A common good practice is to charge However, when it comes to quality control small fixed fees for simple projects that before construction, some cities score present a negligible risk to public health TABLE 2.6  Athens and Patra have the strongest quality control mechanisms Athens Patra Heraklion Thessaloniki Alexandroupoli Larissa Building quality control index (0–15) 12 12 11 11 9 9 Quality of building Are building regulations easily accessible? 1 1 1 1 1 1 regulations (0–2) Are the requirements for obtaining a building 0 0 0 0 0 0 permit clearly specified? Quality control before Is a licensed architect or licensed engineer 1 1 1 1 0 0 construction (0–1) part of the committee or team that reviews and approves building permit applications? Quality control during Are inspections mandated by law during the 1 1 1 1 1 1 construction (0–3) construction process? Are inspections during construction 1 1 1 1 1 1 implemented in practice? Quality control after Is a final inspection mandated by law? 2 2 2 2 2 2 construction (0–3) Is a final inspection implemented in practice? 1 1 1 1 1 1 Liability and insurance Is any party involved in the construction 1 1 1 1 1 1 regimes (0–2) process held legally liable for latent defects once the building is in use? Is any party involved in the construction 0 0 0 0 0 0 process legally required to obtain a latent defect liability—or decennial (10-year) liability—insurance policy to cover possible structural flaws or problems in the building once it is in use? Professional Are there qualification requirements for 2 2 1 1 0 0 certifications (0–4) the professional responsible for verifying the architectural plans or drawings are in compliance with the building regulations? Are there qualification requirements for the 2 2 2 2 2 2 professional who conducts the technical inspections during construction? Maximum points obtained. Source: Doing Business database. Note: For details on the scoring of each question, please refer to the chapter “Data Notes”. 14 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY and safety.23 These fees should not be passive and active fire design require- the law’s objectives are legitimate, the so low they fail to cover costs or so high ments without the involvement of the advance payment requirement places they impose an undue burden on small Fire Department. a significant burden on entrepreneurs. projects. In many reforming economies, The law subjects each individual building building permit fees are based on recov- If additional checks need to be carried out project to a pre-assessment and subse- ering costs for the service provided rather for high-risk buildings, such as schools quent payment of expected social security than as a means to collect additional and shopping malls, the municipality or expenses as a precondition to applying revenue. In New Zealand, fees are set at the Fire Department can always perform for a building permit. Social security pay- a level to cover the costs associated with such tasks during the building-permit ments are based on the size of the build- the review of plans and any inspections, approval process. The Russian Federation ing, which determines the approximate along with overhead costs. Hungary cat- introduced just such an approach in its number of working days and the minimum egorizes the size of buildings and sets the new Federal Urban Development Code, pay for each worker. The requirement often fee accordingly; additional administrative part of its drive to adopt European good involves repeated interactions with EFKA fees may apply. practices and to help Civil Defense until the proof of payment is obtained and departments focus on preventing serious the investor can move on with the project, To increase transparency, Greek cities fire risks within city areas. but the procedure is unrelated to the could follow the examples of Bologna24 actual building approval process. As most in Italy and Faro25 in Portugal. Both cities Moreover, requirements concerning economies measured by Doing Business provide online tools to help investors what types of buildings should undergo manage construction effectively without estimate the fees related to building Board of Architecture approval could be such prepayment, Greek authorities could permit applications. Given that the Greek reviewed. Currently, Law 4495/2017 consider eliminating this requirement. cities already use software to calculate is vague as to which types of buildings the fees, this software could be made require such approval. For example, the Consolidate preconstruction publicly available on the municipality’s Board of Architecture in each of the six approvals website. Currently, 164 economies glob- cities studied would conduct an approval Before applying for a building permit, ally make their fee schedules publicly process for the Doing Business case study entrepreneurs in Greece have to seek an available.26 warehouse, although it is not explicitly average of 10 approvals and verifications specified in the legislation. The legislation of their project documentation. Each of Review whether certain could be revised to introduce clear risk- these approvals requires the applicant preconstruction requirements based categories for buildings, such that to interact with a different agency. can be eliminated low-risk buildings, as in the case study, Municipalities could consider streamlin- An approval of the fire protection studies do not require the review of the Board. ing the process by introducing a single by the regional Fire Departments is need- point of contact both to take responsibil- ed for all construction projects in Greece. In addition, Greek entrepreneurs today ity for coordinating the approval process To obtain this approval, an architect or must physically visit the police depart- with all the relevant agencies and to keep civil engineer must complete the passive ment to obtain a stamp on the final build- track of the timeline for the approvals. study and an electrician or mechanical ing permit prior to the commencement engineer must complete the active study, of construction. If the police continue This kind of single-window solution to which must be accompanied by technical to wish to be informed about construc- similar problems is being adopted widely drawings of the warehouse. According to tion commencement, the municipality by EU member states. In Cyprus, for Law 4156/2013, the building engineer27 could inform the police directly, avoid- example, an applicant need only obtain a is entirely responsible for the fire safety ing one additional interaction for the copy of the site plan and a town-planning of the new building, although the active entrepreneur. permit prior to applying for a build- study must nevertheless be accompanied ing permit. For the rest of the required by an approval from the Fire Department The requirement that builders obtain proof clearances, such as those relating to before it can be submitted to the munici- of advanced payment from the Unified telecom, sewerage, public works, the pality. However, in practice, the Fire Social Security Agency (EFKA) is another archaeological department and the fire Department is still reviewing the active procedure that warrants review. Greece brigade, the municipality is responsible study when the Building Office reviews passed Law 2434/1996 to address the for forwarding the application and getting the passive study. Building on existing shadow economy and challenges such relevant drawings to these agencies for explicit laws regarding the liability of as the avoidance of paying social security their clearance and approval. In Malta, engineers, project designers should be taxes by the construction industry and the once the applicant submits the building held accountable for the compliance of crucial need to maximize receipts. While permit application online, the Planning DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 15 Authority automatically consults with 11 requests through a single system, which university degree in architecture or engi- government agencies whose input might would then distribute documents and neering and to have a minimum number be relevant to the application. The appli- plans to the different agencies electroni- of years of experience.29 cant does not need to interact with these cally. Ideally, they would review the docu- agencies. mentation within the system and issue Introduce mandatory liability their approvals electronically, as well. insurance requirements to cover Since 2005, 36 economies globally have builders and architects in the event introduced one-stop shops or single- Several countries have already put in of structural defects window solutions to process construc- place fully computerized building per- Although builders and architects in tion permits.28 mitting systems. Developers in Austria, Greece are held liable by law for struc- Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Portugal tural flaws or building problems, it is not Enhance the existing online building can complete their building permit mandatory to obtain insurance to cover permitting system applications online. And many countries them in the event of possible costs arising In October 2018, Greece adopted a fully that introduced single-window reforms from structural flaws once the building is electronic system for the submission and gradually improved them by integrat- in use. Such insurance benefits clients review of building permit applications, ing more services. For example, Serbia as well as contractors, and it encour- managed by the Technical Chamber launched an e-Construction Permitting ages construction companies, particu- of Greece. The application and all sup- system in 2016, and over time, it eventu- larly small and medium-size construction porting documentation (including the ally linked all relevant agencies to the companies, to pursue more projects.30 architectural, electrical, mechanical and system. In just three years, the time to Greece could follow the example of structural drawings) must be submit- deal with construction permits in Serbia France, an early adopter of a mandatory ted online; hard copies are no longer decreased from 289 to 106 days. insurance regime that requires decennial accepted. All departments within the (10-year) insurance policies. It applies municipality review the files through the Introduce stricter qualification the same insurance requirement to all system, as well. However, the system requirements for professionals who new buildings, regardless of their pur- could benefit from further improvements. review building permit applications pose.31 It requires two levels of coverage Construction permitting is a complex for structural defects: insurance taken out Several officials noted that it can be process involving multiple stakehold- by the owners of the building (dommage challenging to review the plans and ers. Managing this process requires ouvrage) and decennial insurance taken drawings on a single computer screen permit-issuing agencies staffed with out by the builders. of inadequate size. For this reason, they technically competent officials. But more sometimes ask applicants to submit robust qualification requirements for the a hard copy. Furthermore, the system professionals involved in construction would benefit from a notification sys- permitting and control are needed. tem, whereby officials are automatically alerted when they receive a file to review. Alexandroupoli, Heraklion, Larissa and Currently, officials must manually log into Thessaloniki, the cities with weaker quali- the system each day to see if they have fication requirements for professionals a file to review, increasing the likelihood who review building permit applications, that files get overlooked or delayed. could look to Athens and Patra for good practices. Athens and Patra have the In the longer term, Greece could strictest qualification requirements for consider linking all relevant agencies such public officials. Both cities hire engi- to the online system, including the neers or architects to review the building Archaeology Supervisory Authority, the plans and require them to have a mini- Fire Department, the Hellenic Cadastre, mum number of years of experience, hold the Unified Social Security Agency and a university degree and be a registered the Board of Architecture. There should member of the Technical Chamber of be built-in safeguards to allow for the Greece, which requires passing an exam. confidentiality and security of informa- tion provided by building professionals. Globally, more than half of the economies And, by linking the agencies online, an studied in Doing Business require profes- applicant could upload all pre-approval sionals reviewing building plans to hold a 16 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY 3. Getting Electricity Electricity is an important element in the average in the European Union (91.4 is the least expensive, it costs only 5% of the competitiveness of an economy. days). Greece is therefore among the top income per capita (figure 2.8). For an entrepreneur who needs to get a ten fastest EU member states in terms warehouse up and running before starting of how long it takes to get electrical con- Of the six Greek cities measured, operations, the time it takes to obtain an nections in place. Obtaining electricity in only Patra earned the maximum electricity connection for that warehouse Greece is also half as expensive (61.4% of score on the Doing Business reliability- can be critical. Research shows that income per capita) as it is, on average, in of-supply-and-transparency-of-tariffs faster, simpler and less costly connection the European Union (111.6%). index.35 In the rest of the measured cities, processes are associated with better the supply of electricity is relatively less company performance.32 Despite being efficient and inexpensive reliable compared to best-performing relative to EU averages, the process of economies.36 To put things in perspective, Connecting to the grid in Greece getting electricity in Greece could still in the European Union, more than half of is relatively fast and inexpensive be improved. In 12 EU member states, it the member states (15 of the 28) obtain In all Greek cities, an entrepreneur who takes fewer steps than in Greece to obtain such a maximum score (figure 2.9). needs to obtain a new electricity con- a new electricity connection.33 In Vienna nection for a warehouse goes through (Austria), obtaining a connection takes In Greece, the process of obtaining an five procedural steps, which is similar only 23 days, less than half the average electricity connection is regulated and to the EU average of 4.6 procedures. Greek time. Also, in 12 EU member states, monitored at the national level by the Completing these five steps takes, on the process is less expensive than in Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE), average, less than two months (58.7 Greek cities.34 In France, the EU country an administrative independent body.37 days), which is one month faster than where obtaining electricity connections In all cities, obtaining the connection FIGURE 2.8  It’s relatively fast and inexpensive to obtain a new electricity connection in Greece EFFICIENCY OF GETTING ELECTRICITY Procedures Time Cost (number) (days) (% of income per capita) 1 1 0 France (EU best) 10 20 2 20 Portugal Czech Republic, Germany, Austria (EU best) 40 Lithuania, Sweden, 3 30 United Kingdom (EU best) Greek average 60 5 Greek cities 40 Athens Croatia 4 Alexandroupoli 50 Patra 80 EU average Athens Spain Spain, Portugal 5 All 6 Greek cities Greek average 60 Larissa 100 Croatia, Portugal EU average 70 Heraklion 120 6 80 Thessaloniki Croatia 260 7 90 EU average Spain 280 100 8 260 400 Bulgaria (EU lowest) Romania (EU lowest) Romania (EU lowest) 9 270 420 Source: Doing Business database. Note: The averages for the European Union are based on economy-level data for the 28 EU member states. The averages for Greece are based on the six cities benchmarked in Greece. RELIABILITY Other member states by their AND OF SUPPLY are represented capital city as measured by global Doing Business. TRANSPARENCY OF TARIFFS INDEX (0–8) 15 EU economies 8 Patra EU average Croatia, Portugal 7 5 Greek cities 6 80 Thessaloniki Croatia 260 7 90 EU average DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 17 Spain 280 100 8 260 400 Bulgaria (EU lowest) Romania (EU lowest) in all cities. Along with the application Significant performance gaps FIGURE 2.9  lowest)is 9 (EU Patra the only Greek Romania city scoring the maximum points on the form, the client needs 270 to submit, among place Patra among the420 top reliability-of-supply-and-transparency-of- other documents, a copy of the build- 10 EU performers for getting tariffs index ing permit authenticated by the Town electricity, Thessaloniki below RELIABILITY OF SUPPLY AND Planning Agency with a special seal for the EU average TRANSPARENCY OF TARIFFS INDEX electricity connection. After receiving The Doing Business case study uses, in (0–8) the request, HEDNO schedules a tech- each city assessed, the example of a local 15 EU economies 8 Patra nical designer to inspect the building. firm that needs a 140-kVa electricity EU average Based on the outcome of this inspection, connection for a newly built warehouse Croatia, Portugal 7 5 Greek cities HEDNO elaborates the technical plan located in a commercial area outside the for the connection and sends a cost city’s historical center. In all the cities Bulgaria, Malta (EU lowest) 6 estimate to the client, together with benchmarked in Greece, for a warehouse the timetable for the connection works like the one in the Doing Business case 5 and a list of documents that need to be study, entrepreneurs are more likely to provided before the connection can be opt for a low-voltage connection. In all 4 activated. After making the payment, cities except Athens, such new connec- the client signs the connection contract tions would be overhead. In Athens and 3 with HEDNO and connection works in the surrounding areas, all types of new start. The connection works are carried connections are underground. out entirely by HEDNO, which is also 2 responsible for obtaining excavation Overall, among the six Greek cities, permits and any other authorizations getting electricity is easiest in Patra and 1 required from local municipalities and most difficult in Thessaloniki. Patra has other public authorities. both the most reliable supply of electric- 0 ity and the second shortest time—after The documents HEDNO requires before Alexandroupoli—to obtain a new con- Source: Doing Business database. the connection can be finalized vary nection (table 2.7). *Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, according to the complexity of the Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United project. For all connections, clients need The time required to obtain an electric- Kingdom. to provide a certified sworn statement ity connection ranges from 45 days in requires the same five procedural steps from an accredited electrician with the Alexandroupoli to 83 days in Thessaloniki (figure 2.10). An entrepreneur starts the details of the internal installation. Via (figure 2.11). The process of obtaining process by submitting a request for a new this statement, the electrician assumes permits from local authorities is the most connection to the Hellenic Distribution the responsibility of certifying the cor- significant source of delay in Athens and Network Operator (HEDNO), the rectness of the internal wiring system of Thessaloniki, the two largest cities in national utility that distributes electricity the warehouse. Also, for all types of con- Greece. In each city, the utility has to obtain nections, the client needs to obtain from all the necessary permits (i.e., an excava- the local municipality a document that tion permit in Athens, where connections FIGURE 2.10  Getting electricity involves the same five steps across cities in Greece indicates the surface size of the property. are typically underground; and clearances This document will later be used to col- to place the poles for overhead connections Procedure Agency lect a municipal tax based on the surface in Thessaloniki) before starting construc- Submit request for a new Distribution utility of the newly electrified building.38 tion on the connection. Obtaining the exca- electricity connection vation permit in Athens takes two weeks, Receive external inspection Distribution utility HEDNO concludes the external works while in Thessaloniki, obtaining the required and await cost estimate when they install the meter. At any point clearances takes a month and a half. In fact, Sign connection contract and Distribution utility await completion of external during the connection works, or once in Thessaloniki, HEDNO needs to obtain works and meter installation they are completed, the customer can two clearances before installing the poles: Obtain statement on the Municipality sign a supply contract with any avail- the first comes from the gas company; surface of the property able supplier. The supplier then informs the second from the municipality. The two Sign supply contract with the chosen supplier and obtain Supplier and distribution utility HEDNO through a shared electronic plat- clearances cannot be obtained in parallel. In final connection form. Once the works are finished and the all other Greek cities, Doing Business’s case supply contract has been signed, HEDNO study warehouse does not require such Source: Doing Business database. has four days to activate the connection. permits to obtain a new connection. 18 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY TABLE 2.7  Getting electricity in Greece: where is it easier and where is the supply In Greece, connection fees are regulated more reliable? nationally. In Athens and its surround- ings, getting electricity is typically slightly Cost Reliability of supply and Score Procedures Time (% of income transparency of tariffs index more expensive than in the rest of the City Rank (0–100) (number) (day) per capita) (0–8) country: it costs EUR 11,630, or 68.2% Patra 1 88.11 5 49 60.0 8 of income per capita, in Athens and EUR Alexandroupoli 2 85.42 5 45 60.0 7 10,246, or 60.0% of income per capita, in the other five cities. Athens 3 84.74 5 51 68.2 7 Larissa 4 84.44 5 54 60.0 7 The electricity supply is most Heraklion 5 82.70 5 70 60.0 7 reliable in Patra Thessaloniki 6 81.29 5 83 60.0 7 Although all six cities can count on Source: Doing Business database. automated systems to monitor power Note: Rankings are based on the average score for the procedures, time and cost associated with getting electricity, as outages and restore service—and the well as for the reliability-of-supply-and-transparency-of-tariffs index. The score is normalized to range from 0 to 100 (the higher the score, the better). For more details, see the chapter “About Doing Business and Doing Business in the energy regulator monitors the utility’s European Union 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy.” performance—there are substantial dif- ferences among the cities in the frequen- cy and duration of outages. The network FIGURE 2.11  Getting electricity takes the least time in Alexandroupoli, the most in Thessaloniki is very reliable in Patra, where customers in 2018 experienced an average of 0.7 Alexandroupoli 10 5 22 8 45 service interruptions, lasting a total of less than 45 minutes. In Alexandroupoli, Patra 10 5 30 4 49 by contrast, customers experienced three Athens 2 12 33 4 51 times more outages than in Patra. And in Larissa, the total duration of outages in Larissa 14 4 30 6 54 2018 was three and a half hours, more than five time as long as in Patra (figure Heraklion 22 3 30 15 70 2.12). Thessaloniki 5 7 65 6 83 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED? Days Submit Receive inspection and Await completion Sign supply contract and Identify opportunities to simplify application await estimate of external works* obtain final connection requirements The easiest way to simplify the process of Source: Doing Business database. getting a new electricity connection is to *During the time it takes to carry out this procedure, customers obtain the statement on the surface of the property from the municipality and forward it to HEDNO. reduce the number of customer interac- tions with agencies. Some economies Heraklion is the second to last of the Patra, six days in Larissa and Thessaloniki, have done this successfully by creating six cities in terms of how long it takes and eight days in Alexandroupoli. a system where customers interact with to obtain a connection (70 days). After just one agency—usually the distribution applying for a new connection, customers Completing the connection works takes utility or the electricity supplier—and here need to wait almost one month (25 the least time, at 20 days, in the two making sure that the initial connection days) before they receive the letter from largest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki. It application includes all the necessary the utility with the cost estimate and takes one month in Heraklion, Larissa and documents. Information is then shared details of the connection. In the other cit- Patra, where the local utility offices have with all the other agencies involved in ies, this same process takes between 12 fewer staff. Another obstacle to timely the connection process, without further days (as in Thessaloniki) and 18 days (as processing is that HEDNO must verify the steps involving the customer. in Larissa). Also, in Heraklion, once cus- documents submitted by the customer, tomers sign the supply contract with the such as the building permit and the state- Today, customers in Greece need to supplier of their choice, two weeks pass ment of the electrician about the internal visit the local municipality to obtain a before the meter is installed. The same wiring. In smaller offices with less staff, document stating how big the surface of process takes four days in Athens and the verification creates backlogs. the building is. They then have to hand DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 19 updates. The customer can also track FIGURE 2.12  In 2018, power outages in Patra were three time less frequent than in Alexandroupoli, and five times shorter in duration, on average, than in Larissa the status of the application through an online personal account. The reforms 4 have been successful: since the introduc- 3.5 tion of IT solutions in 2012, the time it 3 takes to get an electrical connection in 2.5 Moscow has dropped by 75%. 2 1.5 Another example comes from the 1 United Arab Emirates, the most highly 0.5 ranked economy in the Doing Business 0 ranking on getting electricity. The Dubai Patra EU Heraklion Athens Greek Thessaloniki Alexandroupoli Larissa average average Electricity and Water Authority made getting electricity easier by introducing SAIFI (average number of service interruptions experienced by a customer in 2018) an electronic “one window, one step” SAIDI (average total duration of outages for each customer served) application process. As a result, the time it took to obtain an electricity connection Source: Doing Business database. dropped significantly. The new system initially allowed customers to submit the document over to HEDNO, which they are accompanied by an awareness applications and track them online. It in turn sends it to the supplier chosen campaign for users and as long as a also enabled customers to schedule the by the customer. Based on the surface dedicated troubleshooting taskforce is required site surveys. Over the years, new size, the supplier will collect a local tax available to address issues or technical features were added, such as the ability on behalf of the municipality. However, glitches in real time. The next steps in to make e-payments and to schedule the the initial step of obtaining surface-size Greece would be allowing electricity con- internal wiring inspection. This sophisti- documentation from the municipality is nection requests to be made electroni- cated online application platform helped unnecessary because customers must cally and introducing a tracking system the United Arab Emirates reduce the time also provide HEDNO with a copy of the for electricity connection applications. to obtain a connection to less than two building permit, authenticated by the Currently, in Athens, all applications for weeks, the shortest time of all the econo- Town Planning Agency, which already new electricity connections and other mies Doing Business has studied. contains the information about the build- required paperwork must be done in ing’s surface. The burden of providing person at HEDNO offices. And HEDNO Introduce a geographic information redundant documentation to HEDNO keeps the applications in paper files, system (GIS) for the electricity should be removed. making it difficult to assess how long the distribution network application processes take and why there Today, once a new connection request is Introduce an online platform to are delays. made, HEDNO needs to send a designer apply and track application status to the site to meet with the client. The electronically Greece could look to the example of the visit allows officials to confirm the The introduction of IT systems has Russian Federation, where, in both in location of the property, check the sur- already simplified getting electricity in Moscow and St. Petersburg, customers roundings of the building, and determine Greece. Today, HEDNO is notified by can apply for a new connection through precisely where cables and the meter banks through an online platform when a single online step without visiting the should be installed. Only once this is applicants have paid their connection utility’s premises. Using the utility’s done does HEDNO provide a cost esti- fees. Therefore, connection works can website, customers can do preliminary mate. The same onerous process is also start without requiring clients to submit calculations of the connection costs, then used for simple low-voltage connections, a payment receipt. Also, suppliers inform submit the required documents, includ- where there is no need to install a new HEDNO electronically when a new sup- ing an internal wiring and equipment transformer. ply contract has been signed, without any location plan, as well as the justification further interaction needed by the client. of the requested capacity. The utility can In many economies around the world, then review an application without having utilities use a geographic information The introduction of IT solutions are to repeatedly contact the customer. At system (GIS) to map their distribution among the most effective initiatives for every stage of application processing, the network and connection points through- reducing connection delays, as long as Russian applicant receives text-message out the region or country. Thanks to these 20 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY systems, utilities now have better control excavation permit from the local munici- over new electricity connections, and pality and, depending on the location, they require fewer inspections. In Turkey, another from the archeological authority. for example, the utility Boğaziçi Elektrik An efficient permitting system that guar- Dağıtım A.Ş. no longer conducts external antees security while avoiding delays and inspections for new electricity connec- backlogs is therefore particularly impor- tions. Instead, for new connections, the tant as the number of new connections utility now uses GIS to determine if an built underground grows. additional transformer is needed to pro- vide electricity to the new customer. Allow paying the connection fees in installments Sending inspectors to the site is one Currently in Greece, connection works reason for backlogs in Greek cities with start once the client has paid the connec- fewer staff. Using GIS would help remove tion fees in full, even if the required docu- such backlogs. To make the adoption of ments have not all been submitted yet. GIS-based decision-making gradual and Those documents need to be submitted safe, Greece could follow the example of before the connection is finally electrified, Portugal, where replacing on-site visits but HEDNO can start the work earlier, with GIS assessments was first piloted in helping clients avoid delays caused by just one city, Coimbra. difficulties obtaining documentation. Another way to speed up electrical Enhance the reliability of supply connections is by allowing customers to Minimizing the number and duration of pay the connection fees in two or more power outages is critical for the health installments, instead of requesting full of the Greek economy and for the good payment upfront. Greece could look to of society, in general. Currently, HEDNO the example of Croatia, where, once the collects the necessary data to calculate entrepreneur pays at least 50% of the how frequent outages are and how long connection fee, the external works can they last. However, this information is not start. The remaining 50% can be paid publicly available. Publishing such data later, before the connection is electrified. promotes transparency and increases the accountability of utility companies. Many EU member countries, such as Croatia, Finland and Italy, publish online where they stand on the system-average-inter- ruption-duration index (SAIDI) and the system-average-interruption-frequency index (SAIFI). In order to improve the reliability of the supply, the number of underground con- nections should be increased. Overhead connections are typically subject to more frequent service interruptions than underground ones, especially during adverse weather. Other Greek cities should follow the example of Athens, where new connections are built underground. Underground connections typically require authorizations that are not needed for overhead ones, however, such as clearances from other utilities with underground networks, as well as an DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 21 4. Registering Property Real estate is a key sector of any a decimating impact on the real estate 10.7 procedures over two months, at a economy. It constitutes between half sector in Greece. It was also a turning cost of 4.9% of the property value. While and three-fourths of the national wealth point because it brought to the forefront the cost associated is on par with the EU in most countries.39 Having a reliable major real-estate administration issues average, Greek entrepreneurs have to and up-to-date land registry system is a when Greek cities experienced a sud- meet twice as many requirements as the prerequisite for secure ownership rights. den and steep decrease in transactions EU average and wait more than a month And secure ownership rights are a neces- concurrent with an upward trend in prop- longer to register the property (figure sary precondition for enabling real estate erty disputes. It became clear to Greek 2.13). On the quality of land administra- transactions and investments, which in lawmakers that land registry reform was tion index, most Greek cities have by far turn lead to increased economic produc- not only a long-term necessity but a key the lowest scores within the European tivity and market liquidity. component of economic recovery. Union and some of the lowest globally. On average, they score 6.8 points out Greece remains the only EU member Greece lags the EU in both of a maximum of 30, which is 16 points state without a fully computerized land efficiency and the quality of land behind the EU average. registry. The country has a history of administration problems with property rights and trans- The process of registering property in The property registration system actions, most notably in that they lack each of the Greek cities studied lags that in Greece is going through a full property registration. Policymakers of other EU member states, in terms of major overhaul have tried to tackle the issue with mixed both efficiency and quality. Transferring Currently, the property registration results since the early 1990s. The global a property from one private company system in Greece is in a transition financial crisis, which began in 2008, had to another in Greece takes, on average, period (box 2.1). To a significant extent, FIGURE 2.13  Property registration across Greek cities lags behind the EU average in both efficiency and quality EFFICIENCY OF PROPERTY REGISTRATION QUALITY OF LAND ADMINISTRATION Procedures Time Cost INDEX (number) (days) (% of property value) (0–30) Portugal, Sweden 1 1 Slovakia 0 30 (EU best) Netherlands (EU best) (EU best) Lithuania, 28 2 5 Netherlands (EU best) 1 Portugal 10 26 3 Spain 15 2 Croatia 24 4 EU average Spain 22 20 Croatia, EU average 5 Croatia 3 Patra Portugal 20 25 Spain 6 EU average Athens 18 30 Larissa 4 7 Croatia Alexandroupoli 16 35 EU average Alexandroupoli, Athens, Larissa Greek average 5 14 Thessaloniki 8 Heraklion, Patra, Thessaloniki 40 8 9 Greek average 60 Spain 6 6 Heraklion, Greek average 4 Greek cities 10 65 Athens (EU lowest) Thessaloniki 4 Greek average 7 11 4 Greek cities 130 Thessaloniki Portugal 2 (EU lowest) Poland 12 (EU lowest) 135 Heraklion 8 0 Source: Doing Business database. Note: The averages for the European Union are based on economy-level data for the 28 EU member states. The averages for Greece are based on the six cities benchmarked in Greece. Other member states are represented by their capital city, as measured by global Doing Business. 22 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY BOX 2.1  Full property registration in Greece: a long-term process with many challenges on the way Throughout most of modern history, Greece has used a person-based deeds system to register property rights. The current system is a hybrid between public registries (mortgage offices), which operate under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice, and private registries. There are close to 400 mortgage offices, many of which are private with a notary in charge.a The mortgage offices deal with deed registration and provide documents for due diligence, as requested by the lawyers of transacting parties. They do not provide full legality assurances for real-estate transactions. Over time it became increasingly evident that the way the deed system was being implemented in Greece was exacerbating existing issues. In 1995, the Greek government began a major initiative to complete property registration by converting the existing deeds system to a title-based one. It started by passing the Law on Cadastre, which opened the way for the creation of the National Cadastre and Mapping Agency S.A. (NCMA S.A.).b For the most part, NCMA S.A. contracted out the work to the private sector. Eventually, this initiative had limited success. But, by the time the financial crisis impact was felt in the country’s real estate sector, only about a quarter of the country’s property rights were registered in the cadaster. The Greek government, as well as international lenders, recognized the lack of legal certainty about property rights was a major obstacle to investment and economic development in Greece. There was a strong push to complete the property registration program by 2020. In 2018, the Greek Parliament passed Law 4512/2018, which established the Hellenic Cadastre, a public agency that would unify both mapping and registration services under one roof. The old NCMA S.A. ceased to exist. Today, the plan is to continue the process started by NCMA S.A. and conclude the reforms by establishing approximately 90 so-called Joint Cadastre and Property Registration Offices (JCPROs) through the merger of the Hellenic Cadastre local offices with the mortgage offices across the country. This would instigate a full transfer of responsibilities from the Ministry of Justice and the private Registrars/ Notaries to the Hellenic Cadastre. Before that goal is achieved, the Hellenic Cadastre must map all properties in a jurisdiction—a process that would typically be outsourced to private sector firms around the country. Property owners are also being requested to declare their properties and communicate any errors regarding how the properties are listed in existing records. This process is being conducted due to the lack of consolidated records at the national level. Across the country, the property registration function is currently performed either by the local mortgage office, an interim cadaster office, or both, depending on where the reform process stands in each city. The situation is diverse among the cities benchmarked in this report. (See the table below.) The cadaster reform implementation progress varies across the six cities benchmarked Number of Ministry Number of Cadastral of Justice employees employees hired Current status and activities of mortgage Current status and activities of mapping or private legal by the Hellenic City office cadaster office status professionals Cadastre Alexandroupoli The local private mortgage office conducts An interim cadaster office has been Partially 5 in Alexandroupoli none Larissa 2 functions: 1) operates as archive for due created and currently is headed by the completed 14 in Larissa diligence for all properties with history head of the private mortgage office. older than the existence of the interim The office conducts registrations and cadaster office; 2) conducts property legal validations for properties where transaction registrations for properties cadastral survey is complete as well as where the cadastral survey has not been registrations of transactions conducted complete. through the local mortgage office. Athens The local public mortgage office continues The local cadaster office has a very Incomplete 55 none to handle all functions of property limited role of simply taking stock of transfers. property registrations with the local mortgage office. It does not have an interim status as of yet. Heraklion The local public mortgage office conducts The interim cadaster office has been Partially 9 in Heraklion 4 in Heraklion Patra 2 functions: 1) operates as archive for due created and currently is headed by completed 14 in Patra 12 in Patra diligence for all properties with history older the head of the mortgage office. than the existence of the interim cadaster The office conducts registrations and office; 2) conducts property transaction legal validations for properties where registrations for properties where the cadastral survey is complete. cadastral survey has not been complete. Thessaloniki The local public mortgage office operates A pilot permanent cadaster office Fully 32 7 as an archive for due diligence purposes has been created and all property completed serving historical information that may not transactions are registered in this office. be available at the local cadaster office. Note: The information presented in this table was obtained during a field mission in March 2019, when meetings were conducted with relevant authorities in all six cities benchmarked. Any developments after this date are not reflected in the Table. DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 23 BOX 2.1  Full property registration in Greece: a long-term process with many challenges on the way (continued) The cadaster reform in Greece has faced many challenges and delays over the years. The initial cadaster creation process, which started with the NCMA S.A.c in 1995, was not promoted with a sense of urgency and faced a lot of resistance from various inter- est groups. Once the Hellenic Cadastre was created, some of the NCMA S.A staff contracts could not be renewedd when the sta- tus of the cadaster changed from private (S.A.) to public (Hellenic Cadaster), creating further delays and challenges to this day. Once the mapping and property declarations are complete and the local mortgage office merges into the Joint Cadaster Property Registration Office, the Hellenic Cadastre faces challenges with the transition of employees and their status. In cities with pri- vately held mortgage offices, the private registrars are invited to transition from a private to a public employee status (with the Hellenic Cadastre). In wealthy areas, with high property values, the private registrars resist the change because it means transitioning to a fixed public servant salary and forfeiting financial benefits. Currently they are paid a fee as a percentage of the property value.e In areas where property prices have dramatically dropped and land transactions diminished, the private regis- trars are willing to transition to a public employee status.f Another staffing challenge that affects all cadaster offices relates to employees with a legal background (i.e., lawyers). The cadaster offices are supposed to legally validate the transactions, so they need lawyers to review each transaction. Before the law on the Hellenic Cadastre was passed, lawyers employed by both the Ministry of Justice and NCMA S.A. were allowed to freelance. Currently, however, any lawyers working for the Hellenic Cadastre as permanent staff can no longer freelance. As a result, a lot of previously contracted lawyers ended up leaving the institution. The Ministry of Justice has instituted a hiring freeze due to the transition of its responsibilities to the Hellenic Cadastre. But the Hellenic Cadastre is not hiring with a pace brisk enough to offset the staff lost to retirement or turnover at the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, in cities where the cadaster reform has advanced, one sees offices with fewer staff even though the number of transactions keeps increasing. This certainly impacts service delivery. The Greek government initially hoped to complete the property registration and cadastral mapping by 2020, which now seems highly unlikely. A 2022 target seems more reasonable. Once this phase is complete, the plan is to work on system optimization and move towards a digital platform. a. Information obtained in a meeting with Hellenic Cadastre authorities in October 2018. b. Founded by a joint decision of officeholders who then held the titles of Minister of Economy and Finance and Minister of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works (Decision 81706/6085/6-10-1995/Government Gazette 872B/19-10-1995), the initially named Cadaster S.A. was a legal entity under private law. Law 4164/2013 renamed the entity: National Cadastre and Mapping Agency S.A. (NCMA S.A.). c. Initially called Cadaster S.A. In 2013 the organization was renamed NCMA S.A. and became “public property of private law.” d. This was more problematic for staff with legal backgrounds. e. They have formed the association of Heads of Private Registrars that lobbies for their interests. f. They are part of the Panhellenic Association of Employees of Land Registrars and Cadastral Offices. the property registration function is Procedurally, the process of property reg- cities it is common practice to submit still performed by mortgage offices istration across the Greek cities bench- the preliminary draft sale and purchase across the country, which operate on marked in this report is similar (figure agreement to the local bar association. a deed-based system. Some mortgage 2.14). Entrepreneurs transacting property The last two stages of property registra- offices are public, administered by go through nine main stages, interacting tion involve the finalization and notariza- the Ministry of Justice, and some are with a multitude of public and private tion of the sale and purchase agreement private. The recently created Hellenic entities. The process begins with obtain- by a notary and the registration of the Cadastre is expected to gradually take ing a topographic site plan by a special- property with the local mortgage and over both property registration and ized engineer. Most entrepreneurs use a local interim cadaster office. mapping duties for the entire country. lawyer to conduct the rest of the process. The Hellenic Cadastre is a unified The lawyer typically conducts due dili- Progress in implementing independent agency under the Ministry gence and drafts the preliminary sale and cadaster reform determines of Environment and Energy. Depending purchase agreement. Moving forward, cities’ performance on the location of the property being clearance certificates are obtained from It is easiest to register a property in Patra transferred, Greek entrepreneurs may the municipality, the Unified Social and most difficult in Heraklion (table need to deal with the corresponding Security Agency (EFKA) and the national 2.8). Patra stands out in terms of speed: mortgage office, an interim cadaster tax authority. The property transfer tax is transferring a property between two local office or both. paid to the national tax authority. In some companies in the city takes 24 days. That 24 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY implementation of the cadaster reform FIGURE 2.14  The main stages of property registration are the same across Greek cities, with slight variations in implementation across cities. In Heraklion, Patra and Thessaloniki, most or all registrations are Major stage of transfer of property registration Variation in implementation now handled within the newly created Receive site visit and obtain interim cadaster offices. In the other cit- Uniform across the country a topographic site plan ies, the registration has to be done both Conduct encumbrances search and In most cities the search is conducted at both the local mortgage at the mortgage office and at the interim draft initial sale agreement office and the cadaster office, while in some just at the mortgage office cadaster office. During the transition, not Obtain property tax certificate Uniform across the country all documents have been fully transferred from municipality from the mortgage offices to the interim Obtain clearance certificate from Uniform across the country cadaster offices. Thus, in all cities except the national tax authority Athens, the due diligence search has to Obtain clearance certificate from the Unified Social Security Agency Uniform across the country be done at both offices. In Athens, the cadaster reform is much less advanced. Pay property transfer tax to the national Tax Authority Uniform across the country Hence, there is no interim cadaster office Deliver initial draft sale agreement yet. The local mortgage office, therefore, In some cities it is a common practice; in some it is not to the local Bar Association continues to conduct full registration Have a notary draft and finalize sale duties and is the only office where the Uniform across the country agreement and prepare transfer deed due-diligence search is conducted. Last, Register property at the mortgage In some cities entrepreneurs must register with both offices, in others Athens and Patra are the only two cities office and/or cadaster office registration takes place only at the newly created cadaster office where it is a common practice for lawyers to deliver the initial draft of the sale and Source: Doing Business database. purchase agreement to the local bar association of each city.41 TABLE 2.8  Registering property in Greece: where is it easier and where is the land administration system more accessible and reliable? The greatest variation across Greek cit- ies is observed in the time to register a Cost Quality of land Score Procedures Time (% of property administration index property, which varies from about one City Rank (0–100) (number) (day) value) (0–30) month in Patra, Athens, Larissa and Patra 1 47.77 11 24 4.9 5.5 Alexandroupoli to more than four months Larissa 2 47.09 11 31 4.8 5.5 in Thessaloniki and Heraklion (figure Alexandroupoli 3 46.86 11 33 4.8 5.5 2.15). The main driver of variation is the final step of the process: registration with Athens 3 46.86 11 26 4.8 4.5 the local mortgage office and/or cadaster Thessaloniki 5 44.68 10 130 4.9 14.5 office. Typically, in cities where the reform Heraklion 6 36.69 10 134 4.9 5.5 is less advanced, the process of registra- Source: Doing Business database. tion is faster, taking two weeks in Athens Note: Rankings are based on the average score for the procedures, time and cost associated with registering property, and three weeks in Alexandroupoli and as well as on the quality of land administration index. The score is normalized to range from 0 to 100 (the higher the score, the better). For more details, see the chapter “About Doing Business and Doing Business in the European Union Larissa. In these three cities, the main Member States 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy.” aspects of property registration are still conducted at the local mortgage offices, is more than a month faster than the aver- made the most progress in implementing which simply record the transfer of the age time of the Greek cities benchmarked the cadaster reform (box 2.2). deed but do not confirm the legality of in this report. On the other hand, the same the transfer. In these cities, the cadaster process takes much longer in Thessaloniki Although the process of registering offices are also informed,42 and they and Heraklion, where it takes more than property is based on a national legal record the transaction, but they are four months. Despite the lengthy time, framework, the implementation and the not yet ready to conduct and validate Thessaloniki stands out among all the cit- number of procedures varies from 10 transfers. ies studied for requiring the fewest number procedures in Heraklion and Thessaloniki of procedures40 to register a property and to 11 in the other cities. On the other hand, in Heraklion and the highest score on the quality of land Thessaloniki, most or all transfers43 are administration index. These results are a One factor affecting the variation in the handled by the cadaster office. Because direct consequence of Thessaloniki having number of procedures is the uneven the cadaster office has to legally validate DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 25 BOX 2.2  Thessaloniki: a city of two tales Of the cities studied, Thessaloniki has made the most progress implementing the cadaster reform. It is the only city with a fully- fledged cadaster office—unlike most other cities, where that office is still considered to be in interim status—which handles both property transfers and mapping. The local mortgage office functions merely as a repository of archives. However, the cadaster office is still referred to as a “pilot permanent” cadaster office because although the cadastral survey and property registration is complete, the full merger of the mortgage and cadaster offices is not considered complete until all the employees of the mortgage office are converted to Hellenic Cadastre staff. Staffing is the biggest challenge the cadaster office currently faces. The majority of staff working at the cadaster office is still under the payroll of the Ministry of Justice, which in the meantime has instituted a hiring freeze. When Ministry of Justice staff retire, they are not always replaced by new hires on the cadaster side. The situation is particularly dire because there are not enough lawyers to review and validate property transactions. The current situation in the city of Thessaloniki is counterintuitive, given the progress the city has made in implementing the ca- daster reform. As a result of the challenges mentioned above, the Thessaloniki cadaster takes the longest time among the six cities benchmarked to approve and process property transfers. (See figure below.) At the same time, Thessaloniki is the only city where not only the cadaster survey and property registration are complete, but full digital mapping has been achieved for the entire ter- ritory of the municipality. The city has a state-of-the-art website providing both spatial data infrastructure and a GIS portal.* Not surprisingly, addressing property disputes through the local court is also more efficient here than in other cities. These achieve- ments have made Thessaloniki a clear outlier on the quality of land administration index, with a score almost three times as high as the average score of the other cities. (See figure below.) All in all, Thessaloniki has come a long way in making property records and corresponding infrastructure more reliable, which was and continues to be the Achilles heel for many Greek cities. Once the staffing matters in the Thessaloniki cadaster office are ad- dressed, it is expected that the time to register property in the city will dramatically improve. Thessaloniki: the city with the most reliable but slowest property transfer process Time to register property at the local Quality of land administration index (points) cadaster or mortgage office (days) Land dispute resolution 32 Geographic coverage 120 Transparency of information Reliability of infrastructure Other cities (average) Thessaloniki 0 2 4 6 8 Maximum Other cities (average) Thessaloniki Source: Doing Business database. * https://gis.thessaloniki.gr. the transfers, they need lawyers to check cadaster office has no legal professionals transactions also contributes to delays.44 all documentation. Currently, this is a on staff at all. They receive assistance Patra is an exception, with an efficient bottleneck due to the lack of legal profes- from one legal professional in Chios, an interim cadaster office that completes sionals available to support the work. island in northern Aegean, and another registrations within 12 days. Unlike most As a result, registering the transaction in Arta, a city in northwestern Greece. other interim cadaster offices, the Patra with the cadaster offices takes three All transactions go through the remote one has hired substantially. Currently, it months in Heraklion and four months review of these two legal profession- has 12 employees hired directly by the in Thessaloniki. The Heraklion interim als. In Thessaloniki, the high number of Ministry of Environment and Energy and 26 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Except for Thessaloniki, all cities scored FIGURE 2.15  The efficiency of local cadaster and mortgage offices is the main driver of variations in the time it takes to register property in Greek cities zero on the reliability of infrastructure index. Thessaloniki scored 4 out of Time to register property (days) 8 points because it has an electronic Heraklion 134 database of records and has completed the digital mapping of all properties, pro- Thessaloniki 130 cesses in which most other Greek cities Alexandroupoli 33 are lagging behind. Larissa 31 In terms of the transparency of informa- tion, all the Greek cities score just 1.5 Athens 26 out of 6 points. There are a few reasons Patra 24 for the low scores. For one thing, access to information on land ownership is limited to only intermediaries and trans- Source: Doing Business database. acting parties. Additionally, the cities do not offer binding standard delivery 14 others from the Ministry of Justice.45 by Ministerial Decision 72386/2015. commitments. The Thessaloniki cadaster office is han- The fees amount to about 0.7% of the dling more than twice as many transac- property value. While using a lawyer is In terms of geographic coverage, tions as Patra,46 with only slightly more not mandatory, most entrepreneurs use Thessaloniki is the only city with a score employees (3447 in Thessaloniki versus one when handling commercial transac- higher than zero, receiving 4 out of 8 26 in Patra). tions. Lawyer fees are freely agreed upon points. Thessaloniki’s cadaster office is between parties. For the transaction the only one that has fully registered and The time to obtain a property tax clear- assumed in this report, lawyers typically mapped all the privately held land plots ance certificate from municipalities is charge about 0.5% of the property value. within official city boundaries. another area in which the cities vary. It takes from one day in Athens, Patra and The only component of cost where fees Thessaloniki also scores highest on land Thessaloniki to 40 days in Heraklion. vary slightly from city to city relates to dispute resolution, with 5 out of 8 points, In Athens and Patra, the municipalities deed registration. The cost depends on due to the local courts’ relatively fast have an electronic database to conduct whether it is the local mortgage office or resolution of property disputes. (It takes the necessary checks before issuing the the interim cadaster office conducting the certificate. In contrast, authorities in transfer of property. In Alexandroupoli, Heraklion conduct all checks manually, Athens and Larissa, the mortgage offices FIGURE 2.16  Professional fees constitute more than one quarter of the going through paper files and receipts charge 0.475% of the property value, cost of registering property from multiple agencies to ensure that plus application fees. In Heraklion, Patra all bills have been paid. In addition, and Thessaloniki, the cadaster offices 1% Heraklion authorities check for bills and charge 0.575% of the property value, documents going back ten years instead plus application fees. of five, as most of the other cities do. 11% Thessaloniki scores highest on 14% The cost of registering property in the quality of land administration Greece is similar across the six cities index 63% 11% benchmarked. More than 60% of the Scores on the quality of land administra- cost (about 3% of the property value) tion index vary from 4.5 points in Athens is paid as a transfer tax to the national to 14.5 points in Thessaloniki, out of a tax authority. Professional fees consti- maximum of 30 points. The other four tute more than one quarter of the cost cities all scored 5.5 points. The qual- Transfer tax Registration fees (figure 2.16). The largest portion of the ity of land administration index has five Notary charges fees Lawyer fees professional fees goes to notaries, who dimensions: reliability of infrastructure, Engineer fees charge to both finalize and notarize the transparency of information, geographic sale and purchase agreement. Notaries coverage, land dispute resolution and charge based on a fee schedule amended equal access to property rights. Source: Doing Business database. DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 27 between one and two years.) In Athens, the reform pace in other cities. To create needed. In 2008, electronic registration resolving property disputes takes longer hiring flexibility for the Hellenic Cadastre, was made mandatory. Today, property than three years. The capital scores only budgetary and human resource con- registration can be completed in just two 3 points in the land dispute resolution straints at the central government level steps, at a cost of 0.1% of the property index. The rest of the cities score 4 points should be addressed speedily, and efforts value, and New Zealand is second on the on this indicator, taking between two should be made to enable a smooth Doing Business global ranking on the ease and three years to resolve a property transition of staff between the Ministry of of registering property. dispute case. All in all, the quality of land Justice and the Ministry of Environment administration index is the indicator on and Energy. Among EU member states, all but Greece which Greek cities have the most room have digital property records. Several for improvement. Digitize cadastral maps and have implemented online registration. property deeds into a consistent One of these is Denmark, where the format, in a searchable database, to government began modernizing its land WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED? ensure quality and accuracy and to registry decades ago. Computerization of enable electronic registration offices and digitization of records started Continue and conclude The majority of property documents and in 2009. Once this process was complete, implementation of the cadaster maps across Greek cities remain in paper the registry introduced the availability of The establishment of the Hellenic format. Most of the core processes for electronic lodgment of property transfer Cadastre was a step in the right direction. property registration in most Greek cities documents. Today, the electronic sub- The planned next steps of the reform are also require paper documents and filing. mission of documents is mandatory. The well thought out. Once completed, the It is vital that once the cadaster reform is reforms have paid off and transferring a cadaster and mortgage offices should implemented, all property and mapping property in Denmark now takes only four truly unify their records into a single records be digitized and entered into a days, down from 42 days in 2003. database, and they should use the same single database. This foundational step is identifiers (numbers) for properties. This within the vision of the Hellenic Cadastre, Introduce standardized contracts for would help in implementing a standard- and it is a precondition of making further property transfers ized process of property registration improvements to the system. Companies completing a property trans- across the country. These measures are fer in Greece must have a notary finalize in line with international good practices Digital databases allow users to conduct and authenticate the sale and purchase and would make life easier for entrepre- title searches electronically. They can agreement. In addition, while no longer neurs. They would also spell the end of also provide the basis for a centralized legally mandated to hire a lawyer, the needing to register with both offices and liens and encumbrances database, as majority of companies continue to do for two different offices both to conduct well as online registration. Digital records so, especially for commercial property due diligence. This major step can be fol- can have advantages over paper records transfers. The lawyers and notaries also lowed with other improvements that can because they require less physical stor- help with drafting the sale and purchase be implemented over the long term. age space, they are easily sharable across agreement. The costs of legal services locations, and electronic back-ups ensure make up one fourth of the total cost to Address Hellenic Cadastre staffing that data will not be lost. Evidence across register property, which is more than 1% issues in order not to discourage the globe supports electronic registries: of the property value. These costs are in cadaster reform implementation the data show that property transfers are addition to other costs, such as property In cities like Thessaloniki, entrepreneurs finalized twice as quickly in economies transfer taxes and registration fees. are faced with long delays for property with electronic registries as in those transfers, incurring both financial and without. Many economies enable companies to opportunity costs. Given that one of the transfer a property without the assis- main constraints the local cadasters face Most countries that implemented digital tance of legal professionals. They do this is staffing, the issue should be addressed property records did so progressively through the use of standardized contracts as soon as possible. And this is important over several years. New Zealand, for made freely available to the public by the for the entire country. In order to encour- example, digitized its property records land registry. Negotiating parties simply age other cities to fully implement the between 1997 and 2002. Subsequently, tick or fill-in required information. Yet, cadaster reform, Thessaloniki needs to be the country introduced electronic regis- when they wish to, entrepreneurs can seen as a success. At present, however, tration. But by 2005 only about half of still choose to obtain legal consultation the bottleneck situation in Thessaloniki property transactions were being sub- and tailor-made contracts, especially for might act to discourage or slow down mitted electronically, so a final push was more complex cases. 28 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Doing Business data show that three Introduce a specific compensation of four economies manage property mechanism for erroneous registration without mandating the use transactions of lawyers or notaries by law, including Several countries have established funds Denmark, Portugal and Sweden. Portugal to compensate parties that suffer dam- made notary involvement optional for ages or losses because of the inadvertent companies wishing to transfer property; certifications provided by land registries. companies simply need to sign the agree- The funds serve as instruments to ment in person at the registry. Registering increase dispute settlement efficiency property in several Portuguese cities48 now because using them avoids the additional takes only one procedure and one day. time and cost burdens of settling in court. For instance, in Ireland, one can file such a Consider setting up a separate claim directly at the Property Registration and specific mechanism to handle Authority.50 Similarly, the United Kingdom complaints regarding Hellenic has a statutory compensation scheme Cadastre services that allows claims to be made directly at Having an independent and specific the land registry. Claims can be submit- mechanism for filing complaints at the ted for matters ranging from mistakes in agency in charge of property registra- the register to the loss or destruction of tion gives proper attention to the always records.51 Similar provisions exist under important real estate industry, a major the Swedish Land Code.52 sector of any country’s economy.” Keeping the process independent would make handling complaints more efficient and would minimize corruption and unnecessary disputes among land regis- try authorities. Correcting administrative errors in property registration helps prevent future problems and potentially addresses minor issues before they esca- late to matters that require court resolu- tion, usually an expensive undertaking for both plaintiffs and public authorities. There is no such mechanism to handle property complaints in Greece, a topic that can be given serious consideration once the cadaster reform is complete. Greece could look to the United Kingdom as an example. Besides having detailed com- plaint procedures that can be addressed to the HM Land Registry, the United Kingdom also allows people to file a com- plaint with the Independent Complaints Reviewer (ICR).49 The ICR handles com- plaints related to the HM Land Registry only. The ICR is neither a civil servant nor an employee of the HM Land Registry. The ICR Office funding and staff come from the HM Land Registry but are managed independently by the ICR. DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 29 5. Enforcing Contracts Where firms and investors have the Litigation is relatively affordable Commercial cases in Greece—like the assurance that courts will resolve legal in Greece but there is room to assumed Doing Business case, which is a disputes within a reasonable time and improve on court efficiency breach-of-contract claim valued at EUR provide transparent and enforceable deci- 33,051,57—are heard by Single-Member sions, they are more likely to participate On average, it takes three years to First-Instance Courts.58 in the market.53 Owing to this premise litigate the standardized commercial and the knowledge that “a more effective dispute underlying the Doing Business When filing a lawsuit, the steps that take judiciary is necessary for the success of case study through the Greek Single- the longest are the lawyer’s preparation legal reforms in all areas,” Greece priori- Member First-Instance Courts and of the case documents and the bailiff’s tized judicial reforms on its path to recov- enforce the judgment.56 This is nearly serving of the issued summons. Lodging ery from its decade-old financial crisis.54 15 months longer than the EU average. the complaint with the court is generally In this regard, government actions have Similarly, Greece shows room to catch a quick, over-the-counter procedure in all focused on modernizing the courts and up with the EU average on the quality locations. In Athens, e-filing is also avail- introducing new legislation to promote of judicial processes, as measured by able.59 After the court clerk’s review and timely settlement of disputes. While Doing Business. Greece’s average, 10 of issuance of the summons, the plaintiff’s some reforms have paid off, and the 18 possible points, places it right behind attorney engages a bailiff to serve the Greek economy is now exhibiting signs of the EU’s 11.6-point mean. Yet, the aver- defendant. Under Greek law, in-person stronger growth, Greece still has room to age cost of suing in court and enforcing service is required.60 improve the performance of its judiciary a judgment in Greece is 20.2% of the and to close the gap with its European claim value, slightly less expensive than Because Greece’s Code of Civil Procedure peers.55 the EU average (21.2%) (figure 2.17). is national, the same trial rules apply FIGURE 2.17  While Greek cities are clustered behind the EU average for time and quality of judicial processes, half of them outperform the EU average in the cost to resolve a commercial dispute EFFICIENCY OF CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT Time Cost QUALITY OF JUDICIAL PROCESSES INDEX (days) (% of claim value) (0–18) 1 0 18 300 Luxembourg (EU best) 9 Lithuania, United Kingdom (EU best) 15 350 Luxembourg (EU best) 10 Spain 500 14 550 Croatia 15 Portugal 600 16 Croatia 13 EU average 650 Athens Croatia Portugal, Spain 17 700 EU average 12 750 18 Patra Spain Thessaloniki Portugal Alexandroupoli 11 800 19 Larissa 850 Greek average 10 Heraklion 900 Greek average 20 Thessaloniki 21 950 EU average Thessaloniki 9 Alexandroupoli Larissa 1,000 Heraklion 4 Greek cities 22 Patra Athens 8 1,050 Greek average 23 1,100 Netherlands (EU lowest) 7 45 1,700 Athens (EU lowest) United Kingdom(EU lowest) 1,750 46 0 Source: Doing Business database. Note: The averages for the European Union are based on economy-level data for the 28 EU member states. 30 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY BOX 2.3  The new court rules make for simplified trial procedure throughout Greece To streamline judicial processes and improve court efficiency,a in 2015, the Greek parliament passed Law 4335, which introduced notable amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure.b These reforms sought to curb delays associated with litigating in the first instance courts. More specifically, they aimed to address the following: long waiting periods leading up to hearings; inefficient trial hearings; and frequent adjournments. As a result, the amended Code introduced simplified trial procedures. Trials now largely consist of written proceedings. There is only one hearing, and the parties and their witnesses are not required to attend. The hearing’s sole purpose is to comply with the constitution’s requirement that the parties’ names and case details must be read into the court record, for publicity purposes. Most importantly, the hearing cannot be postponed, and there is no oral presentation of evidence. Attending parties can make certain statements on the process and their judicial rights but never on the merits of the case. Consequently, to issue a decision the judge mainly reviews the parties’ filings—including pleadings, counter- claims and supporting evidence—in chambers. Witness testimonies are filed as affidavits and only examined orally in exceptional circumstances, when the judge deems it necessary. Parties and the court are also subject to strict deadlines. Pleadings must close within 100 days of filing, and litigants have 15 days to file counterclaims. Consequently, the case file must be ready for adjudication 115 days after the initial complaint is filed. The hearing date must be set 30 days after the judge is appointed. As such, the rules aim to ensure a hearing occurs within 160 days of the complaint being filed. In practice, although litigants adhere to deadlines leading up to the closing of the file, courts across the country still have trouble meeting the deadline for the first hearing. Beyond expediting processes, the new rules seek to promote proper administration of justice. They are founded on the principle that sound documentary evidence allows for an easier and more accurate discovery of the truth—and better informs judges’ deci- sions—than witness testimonies. Overall, this series of judicial measures seeks to promote a transparent process, efficient pro- ceedings and fair dispute resolution. In so doing, they aim to restore public trust in the national courts.c a. Euro Summit, Brussels, 12 July 2015. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/20353/20150712-eurosummit-statement-greece.pdf. b. The law entered into force on January 1, 2016. National Gazette No 87/A/23-07-2015. c. Explanatory Memorandum of the draft Law 4334/2015. “Urgent implementation measures of Law 4334/2015 (A’80).” https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/2f026f42-950c-4efc-b950-340c4fb76a24/e-epeigon-eis-new.pdf. throughout the country. The Code, which case assumes pretrial attachment of the Thessaloniki court’s relative entered into force in 1968, has since insolvent defendant’s moveable assets. In efficiency is proof that local been amended multiple times. The most Greece, this is a separate proceeding that judicial initiatives matter recent amended version dates to 2015.61 It occurs in parallel with the trial. The result Enforcing contracts is easiest in introduced simplified procedures aimed at is a general order preventing the plain- Thessaloniki, the city that is the second expediting trials (box 2.3). Owing to these tiff from dissipating assets, subject to fastest to resolve a commercial dispute amendments, ordinary civil trial timelines criminal liability if the order is breached. (table 2.9) and the second-best per- now consist of three main phases: the wait Consequently, following judgment and former on the quality of judicial processes time from filing to the trial hearing; the trial service of the enforcement order, the bai- index. While Athens is the best performer hearing; and the wait time from the hear- liff still needs to effect seizure. Owing to on this index, it takes the longest time, ing to judgment issuance. After the judg- regulations introduced in 2015,62 a seven- lasting four years and nine months. The ment, litigants have 30 days to appeal. month waiting period commences from Athenian court’s notably larger jurisdic- the seizure date. The assets cannot be tion may be one of the contributing Judgment enforcement involves multiple sold until after this time elapses. During factors to why trials there take more than parties, namely the courts, bailiffs and this waiting period, bailiffs advertise the twice the average in the other cities. notaries. After the judgment, the court assets. In all locations, the final sale is issues an enforcement order (an apo- performed online by a notary, between The remaining four cities perform simi- grafo) to the plaintiff. Both the judgment the seventh and eighth month after larly, with a common score on the judicial and enforcement order must be served seizure.63 The notary then remits the sale quality index and narrower differences in on the defendant. The Doing Business proceeds to the plaintiff. time and cost. DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 31 TABLE 2.9  Enforcing contracts is easier in Thessaloniki and more difficult in Athens complete the trial and judgment phase. Thessaloniki achieved this efficiency Score Time Cost Quality of judicial City Rank (0–100) (day) (% of claim) processes index (0–18) despite being twice the size of the fast- est city, Larissa. Thessaloniki’s relative Thessaloniki 1 57.83 935 21.1 11.5 efficiency is largely due to the court Larissa 2 55.38 815 21.5 8.5 president’s very hands-on approach to Alexandroupoli 3 52.65 960 18.2 8.5 management. On his initiative, the court Patra 4 51.32 1,010 18.1 8.5 issued management directions aimed Heraklion 5 50.94 1,000 19.9 8.5 at improving the court’s management in early 2018. The same directions were Athens 6 48.11 1,711 22.4 12.5 filed with the Ministry of Justice and pub- Source: Doing Business database. lished on the court’s website, making it a Note: Rankings are based on the average score for time and cost associated with enforcing a contract as well as for the quality of judicial processes index. The score is normalized to range from 0 to 100 (the higher the score, the service charter, of sorts.65 The document better). For more details, see the chapter “About Doing Business and Doing Business in the European Union Member contains various rules on the court’s States 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy.” operation, including provisions limiting The filing and serving phase takes from 35 two and three days in smaller cities to up to the number of cases each judge can hear days in Larissa to nearly twice that time in a week in Athens and Thessaloniki. per year and adjudication time limits that Athens and Thessaloniki (60 days). The are more ambitious than national stan- variations among Greek cities largely stem The trial and judgment phase is the dards. Owing to this increased transpar- from the interventions of local private sector largest driver of time differences among ency and accountability, the court now practitioners, namely lawyers and bailiffs.64 the cities (figure 2.18). Trial duration strives to adhere to its limit of 140 civil The biggest bottleneck is the time lawyers varies from a year and five months in cases per judge, per year. Complementing take to prepare for trial, which includes an Larissa to just under four years in Athens. its administrative regulations, the court attempt to collect payment by nonlitigious Population size may be one of the reasons uses an electronic system to manage means and subsequent evidence-gathering for this wide gap. However, among more its calendar and allocate hearing dates, and preparation of the complaint. These similarly sized cities, there is evidence making for a comparatively streamlined times vary according to local practice. that local judicial initiatives can increase scheduling process. However, across cities, once the lawyer files efficiency. the complaint, the court issues the sum- Courts in Athens and Thessaloniki have mons the same day. The bailiff’s service of For example, Thessaloniki, the second- subject-matter sections, including com- the issued summons ranges from between largest city, is also second-fastest to mercial divisions. Thessaloniki has six FIGURE 2.18  Trial time is the largest source of variation among the cities EU average 41 458 138 Larissa 35 510 270 Thessaloniki 60 610 265 Alexandroupoli 50 635 275 Heraklion 45 690 265 Patra 40 665 305 Greek average 48 752 272 Athens 60 1,400 251 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 Time to resolve a commercial dispute (calendar days) Filing and service Trial and judgment Enforcement of judgment Source: Doing Business database. Note: The average for the European Union is based on economy-level data for 28 EU member states. 32 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY such sections in total. Judges serve in are also a recurring issue in Athens. Patra hearings—than those filed pursuant to their subject-matter section for four years and Athens are, incidentally the two cit- the new procedure. Since then, the court at a time. This is a positive step toward ies in which time between the hearing transitioned to an equal ratio of new to old specialization and ensuring a consistent and judgment issuance is the longest. procedure cases in each judge’s caseload, application of the law. However, in both and it expects to purge its backlog of cases Athens and Thessaloniki, judges in the In some courts, a lack of courtrooms hin- filed under the old rules by 2021. subject-matter sections also hear crimi- ders the efficient scheduling of hearings. nal cases, which requires switching gears In Heraklion, only two small rooms are Additionally, owing partly to backlogs, on in a way that likely impedes efficiency.66 available for the Single-Member First- average none of the courts can stick to Instance Court’s hearings. Similarly, in the eight-month deadline for scheduling a As the fastest location, Larissa ben- Alexandroupoli, there is only one court- hearing after pleadings close.68 Similarly, efits partly from its relatively small size, room. Judges must often use their offices only Larissa manages to meet the eight- although it outperforms Alexandroupoli, and other rooms in the courthouse for month deadline for issuing judgments. a city half its size, showing that other hearings. Apart from Athens, these are If a judge exceeds the deadline, the factors besides size can hold cities back the two courts with the longest wait court’s management can reassign the from achieving optimal efficiency. Greek times between case filing and the hear- case and impose disciplinary measures. courts face some common challenges, ing, lasting about a year in each city. Yet, because of backlogs, courts are still including inefficient workload structure, lenient about this deadline, especially in staffing gaps, infrastructure needs and In addition to these resource gaps, all Athens, where it takes more than two backlogs, to name a few. courts face backlogs. While backlogs are years to obtain judgment after a hearing. the result of underlying inefficiencies, Combining civil and criminal significant backlogs can compound with Enforcement is relatively slow workloads, a lack of courtrooms other factors and themselves become and costly across Greece and backlogs hamper efficiency an impediment to improving efficiency. Enforcement time is similar across across all cities Although smaller Greek courts have Greek cities, ranging from eight and a Across all courts, judges split their time better managed backlogs, Athens, the half months in Athens to ten months in between criminal and civil cases. For largest jurisdiction, was incomparably Patra. Enforcement is slow largely due to example, in Patra, each judge hears more overwhelmed. Backlogs, including those the nationally sanctioned seven-month than 170 civil cases alone each year, as predating the new civil procedure rules, waiting period before selling the insolvent compared to a median of about 150 civil have limited Athens’ ability to reap the defendant’s movable assets. The sole cases elsewhere.67 Additionally, this allo- benefits of the 2015 simplified rules of source of variation among cities stems cation does not account for the complex- civil procedure, as compared to other from the seizure and sale processes, ity of individual judges’ civil cases or their courts. Before September 2018, Athenian which are organized by bailiffs and criminal caseload. This workload struc- judges were still hearing more cases filed notaries. ture—which does not take into account under the old civil procedure rules—which case complexity for assignment purposes allowed adjournments and called for more and under which judges juggle both civil and criminal cases—makes it difficult for judges to clear civil case backlogs FIGURE 2.19  While the cost of litigating is lower than the EU average, Greece has effectively and limits the courts’ ability to high enforcement costs achieve a productive clearance rate. Greece (average) EU (average) Total cost: 20.2% of claim value Total cost: 21.2% of claim value Judges also report that staffing gaps have also hindered courts’ efficiency. For 3.8% example, as of March 2019, Heraklion Attorney had four vacant judgeships and 7.8% 8.2% Alexandroupoli had one. Additionally, Court 4.9% 12.5% there is no effective mechanism to substi- Enforcement tute for judges who are on extended leave 4.3% or external service. Consequently, during the last judicial year, Patra was not able to temporarily replace 2 of its 20 judges. Reportedly, these temporary absences Source: Doing Business database. Note: Costs for Greece are an average across the six cities measured. DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 33 Although not all bailiffs work on enforce- FIGURE 2.20  Greek cities have room to catch up with the EU average on judicial ment, interviews with these professionals quality but also have good practices to share among themselves suggest larger cities enjoy the benefit of Court structure and proceedings (-1–5) a better proportion of bailiffs to inhabit- 6 ants. Incidentally, enforcement is fastest 5 4 in the three largest cities. 3 2 The cost of litigation varies from 18.1% 1 Alternative dispute of the claim value in Patra to 22.4% in resolution (0–3) Case management (0–6) Athens. Attorney fees are the largest source of variation.69 Legal fees tend to increase with city size, with lawyers charging the highest rates in larger urban areas. Larissa, where attorney fees are as Court automation (0–4) high as in Athens and Thessaloniki, is the Greek average Greek best EU average EU best sole exception. The local cost of expert witnesses drives differences in court fees Source: Doing Business database. among the cities, which are otherwise Note: The average for the European Union is based on economy-level data for 28 EU member states. Among EU regulated nationally. Expert witness member states, Romania, Croatia and Poland have the highest score on the court structure and proceedings index; Latvia has the highest score on the case management index; Estonia, Lithuania and Slovakia share the highest score fees are highest in Alexandroupoli, the on the court automation index; and Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Spain share the highest score on the alternative dispute resolution index. smallest city. Practitioners report there are fewer local experts, making for a less competitive environment. Enforcement Courts exhibit good governance by ran- July 2018, Thessaloniki also introduced costs are set at the national level, and domly assigning cases to judges, but they an e-filing system through its bar asso- they are almost as large a driver of total fall short of the gold standard—auto- ciation. However, users report frequent cost as attorney fees (figure 2.19). The mated case assignment. There is also no technical issues that cause the system cost is tied to the long process of enforce- dedicated specialized commercial court to be offline. While Greece publishes ment and all the parties involved in the or division in Greece. all supreme court judgments, it does process, which is to say the court, the not publish commercial case judgments bailiff and notary. Athens and Thessaloniki are the only at any other level of the court system, cities measured to have an integrated impeding judges’ ability to apply laws Athens and Thessaloniki exhibit electronic case-management system for consistently across the country. It also the most judicial good practices both lawyers and judges. Users of the limits judicial accountability and trans- Athens and Thessaloniki have most corresponding platform, Solon, can view parency in the court system, generally. significantly adopted judicial good prac- case-specific information, such as the tices, as measured by Doing Business.70 status of a suit.71 Greek law also sets time Last, while Greece regulates commercial With a score of 11.5 of 18 possible points, standards for various court events and arbitration—and in practice, valid arbitra- Thessaloniki is just behind the EU aver- regulates adjournments, to promote bet- tion clauses are enforced—and permits age. Scoring 12.5 points, Athens performs ter case management.72 However, none voluntary mediation, there are no finan- above this average and measures up to of the cities measured uses pretrial con- cial incentives to encourage alternative Germany and Hungary. The four other ferences, which can narrow down issues dispute resolution.74 cities each scored 8.5 points. They fall for trial and encourage settlement ahead short on case management and court of trial. automation, relative to their peers. WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED? However, in these areas, they can find Athens leads Greek cities on court good practices to emulate within Greece automation, scoring 2 out of 4 possible Consider introducing initiatives to (figure 2.20). points. Other cities only scored 1 point. clear historical backlogs While litigants can pay court fees elec- Throughout Greece, backlogs hamper With respect to court structure and tronically in all courts through the G.S.I.S. individual courts’ efficiency. They are proceedings, all cities have small claims online portal,73 Athens also has a working also one of the major reasons why even courts, with a fast-track procedure and electronic system for filing complaints. the smallest Greek cities trail behind the that allow self-representation. The law Parties initiating a suit can file through European business capitals measured also allows for pretrial attachment. the Athens Bar Association’s website. In by Doing Business. The 2019 EU Justice 34 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Scoreboard also places Greece among the at the same court level.76 Similarly, in cases to individual judges accordingly. six countries with the highest number Austria, superior appeals court judges Automated case assignment is usu- of pending litigious civil and commercial can be temporarily assigned to district ally an extension of a case-management cases.75 To assist in reducing historical courts in the same jurisdiction, as need- system that monitors performance in real backlogs, authorities might consider ed. Judges in Quebec, Canada, also travel time and comes at a cost. Consequently, introducing a targeted backlog reduction to other jurisdictions to provide ad-hoc Greece should weigh the benefits of this program. support to other courts. investment against the cost of further developing case-management systems In 2001 Turin’s District Court launched Substitutions, and redeploying staff like Solon and deploying them throughout such an initiative, called the Strasbourg resources temporarily, may be a first step the country. Program. The goal was to clear all cases toward reducing backlogs and increasing which had been pending for three years efficiency in the most congested courts. An added benefit of monitoring judges’ or longer. The court sorted cases by their Greece should consider piloting such performance is increased accountability to filing date and prioritized older cases substitutions in a few courts first to meet performance goals, especially when for resolution. The court president also ascertain the benefits and cost implica- results are made public. Publication also issued directions promoting more hands- tions before a national rollout. increases transparency and helps to foster on judicial case management. Judges greater public trust. For example, the were instructed to set a timetable during Consider enhancing case assignment District Court of Milan, one of the top per- each case’s first hearing, grant fewer and to better balance workloads formers within Italy, publishes its annual shorter adjournments and issue shorter Monitoring judges’ workload and perfor- performance report online each year and judgments, among other things. By 2010 mance can also contribute to increasing could be a model for Greek courts. cases three years or older were only 5% court efficiency. As such, Greek courts of the court’s caseload. Turin’s District should make a more concerted effort to Actively manage the pretrial phase Court is also the best performing among collect and use court-performance data and encourage alternative dispute the 13 Italian jurisdictions measured in to inform workload allocations. resolution (ADR) this study. Greece is among the half of EU member Analyzing individual judges’ workloads states that do not have pretrial confer- Review courts’ staffing needs and and performance can help determine the ences. Such informal hearings, first intro- consider temporary staffing options root causes of delay. More specifically, it duced in the United States, are designed to help the most congested courts can help determine whether individual to help the parties find common ground, clear backlogs judges simply have too many cases and/ narrow down the issues and consider set- Many Greek courts have active vacan- or face a disproportionately high number tlement options. They also allow judges cies. As mentioned before, some of of complex cases. Throughout the Greek to take control of the case early on and to these vacancies are due to an inability to courts under study, judges hear a median promote settlement and limit the scope substitute for judges who are on external of 150 civil cases per year, irrespective of of the prospective trial.77 service or extended leave. Judges in some the complexity of their various assigned of the cities studied in the report said that cases. This also does not account for their Norway has demonstrated notable suc- courts with lighter workloads in smaller, criminal caseload. Workload and perfor- cess using pretrial conferences and may neighboring cities might be able to lend mance data, combined with an updated serve as examples for Greece. Eighty per- them staff resources. However, such case assignment system, can help predict cent of the cases subjected to prepara- formal and systematic staff-substitution trends and strategically allocate resourc- tory hearings resulted in settlement after mechanisms do not exist. Consequently, es. Using these data for assignment can Midhordland District Court introduced a at the national level, the Ministry of prevent judges from being overburdened case management feature for civil cases. Justice might consider conducting a with a large volume of complex cases. Judges guide the parties in narrowing review of courts’ caseloads and resource down disputed issues, encourage settle- needs and adjusting staffing allocations None of the courts studied have an auto- ment and assess each case’s suitability accordingly. This could include a review mated case-assignment system. Greek for referral to court-annexed mediation.78 of internal rules on and mechanisms cities need not look far for examples to for staff substitutions to allow courts to model. The District Court of Bologna Pretrial conferences may help Greek exchange staff on a temporary basis. has an automated algorithm-based courts reduce the number of cases that case-assignment system that uses real- make it to an already-stacked court In the Netherlands, for instance, judges time data. The algorithm considers each docket. It is also an opportunity for can substitute their peers who serve court section’s workload and assigns judges to encourage alternative dispute DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 35 resolution (ADR). Although Greece has and Thessaloniki might be good pilot process, including postal delays, the enabling legislation for both arbitration locations for introducing a dedicated, involvement of service agents and the and mediation, the use of these ADR specialized section. Additionally, because defendant’s physical unavailability to mechanisms has remained low. Greek introducing such a court or section may receive service. On its end, Thessaloniki judges could draw inspiration from require a shift in resources, it is important might look to Athens on how to resolve Florence’s Giustizia Semplice model (see for authorities to balance costs against glitches and fully operationalize its box 4.5 in the chapter “Doing Business benefits and consider a progressive existing e-filing system. In both loca- in Italy”) and use pretrial conferences to approach to implementation. tions, the local bar association needs assess cases’ suitability for alternative to better publicize the availability of means of dispute resolution. Piloting such Lastly, to help judges specialize and apply e-filing, as it is not the most common preparatory meetings in individual courts laws more consistently, Greece should method used among lawyers in either and analyzing the impact on settlements consider publishing anonymized judg- jurisdiction. Before extending e-filing to and civil case loads would be an informa- ments and court orders in commercial the rest of the country, Greece should tive precursor to broader implementa- cases at all levels of the court system. consider costs relative to value because, tion. In addition, Greece might consider This should be coupled with learning in smaller jurisdictions, e-filing may be providing financial incentives for the use and training opportunities to help judges a lower priority than other investments, of ADR. For example, Italian law incentiv- further specialize. like improving court infrastructure. izes mediation through a tax credit.79 Enhance electronic tools to Beyond a lack of courtrooms in many Introduce a dedicated commercial improve court operation and case jurisdictions, judges also cite a lack of court or division and provide judges management for judges office space to work and store casefiles the tools to specialize on commercial Electronic case filing and case manage- as a problem that compromises their matters ment are not novelties in Greece. Athens efficiency. Judges report they frequently While Athens and Thessaloniki have and Thessaloniki are more advanced in have to work from home. There is a a commercial subject-matter section this regard. The other cities studied do general lack of capacity to manage case for civil cases, judges in these sections not have these tools, which can increase documents electronically, and judges also hear criminal cases, limiting their court efficiency. Additionally, even the even joke that one should not need to ability to focus their attention on clear- cities that use e-filing and electronic do Pilates or CrossFit to carry casefiles ing the civil commercial caseload. In case management, find the tools have around the courthouse.81 This is where Thessaloniki, judges average four criminal limitations. For example, in Thessaloniki, enhanced, electronic case manage- cases for each civil case they hear. lawyers report recurring technical ment can help fill a gap. Effective case- glitches that make the e-filing system management systems allow judges Having courts or divisions with general inoperable at times. Similarly, Solon, the to view and manage case documents, commercial jurisdiction, whose judges case management platform in Athens assist with writing judgments and help exclusively hear commercial cases, is an and Thessaloniki, only meets basic generate court orders, among others internationally recognized good practice. needs. Although users can access impor- features. Integrating these additional Such courts or divisions, when properly tant case-management inputs, such as features into the existing Solon platform established, translate into gains in effi- the hearing date and information on the could help increase judicial efficiency. ciency.80 Doing Business data show, on nature, status, and outcome of individual Access to electronic files would eliminate average, the 104 economies with such cases, the system could be further opti- the need to transport files between vari- courts or divisions resolve commercial mized to allow judges to better manage ous locations and curb document loss. cases 92 days sooner. This is because a cases electronically. Developing this capacity comes at a cost, court or division’s incumbent judges spe- albeit likely a lower one than rebuilding cialize on commercial matters, allowing E-filing can help speed up the process or expanding all the court buildings that them to dispose of cases faster and apply of initiating a lawsuit. In Athens, where are short on space. Consequently, Greece laws more consistently. e-filing has existed for half a decade, the should assess costs and benefits before process could be further streamlined by further enhancing Solon. Even if it does Greece might consider creating a stand- piloting electronic service of process. not take these proposed enhancements alone commercial court. However, where Athens can look to Italy, where filing and on board, Greece should introduce Solon a limited number of commercial cases service only take 10 days. In commercial in other jurisdictions—after the current are handled, specialized commercial disputes throughout Italy, defendants pilot phase—to help lawyers and judges sections provide a less expensive alter- are served electronically, removing the across the country reap the benefits of native to a commercial court. Athens inefficiency of traditional service of the existing features. 36 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Consider means to lower the outweigh the costs imposed on firms and cost and shorten the duration of business activity, more broadly. enforcement It costs twice as much to enforce judg- ment in Greece as it does in the European Union, on average, placing Greece among the ranks of the five most expensive EU member states for enforcing a judgment: the Czech Republic, Denmark, Lithuania and Romania. Greece has long wait times to recover the awarded amount because of a seven-month waiting period before the insolvent defendant’s movable assets can be sold to satisfy the judgment. Together, these costs and long delays to enforce a judgment may be high burdens on small businesses trying to recover on a breach-of-contract claim. Enforcement costs are high for the assumed Doing Business case partly because the winning plaintiffs must pay the court 2% of the claim value just to obtain the apografo (i.e., the enforcement order). Such fees, calculated as a percent- age of the claim value, operate similarly to a tax and may have revenue implications for the judiciary. However, Greece might consider the possibility of lowering costs by introducing a standard fee schedule as an alternative charging basis. Greece might look to Portugal and Slovakia for examples of ways to lower enforcement costs. In these economies, the average up-front costs to enforce a judgment are relatively low. Winning plaintiffs advance less than 1% of the claim amount—0.1% in Slovakia and 0.5% in Portugal—to start enforcement proceedings.82 Similarly, Greece introduced regulation requiring a seven-month waiting period after seizure and before a public auc- tion of the defendant’s assets in 2015. Lawyers explain this measure is intended to strengthen due process for defendants who are at risk of losing their property. However, the measure might have the unintended result of overburdening small businesses. Consequently, over time, Greece should monitor the impact of this waiting period on plaintiff creditors to determine whether the social benefits DOING BUSINESS IN GREECE 37 factors, for buildings in settlements that have architecture or engineering; (iii) whether they NOTES been established prior to 1923 and that do not are a registered member of the national order have approved limits and require the approval (association) of architects or engineers; and of the municipality; (iii) Category 3 is, among (iv) whether they must pass a qualification 1. Four EU member states have no paid-in other factors, for buildings up to 1,000 square exam. Doing Business also assesses whether minimum capital requirement: Cyprus, Ireland, meters. In this category, issuing the building these requirements are in place for the the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. permit is simpler. The engineer can obtain the professional who conducts the technical Seven others have a symbolic requirement building permit from the Technical Chamber inspections during construction. amounting to less than 0.1% of income per of Greece without having to obtain approval 30. World Bank, Doing Business 2016: Measuring capita: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, from the municipality. Since the case study Regulatory Quality and Efficiency (Washington, Greece, Italy, Latvia and Portugal. warehouse is above 1,000 square meters, it DC: World Bank, 2015). 2. Doing Business database. falls under category 1 and therefore requires 31. Except those listed in articles L243-1-1 of the 3. G.E.MI is governed by the provisions of Law the approval from the municipality. Insurance Code. No 3419/2005. According to Law 3853/2010, 17. Common Ministerial Decision YA 299/2014, 32. Carolin Geginat and Rita Ramalho, “Electricity it acts as a one-stop shop, interconnecting Law 4389/2016 and Law 4495/2017. Connections and Firm Performance in 183 several government agencies—including the 18. FEK 162-AAP-2008 “Decision for the Countries,” Policy Research Working Paper Chamber of Commerce, the Tax Authority, delimitation of the archaeological site of the 7460 (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2015). and the Court of First Instance. city of Larissa.” 33. It takes three procedures in the Czech 4. Law 4441/2016. 19. Based on interviews with private engineers Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Sweden and 5. https:/ /eyms.businessportal.gr. and architects in Greece, January through the United Kingdom, and four procedures in 6. Until September 2019, online registration is March 2019, as well as meetings with public Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, Latvia, Malta free of charge. officials, March 19-22, 2019. and Poland. 7. If applying online, only standard incorporation 20. Public officials in Athens and Heraklion were 34. These are Ireland (57.1% of income per documents can be used. unable to provide an estimated fee breakdown capita), Germany (37%), Lithuania (33.6%), 8. According to Article 2 of Joint Ministerial based on the case study warehouse. Portugal (33.6%), Luxembourg (32.7%), Decision 63577/13.06.2018, the one-stop 21. Inspections, both during and after Sweden (29.3%), Finland (27.5%), the shop must, if the legal conditions are met, construction, are mandated by law and always Netherlands (24.5%), the Czech Republic complete the registration procedure no later occur in practice. The supervising engineer (23.1%), the United Kingdom (23.1%), Poland than the next business day from the moment is liable to supervise the construction and (16.3%) and France (5%). of receiving the application and supporting ensure that it was completed in compliance 35. To measure the reliability of supply and documentation. with the relevant building regulations. In transparency of tariffs, Doing Business 9. Law 4072/2012 (article 116) and PD addition, Law 4495/2017 holds the design presents an index scored from 0 to 8 points. It 258/2005 (Statute of Insurance Organization professional liable for all studies, analyses encompasses quantitative output data on the for the Self-Employed (OAEE)). and documentation that are submitted to duration and frequency of power outages, as 10. U.K. Companies House, Companies House the Building Office, as well as the fire safety well as qualitative input information (i.e., the Annual Report & Accounts 2012/13 (London: studies. The legislation also specifies what role of the energy regulator on supervision of The Stationery Office, 2013) and Companies type of engineer can sign off on each type power outages, the systems used to monitor Register Activities 2012–2013 (London: of study. For example, an architect or civil power outages and restore electricity service, Companies House, 2013). engineer must prepare and be liable for the whether financial deterrents exist to limit 11. World Bank Group, Investment Climate passive fire study while an electrician or outages, and whether tariffs and tariff changes Department, Business Registration Reform Case mechanical engineer must prepare and be are communicated efficiently to customers). Study: Norway (Washington, DC: World Bank liable for the active fire study. For more details, see the data notes. Group, 2011). 22. The architects and engineers are only required 36. Doing Business uses the system average 12. “Guide for Doing Business,” Belgian Federal to have a university degree, be a registered interruption duration index (SAIDI) and the Government, 2017, http:/ /www.business member of the Technical Chamber and pass a system average interruption frequency index .belgium.be/en. qualification exam. (SAIFI) to measure the duration and frequency 13. The European Construction Sector: A Global 23. Moullier, Thomas, and Frederick Krimgold. of power outages. SAIDI is the average total Partner, European Commission, Internal 2015. Building Regulation for Resilience: duration of outages over the course of a year Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Managing Risks for Safer Cities. World Bank for each customer served, while SAIFI is Directorate General, Energy Directorate Report ACS15966. Washington, DC: World the average number of service interruptions General and Joint Research Centre (2016), Bank. experienced by a customer in a year. https:/ /ec.europa.eu/growth/content 24. “Contributo di Construzione” Bologna (Italy) 37. The RAE has been established on the basis /european-construction-sector-global municipality website, http:/ /dru.iperbole. of the provisions of L. 2773/1999, which -partner-0_en. bologna.it/modulo/3-modello-e-calcolo- was issued within the framework of the 14. “Construction in Greece - Key Trends and contributo-di-costruzione. harmonization of the Hellenic Law to the Opportunities to 2022.” November 2018. 25. “Simuladores de taxas,” Faro (Portugal) provisions of Directive 96/92/EC for the Available at: https://www.globaldata.com municipality website, http:/ /www.cm-faropt/ liberalization of the electricity market. /store/report/gdcn0442mr--construction pt/menu/894/simuladores-de-taxas.aspx. 38. As per laws 25/75, 1080/80, and 2130/93. -in-greece-key-trends-and-opportunities 26. Doing Business database. 39. World Bank. 1989. World Development Report -to-2022/. 27. “Design engineer” as designated in the 1989. New York: Oxford University Press. 15. Sonia Hamman, “Housing Matters,” Policy legislation. 40. Along with Heraklion. Research Working Paper 6876 (Washington, 28. Doing Business database. 41. Typically the process works as follows: 1) the DC, World Bank, 2014). 29. Doing Business database. Doing Business lawyer submits the draft agreement to the 16. Under Law 4495/2017, Article 36, assesses whether an economy has the local bar association; 2) the bar association depending on the area, location, use, size following four requirements in place for the issues the lawyer an invoice that legal fees are and environmental impact of the building to professional that is responsible for verifying going to be charged; 3) the bar association be constructed, there are three categories the architectural plans are in compliance with reports the information to the national tax for issuing building permits: (i) Category 1 is, the building regulations: (i) whether they authority based on the lawyer’s submission; among other factors, for buildings over 1,000 have a minimum number of years of practical and 4) the bar association charges the lawyer square meters and requires the approval of the experience; (ii) whether they have a university a minimum legal fee, which the lawyer pays municipality; (ii) Category 2 is, among other degree (a minimum of a bachelor’s) in once he gets paid by the client. 38 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY 42. The cadaster office in Athens is an exception 20,000. Claims above this amount and up to 81. Consultative meetings with Greek local court because it hasn’t reached interim status yet. It EUR 250,000 fall under the jurisdiction of the representatives. March 18-22, 2019. merely is notified of the transactions and does Single-Member First-Instance Courts. Article 82. Doing Business in the European Union 2018: not follow up or record them in the cadaster 14 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Croatia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and system yet. 59. E-filing is available in Athens through the Slovakia. (Washington, DC: World Bank). 43. In Thessaloniki, all transfers are now Isokratis web portal. http:/ /www.dsanet.gr completed at the local cadaster office. The /1024x768.htm. mortgage office simply serves as an archive 60. Article 124 of the Code of Civil Procedure. office and is used to conduct due diligence 61. Law 4335/2015. searches for older records that are not 62. Law 4335/2015. available in the cadaster office. 63. Law 4512/2018, art. 207, which amended 44. Confirmed by site visits at the cadaster office. article 927 of the Code of Civil Procedure. 45. The statistics were obtained from the Hellenic 64. While Greek bailiffs are private-sector Cadastre in June 2019. practitioners, their work is publicly regulated, 46. Ibid. like notaries. 47. Ibid. This number excludes five employees that 65. https:/ /www.protodikeio-thes.gr/opencms work at the mortgage office, which functions _prot/opencms/ProtSite/downloads as an archive repository. /kanonismos.pdf. 48. The cities are Faro, Funchal and Ponta 66. Ten and fifty-six judges serve in the Delgada. commercial sections in Thessaloniki and 49. A step-by-step guide on the complaints Athens, respectively. procedure in the United Kingdom can be 67. Consultative meetings with Greek local court found here: https:/ /www.gov.uk/government representatives. March 18-22, 2019. /organisations/land-registry/about/ 68. Article 307 of the Code of Civil Procedure. complaints-procedure. More information on 69. Legal fees are freely negotiated between the Independent Complaint Reviewer (ICR) lawyers and their clients. In practice, lawyers can be found here: https:/ /www.icrev.org.uk/. charge according to time, level of effort 50. Republic of Ireland, Registration of Title Act, and complexity of the case. The Code of 1964. Lawyers (law 4194/2013) sets the basis for 51. United Kingdom, Land Registration Act remuneration when there is no agreement 2002. For more details, see also section 4 between the lawyer and client. It also (“Applications for Indemnity”) in “Practice establishes that lawyers must be reimbursed Guide 39: Rectification and Indemnity,” Her for any disbursements they make on behalf of Majesty’s Land Registry, last updated April 3, the client (e.g., court and enforcement fees). 2017, https:/ /www.gov.uk/government 70. For an overview of the Enforcing Contracts /publications/rectification-and-indemnity indicators and Quality of Judicial Processes /practice-guide-39-rectification-and Index, see the chapter “Data Notes.” -indemnity. 71. www.solon.gov.gr. 52. Swedish Land Code (SFS 1970:994), chapter 72. Law 4335/2015. 19, section 37; and Real Property Formation 73. https:/ /gsis.gr. Act (1970:988), chapter 19, section 5. 74. Articles 868-903 of the Code of Civil Compensation for wrongful handling falls Procedure (Άρθρα 867-903 ν.4335/2015). under the Tort Liability Act (1972:207). Law 4512/2018 art. 178-187. 53. OECD. 2013. “What makes civil justice 75. European Commission, Directorate-General effective?” OECD Economics Department for Justice and Consumers, The 2019 EU Policy Notes, No. 18, June 2013. Ippoliti, Justice Scoreboard (Luxembourg: Publications Roberto, Alessandro Melcarne and Giovanni Office of the European Unions, 2019), B. Ramello. 2015. “The Impact of Judicial https:/ /ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files Efficiency on Entrepreneurial Action: A /justice_scoreboard_2019_en.pdf. European Perspective.” Economic Notes by 76. World Bank. 2013. The Status of Contract Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 44, Enforcement in Poland. Washington, DC: World no. 1-2015: pp. 57–74. Bank. 54. International Monetary Fund Country Report 77. Doing Business database. In EU member states No. 18/248. 2018 Article IV Consultation and that use pretrial conferences, the average Proposal for Post-Program Monitoring —Press trial takes 434 days. In member states Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the without pretrial conference, it takes 483 Executive Director for Greece. days. Economies that use pretrial conference 55. Between 2006/7 and 2017/18, Greece include Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, recorded two business reforms on the Doing Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, the United Business Enforcing Contracts indicator. Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, 56. For an overview of the Enforcing Contracts Slovenia and Sweden. indictors and assumptions underlying the 78. World Bank. Doing Business in the European Doing Business case, see the data notes. Union 2017: Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. 57. Doing Business defines the assumed claim as (Washington, DC: World Bank. 2017) 200% income per capita. 79. The tax credit is up to EUR 50,000. Article 17 58. Greek Law Digest. “Procedure before Civil of Italian Law Decree 28/2010. Courts.” http://www.greeklawdigest.gr 80. Botero, Juan Carlos, Rafael La Porta, Florencio /topics/judicial-system/item/12-procedure López-de-Silanes, Andrei Shleifer and -before-civil-courts. Throughout Greece, Alexander Volokh. 2003. “Judicial Reform.” District Courts are the lowest first-instance World Bank Research Observer 18(1): 67-68. courts with a monetary threshold of EUR CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 39 City Snapshots and Indicator Details GREECE Greece Alexandroupoli Starting a business (rank) 1 Dealing with construction permits (rank) 5 Score for starting a business (0–100) 96.25 Score for dealing with construction permits (0–100) 66.03 Procedures (number) 3 Procedures (number) 15 Time (days) 3 Time (days) 196 Cost (% of income per capita) 1.5 Cost (% of warehouse value) 1.4 Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 0.0 Building quality control index (0–15) 9 Getting electricity (rank) 2 Registering property (rank) 3 Score for getting electricity (0–100) 85.42 Score for registering property (0–100) 46.86 Procedures (number) 5 Procedures (number) 11 Time (days) 45 Time (days) 33 Cost (% of income per capita) 60.0 Cost (% of property value) 4.8 Reliability of supply and transparency of tariffs index (0–8) 7 Quality of land administration index (0–30) 5.5 Enforcing contracts (rank) 3 Score for enforcing contracts (0–100) 52.65 Time (days) 960 Cost (% of claim value) 18.2 Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) 8.5 Athens Starting a business (rank) 2 Dealing with construction permits (rank) 3 Score for starting a business (0–100) 96.00 Score for dealing with construction permits (0–100) 69.53 Procedures (number) 3 Procedures (number) 17 Time (days) 4 Time (days) 180 Cost (% of income per capita) 1.5 Cost (% of warehouse value) 1.9 Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 0.0 Building quality control index (0–15) 12 Getting electricity (rank) 3 Registering property (rank) 3 Score for getting electricity (0–100) 84.74 Score for registering property (0–100) 46.86 Procedures (number) 5 Procedures (number) 11 Time (days) 51 Time (days) 26 Cost (% of income per capita) 68.2 Cost (% of property value) 4.8 Reliability of supply and transparency of tariffs index (0–8) 7 Quality of land administration index (0–30) 4.5 Enforcing contracts (rank) 6 Score for enforcing contracts (0–100) 48.11 Time (days) 1711 Cost (% of claim value) 22.4 Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) 12.5 40 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Heraklion Starting a business (rank) 2 Dealing with construction permits (rank) 6 Score for starting a business (0–100) 96.00 Score for dealing with construction permits (0–100) 63.99 Procedures (number) 3 Procedures (number) 16 Time (days) 4 Time (days) 255 Cost (% of income per capita) 1.5 Cost (% of warehouse value) 1.5 Greece Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 0.0 Building quality control index (0–15) 11 Getting electricity (rank) 5 Registering property (rank) 6 Score for getting electricity (0–100) 82.70 Score for registering property (0–100) 36.69 Procedures (number) 5 Procedures (number) 10 Time (days) 70 Time (days) 134 Cost (% of income per capita) 60.0 Cost (% of property value) 4.9 Reliability of supply and transparency of tariffs index (0–8) 7 Quality of land administration index (0–30) 5.5 Enforcing contracts (rank) 5 Score for enforcing contracts (0–100) 50.94 Time (days) 1000 Cost (% of claim value) 19.9 Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) 8.5 Larissa Starting a business (rank) 2 Dealing with construction permits (rank) 1 Score for starting a business (0–100) 96.00 Score for dealing with construction permits (0–100) 70.85 Procedures (number) 3 Procedures (number) 15 Time (days) 4 Time (days) 133 Cost (% of income per capita) 1.5 Cost (% of warehouse value) 1.2 Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 0.0 Building quality control index (0–15) 9 Getting electricity (rank) 4 Registering property (rank) 2 Score for getting electricity (0–100) 84.44 Score for registering property (0–100) 47.09 Procedures (number) 5 Procedures (number) 11 Time (days) 54 Time (days) 31 Cost (% of income per capita) 60.0 Cost (% of property value) 4.8 Reliability of supply and transparency of tariffs index (0–8) 7 Quality of land administration index (0–30) 5.5 Enforcing contracts (rank) 2 Score for enforcing contracts (0–100) 55.38 Time (days) 815 Cost (% of claim value) 21.5 Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) 8.5 CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 41 Patra Starting a business (rank) 2 Dealing with construction permits (rank) 4 Score for starting a business (0–100) 96.00 Score for dealing with construction permits (0–100) 69.09 Procedures (number) 3 Procedures (number) 16 Time (days) 4 Time (days) 209 Cost (% of income per capita) 1.5 Cost (% of warehouse value) 1.4 Greece Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 0.0 Building quality control index (0–15) 12 Getting electricity (rank) 1 Registering property (rank) 1 Score for getting electricity (0–100) 88.11 Score for registering property (0–100) 47.77 Procedures (number) 5 Procedures (number) 11 Time (days) 49 Time (days) 24 Cost (% of income per capita) 60.0 Cost (% of property value) 4.9 Reliability of supply and transparency of tariffs index (0–8) 8 Quality of land administration index (0–30) 5.5 Enforcing contracts (rank) 4 Score for enforcing contracts (0–100) 51.32 Time (days) 1010 Cost (% of claim value) 18.1 Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) 8.5 Thessaloniki Starting a business (rank) 2 Dealing with construction permits (rank) 2 Score for starting a business (0–100) 96.00 Score for dealing with construction permits (0–100) 70.13 Procedures (number) 3 Procedures (number) 18 Time (days) 4 Time (days) 146 Cost (% of income per capita) 1.5 Cost (% of warehouse value) 1.2 Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) 0.0 Building quality control index (0–15) 11 Getting electricity (rank) 6 Registering property (rank) 5 Score for getting electricity (0–100) 81.29 Score for registering property (0–100) 44.68 Procedures (number) 5 Procedures (number) 10 Time (days) 83 Time (days) 130 Cost (% of income per capita) 60.0 Cost (% of property value) 4.9 Reliability of supply and transparency of tariffs index (0–8) 7 Quality of land administration index (0–30) 14.5 Enforcing contracts (rank) 1 Score for enforcing contracts (0–100) 57.83 Time (days) 935 Cost (% of claim value) 21.1 Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) 11.5 Greece 42 STARTING A BUSINESS IN GREECE – PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO START A BUSINESS, BY CITY Standard company legal form: Private Company (IKE) Paid-in minimum capital requirement: EUR 1 Data as of: May 1, 2019 Alexandroupoli Athens Heraklion Larissa Patra Thessaloniki Comments 1. Submit with GEMI the The application can be submitted in person at the application of establishment Time (days) 1 2 2 2 2 2 one-stop shop or online. Together with business and its forms registration, the company is also registered for VAT/ tax and with social security (EFKA). The cost includes: EUR 60 incorporation fee + EUR 10 GEMI registration fee + EUR 40 Chamber of Commerce membership Cost (EUR) 210 210 210 210 210 210 fee + EUR 100 annual fee to maintain the company account active with GEMI. 2. Make a company seal On May 31, 2013, the Government of Greece Time (days) 1 1 1 1 1 1 adopted Law 4156/2013 abolishing the requirement to make and affix the company seal for corporations. Cost (EUR) 40 40 40 40 40 40 However, it is still used in practice when dealing with banks. 3. Register with EFKA Once the company has been incorporated, the (Unified Social Security Time (days) 1 1 1 1 1 1 entrepreneur has to register with EFKA in its capacity Agency)* as an employer. At the same time, the Director of IKE is legally obliged to registered with EFKA while the Cost (EUR) No cost No cost No cost No cost No cost No cost registration of other members of IKE is optional. Source: Doing Business database. *Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 43 Procedure 8. Request and obtain initial Procedure 15. Apply for and obtain permit/approval from the Municipality water and sewage connection LIST OF PROCEDURES Agency: Municipality of Alexandroupoli, Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage DEALING WITH CONSTRUCTION Building Office Service of Alexandroupoli PERMITS Time: 30 days Time: 61 days Cost: No cost Cost: EUR 2,996 (EUR 745.97 (water contract) GREECE + EUR 15 per meter for water connection Alexandroupoli Procedure 9. Request and obtain works) building permit from the Municipality Greece Warehouse value: EUR 853,218 (US$977,00) Agency: Municipality of Alexandroupoli, Data as of: May 1, 2019 Athens Building Office Time: 19 days Warehouse value: EUR 853,218 (US$977,00) Procedure 1. Obtain proof of ownership, Cost: EUR 7,156 [EUR 453.25 fee #1 for Data as of: May 1, 2019 cadastral extract and cadastral plan Building Office + EUR 302.17 fee #2 for Building Agency: Hellenic Cadastre, Office of Office + EUR 188.76 municipal fee + EUR 214.11 Procedure 1. Obtain proof of ownership, Alexandroupoli insurance fee (payable at the National Bank cadastral extract and cadastral plan Time: 3 days of Greece) + EUR 9.51 fee towards Technical Agency: Hellenic Cadastre Cost: EUR 45 (EUR 15 cadastral extract + Chamber of Greece (TEE) + stamp fee #1 of Time: 2 days EUR 30 cadastral plan) 0.5% of the project value + stamp fee #2 of Cost: EUR 45 (EUR 15 cadastral extract + 0.2% of the project value + EUR 0.19 stamp fee EUR 30 cadastral plan) on insurance and TEE payment + EUR 15.26 Procedure 2. Obtain topographical Agricultural Insurance Organization (OGA) fee] survey map Procedure 2. Obtain topographical Agency: Private firm Procedure 10. Notify Archaeology survey map Time: 7 days Agency: Private firm Supervisory Authority of commencement Cost: 650 Time: 10 days of works and receive on-site inspection at excavation Cost: EUR 1,000 Procedure 3. Submit a petition for an Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority archaeological clearance certificate of Evros Procedure 3. Submit a petition for an Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Time: 7 days archaeological clearance certificate of Evros Cost: No cost Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Time: 1 day of Athens Cost: No cost Time: 1 day Procedure 11*. Obtain stamp from the police on the final building permit Cost: No cost Procedure 4. Obtain archaeological Agency: Police of Alexandroupoli clearance certificate Time: 1 day Procedure 4. Obtain archaeological Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Cost: No cost clearance certificate of Evros Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Time: 30 days of Athens Procedure 12*. Obtain permission to Cost: No cost Time: 12 days commence construction Cost: No cost Agency: Municipality of Alexandroupoli, Procedure 5. Obtain approval of project Technical Services Department from the Board of Architecture Time: 1 day Procedure 5. Obtain approval of project Agency: Board of Architecture, Alexandroupoli Cost: No cost from the Board of Architecture Time: 30 days Agency: Board of Architecture Cost: No cost Time: 45 days Procedure 13. Request and obtain foundation work inspection Cost: No cost Procedure 6*. Obtain active fire Agency: Municipality of Alexandroupoli, protection approval Building Office / Board of Building Inspectors Procedure 6*. Obtain active fire Agency: Regional Fire Department of East Time: 1 day protection approval Macedonia and Thrace Cost: EUR 300 (EUR 300 for buildings with a Agency: Regional Fire Department of Attica Time: 5 days total area over 1,000 sq. m.) Time: 10 days Cost: No cost Cost: No cost Procedure 14. Receive final inspection Procedure 7*. Obtain proof of advanced from Board of Building Inspectors and Procedure 7*. Obtain proof of advanced payment from the Unified Social receive completion certificate payment from the Unified Social Security Agency Agency: Municipality of Alexandroupoli, Security Agency Agency: Unified Social Security Agency Building Office / Board of Building Inspectors Agency: Unified Social Security Agency (EFKA) (EFKA), Office of Alexandroupoli Time: 7 days Time: 2 days Time: 3 days Cost: EUR 600 (EUR 0.4 per sq. m. with a Cost: No cost Cost: No cost minimum of EUR 600 and maximum of EUR 3,000) *Simultaneous with previous procedure 44 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Procedure 8. Request and obtain initial Procedure 16. Undergo investigation by Procedure 7*. Obtain proof of advanced permit/approval from the Municipality the water company on the feasibility of payment from the Unified Social Agency: Municipality of Athens, Building Office the project Security Agency Time: 16 days Agency: Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Agency: Unified Social Security Agency Cost: No cost Company (EYDAP) (EFKA), Office of Heraklion Time: 21 days Time: 1 day Procedure 9. Request and obtain Cost: EUR 1,070 Cost: No cost building permit from the Municipality Agency: Municipality of Athens, Building Office Procedure 17. Obtain water and sewage Procedure 8. Request and obtain initial Greece Time: 15 days connection permit/approval from the Municipality Cost: EUR 12,798 (Municipal tax of 1.5% of the Agency: Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Agency: Municipality of Heraklion, Building warehouse value) Company (EYDAP) Office Time: 45 days Time: 30 days Procedure 10. Notify Archaeology Cost: No cost Cost: No cost Supervisory Authority of commencement of works and receive on-site inspection Heraklion Procedure 9. Request and obtain at excavation building permit from the Municipality Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Warehouse value: EUR 853,218 (US$977,00) Agency: Municipality of Heraklion, Building of Athens Data as of: May 1, 2019 Office Time: 7 days Time: 53 days Procedure 1. Obtain proof of ownership, Cost: 10,000 Cost: No cost cadastral extract and cadastral plan Agency: Hellenic Cadastre, Office of Heraklion Procedure 10. Notify Archaeology Procedure 11*. Obtain stamp from the Time: 2 days Supervisory Authority of commencement police on the final building permit Cost: EUR 45 (EUR 15 cadastral extract + of works and receive on-site inspection Agency: Police of Athens EUR 30 cadastral plan) Time: 1 day at excavation Cost: No cost Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority of Procedure 2. Obtain topographical Heraklion survey map Time: 9 days Procedure 12*. Notify the Municipality Agency: Private firm Cost: No cost of commencement of works Time: 11 days Agency: Municipality of Athens, Technical Cost: 500 Office Procedure 11*. Obtain stamp from the Time: 1 day Procedure 3. Submit a petition for an police on the final building permit Cost: EUR 350 archaeological clearance certificate Agency: Police of Heraklion Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority of Time: 1 day Heraklion Cost: No cost Procedure 13. Request and obtain foundation work inspection Time: 1 day Agency: Municipality of Athens, Building Office Cost: No cost Procedure 12. Request and obtain / Board of Building Inspectors foundation work inspection Time: 1 day Procedure 4. Obtain archaeological Agency: Municipality of Heraklion, Building clearance certificate Office / Board of Building Inspectors Cost: EUR 300 (EUR 300 for buildings with a total area over 1,000 sq. m.) Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority of Time: 1 day Heraklion Cost: EUR 300 (EUR 300 for buildings with a Time: 45 days total area over 1,000 sq. m.) Procedure 14. Receive final inspection from Board of Building Inspectors and Cost: No cost receive completion certificate Procedure 13. Receive final inspection Procedure 5. Obtain approval of project from Board of Building Inspectors and Agency: Municipality of Athens, Building Office / Board of Building Inspectors from the Board of Architecture receive completion certificate Time: 5 days Agency: Board of Architecture, Heraklion Agency: Municipality of Heraklion, Building Office / Board of Building Inspectors Cost: EUR 600 (EUR 0.4 per sq. m. with a Time: 23 days minimum of EUR 600 and maximum of Time: 6 days Cost: No cost EUR 3,000) Cost: EUR 600 (EUR 0.4 per sq. m. with a minimum of EUR 600 and maximum of Procedure 6*. Obtain active fire EUR 3,000) Procedure 15*. Apply for water and protection approval sewage connection Agency: Regional Fire Department of Crete Procedure 14*. Apply for water and Agency: Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Time: 21 days Company (EYDAP) sewage connection Cost: No cost Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Time: 1 day Service of Heraklion Cost: EUR 63 Time: 1 day Cost: EUR 63 *Simultaneous with previous procedure CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 45 Procedure 15. Undergo investigation by Procedure 7. Request and obtain Procedure 14. Receive inspection by the the water company on the feasibility of building permit from the Municipality water company on BuildCo’s connection the project Agency: Municipality of Larissa, Building Office works and pay connection fees Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Time: 30 days Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Service of Heraklion Cost: EUR 7,010 [EUR 190.89 fee #1 for Service of Larissa Time: 14 days Building Office + EUR 572.68 fee #2 for Time: 1 day Cost: EUR 1,070 Building Office + EUR 190.80 municipal fee Cost: EUR 1,499 [EUR 420.17 standard + EUR 57.68 insurance fee (payable at the water connection fee + EUR 15.41 per meter National Bank of Greece) + EUR 9.61 fee of the front length of the land plot for water Procedure 16. Obtain water and sewage Greece towards Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) connection (30.48 m for the case study connection + stamp fee #1 of 0.5% of the project value warehouse) + EUR 20 per meter of the front Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage + stamp fee #2 of 0.2% of the project value length of the land plot for sewage connection Service of Heraklion + EUR 0.19 stamp fee on insurance and TEE (30.48 m for the case study warehouse)] Time: 60 days payment + EUR 15.42 Agricultural Insurance Cost: No cost Organization (OGA) fee] Procedure 15. Obtain water and sewage connection Larissa Procedure 8. Obtain stamp from the Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage police on the final building permit Service of Larissa Warehouse value: EUR 853,218 (US$977,00) Agency: Police of Larissa Time: 38 days Data as of: May 1, 2019 Time: 1 day Cost: No cost Cost: No cost Procedure 1. Obtain proof of ownership, cadastral extract and cadastral plan Patra Procedure 9*. Notify the Municipality of Agency: Hellenic Cadastre, Office of Larissa commencement of works Warehouse value: EUR 853,218 (US$977,00) Time: 2 days Data as of: May 1, 2019 Agency: Municipality of Larissa, Building Office Cost: EUR 45 (EUR 15 cadastral extract + Time: 1 day EUR 30 cadastral plan) Cost: No cost Procedure 1. Obtain proof of ownership, cadastral extract and cadastral plan Procedure 2. Obtain topographical Agency: Hellenic Cadastre, Office of Patra Procedure 10. Request and obtain survey map Time: 7 days foundation work inspection Agency: Private firm Cost: EUR 45 (EUR 15 cadastral extract + Agency: Municipality of Larissa, Building Office Time: 12 days EUR 30 cadastral plan) / Board of Building Inspectors Cost: EUR 400 Time: 1 day Cost: EUR 300 (EUR 300 for buildings with a Procedure 2. Obtain topographical Procedure 3. Obtain approval of project total area over 1,000 sq. m.) survey map from the Board of Architecture Agency: Private firm Agency: The Board of Architecture, Larissa Procedure 11. Receive final inspection Time: 13 days Time: 18 days from Board of Building Inspectors and Cost: EUR 500 Cost: No cost receive completion certificate Agency: Municipality of Larissa, Building Office Procedure 3. Submit a petition for an Procedure 4*. Obtain active fire / Board of Building Inspectors archaeological clearance certificate protection approval Time: 12 days Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Agency: Regional Fire Department of Thessaly Cost: EUR 600 (EUR 0.4 per sq. m. with a of Achaia Time: 10 days minimum of EUR 600 and maximum of Time: 1 day Cost: No cost EUR 3,000) Cost: No cost Procedure 5*. Obtain proof of advanced Procedure 12. Apply for water and Procedure 4. Obtain archaeological payment from the Unified Social sewage connection clearance certificate Security Agency Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Agency: Unified Social Security Agency Service of Larissa of Achaia (EFKA), Office of Larissa Time: 1 day Time: 11 days Time: 2 days Cost: No cost Cost: No cost Cost: No cost Procedure 13. Receive inspection by the Procedure 5. Obtain approval of project Procedure 6. Request and obtain initial water company to determine connection from the Board of Architecture permit/approval from the Municipality works Agency: Board of Architecture, Patra Agency: Municipality of Larissa, Building Office Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Time: 30 days Time: 15 days Service of Larissa Cost: No cost Cost: No cost Time: 1 day Cost: No cost *Simultaneous with previous procedure 46 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Procedure 6*. Obtain active fire Procedure 13. Receive final inspection Procedure 4. Obtain archaeological protection approval from Board of Building Inspectors and clearance certificate Agency: Regional Fire Department of Western receive completion certificate Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority of Greece Agency: Municipality of Patra, Building Office / Thessaloniki Time: 13 days Board of Building Inspectors Time: 10 days Cost: No cost Time: 6 days Cost: No cost Cost: EUR 600 (EUR 0.4 per sq. m. with a Procedure 7*. Obtain proof of advanced minimum of EUR 600 and maximum of Procedure 5. Obtain approval of project payment from the Unified Social EUR 3,000) from the Board of Architecture Greece Security Agency Agency: Board of Architecture, Thessaloniki Agency: Unified Social Security Agency Procedure 14*. Apply for water and Time: 23 days (EFKA), Office of Patra sewage connection Cost: No cost Time: 3 days Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Cost: No cost Service of Patra Procedure 6*. Obtain active fire Time: 1 day protection approval Procedure 8. Request and obtain initial Cost: EUR 57 Agency: Regional Fire Department of Central permit/approval from the Municipality Macedonia Agency: Municipality of Patra, Building Office Procedure 15. Undergo investigation by Time: 20 days Time: 18 days the water company on the feasibility of Cost: No cost Cost: No cost the project Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Procedure 7*. Obtain preliminary Service of Patra Procedure 9. Request and obtain verification by the water company on Time: 25 days building permit from the Municipality the feasibility of the project Cost: EUR 410 Agency: Municipality of Patra, Building Office Agency: Thessaloniki Water Supply and Time: 45 days Sewerage Company (EYATH) Cost: EUR 9,441 [EUR 755.07 fee for Building Procedure 16. Obtain water and sewage Time: 1 day Office + EUR 188.68 municipal fee + EUR 372 connection Cost: No cost advance insurance fee + EUR 9.51 fee towards Agency: Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) + EUR Service of Patra Procedure 8*. Obtain proof of advanced 19.01 fee towards National Technical University Time: 45 days payment from the Unified Social of Athens (NTUA) + stamp fee #1 of 0.5% Cost: EUR 450 of the project value + stamp fee #2 of 0.2% Security Agency of the project value + EUR 0.57 stamp fee Agency: Unified Social Security Agency on insurance and TEE payment + EUR 15.32 Thessaloniki (EFKA), Office of Thessaloniki Agricultural Insurance Organization (OGA) fee Time: 2 days Warehouse value: EUR 853,218 (US$977,00) + EUR 2,107.97 tax on remunerations] Cost: No cost Data as of: May 1, 2019 Procedure 10. Notify Archaeology Procedure 9. Request and obtain initial Procedure 1. Obtain proof of ownership, Supervisory Authority of commencement permit/approval from the Municipality cadastral extract and cadastral plan of works and receive on-site inspection Agency: Hellenic Cadastre, Office of Agency: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Building at excavation Office Thessaloniki Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority Time: 13 days Time: 3 days of Achaia Cost: No cost Cost: EUR 45 (EUR 15 cadastral extract + Time: 7 days EUR 30 cadastral plan) Cost: No cost Procedure 10. Request and obtain Procedure 2. Obtain topographical building permit from the Municipality Procedure 11*. Obtain stamp from the survey map Agency: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Building police on the final building permit Office Agency: Private firm Agency: Police of Achaia Time: 10 days Time: 10 days Time: 1 day Cost: EUR 7,724 [EUR 458.15 fee for Building Cost: EUR 800 Cost: No cost Office + EUR 496.23 municipal fee + EUR 391.14 insurance fee + EUR 370.59 Procedure 3. Submit a petition for an advance insurance fee + EUR 9.61 fee towards Procedure 12. Request and obtain archaeological clearance certificate Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) + stamp foundation work inspection Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority of fee #1 of 0.5% of the project value + stamp fee Agency: Municipality of Patra, Building Office / Thessaloniki #2 of 0.2% of the project value + Board of Building Inspectors Time: 1 day EUR 0.79 stamp fee #3 + EUR 8.02 stamp fee Time: 1 day Cost: No cost on insurance and TEE payment + EUR 16.98 Cost: EUR 300 (EUR 300 for buildings with a Agricultural Insurance Organization (OGA) fee] total area over 1,000 sq. m.) *Simultaneous with previous procedure CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 47 Procedure 11. Notify Archaeology Supervisory Authority of commencement of works and receive on-site inspection at excavation Agency: Archaeology Supervisory Authority of Thessaloniki Time: 7 days Cost: No cost Greece Procedure 12*. Obtain stamp from the police on the final building permit Agency: Police of Thessaloniki Time: 1 day Cost: No cost Procedure 13*. Obtain permission to commence construction Agency: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Building Office Time: 1 day Cost: No cost Procedure 14. Request and obtain foundation work inspection Agency: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Building Office / Board of Building Inspectors Time: 1 day Cost: EUR 300 (EUR 300 for buildings with a total area over 1,000 sq. m.) Procedure 15. Receive final inspection from Board of Building Inspectors and receive completion certificate Agency: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Building Office / Board of Building Inspectors Time: 7 days Cost: EUR 600 (EUR 0.4 per sq. m. with a minimum of EUR 600 and maximum of EUR 3,000) Procedure 16. Apply for water and sewage connection Agency: Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYATH) Time: 1 day Cost: EUR 63 Procedure 17. Undergo detailed investigation by the water company on the feasibility of the project Agency: Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYATH) Time: 30 days Cost: EUR 500 Procedure 18. Obtain water and sewage connection Agency: Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYATH) Time: 30 days Cost: EUR 600 *Simultaneous with previous procedure 48 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY DEALING WITH CONSTRUCTION PERMITS IN GREECE – BUILDING QUALITY CONTROL INDEX Alexandroupoli and Larissa Athens and Patra Heraklion and Thessaloniki Answer Score Answer Score Answer Score Building quality control index (0–15) 9 12 11 Quality of building regulations index (0–2) 1 1 1 How accessible are building laws and regulations in Available online; Free 1 Available online; Free 1 Available online; Free 1 Greece your economy? (0–1) of charge; In official of charge; In official of charge; In official gazette. gazette. gazette. Which requirements for obtaining a building permit List of required 0 List of required 0 List of required 0 are clearly specified in the building regulations or on documents; Required documents; Required documents; Required any accessible website, brochure or pamphlet? (0–1) preapprovals. preapprovals. preapprovals. Quality control before construction index (0–1) 0 1 1 Which third-party entities are required by law to By law, there is no 0 Licensed architect/ 1 Licensed architect/ 1 verify that the building plans are in compliance with need to verify plans engineer. engineer existing building regulations? (0–1) compliance; Civil servant reviews plans. Quality control during construction index (0–3) 2 2 2 What types of inspections (if any) are required by law Inspections by 1 Inspections by 1 Inspections by 1 to be carried out during construction? (0–2) in-house engineer; in-house engineer; in-house engineer; Inspections by external Inspections by external Inspections by external engineer or firm; engineer or firm; engineer or firm; Inspections at various Inspections at various Inspections at various phases. phases. phases. Do legally mandated inspections occur in practice Mandatory inspections 1 Mandatory inspections 1 Mandatory inspections 1 during construction? (0–1) are always done in are always done in are always done in practice. practice. practice. Quality control after construction index (0–3) 3 3 3 Is there a final inspection required by law to verify Yes, in-house engineer 2 Yes, in-house engineer 2 Yes, in-house engineer 2 that the building was built in accordance with the submits report for submits report for submits report for approved plans and regulations? (0–2) final inspection; Yes, final inspection; Yes, final inspection; Yes, external engineer external engineer external engineer submits report for final submits report for final submits report for final inspection. inspection. inspection. Do legally mandated final inspections occur in Final inspection always 1 Final inspection always 1 Final inspection always 1 practice? (0–1) occurs in practice. occurs in practice. occurs in practice. Liability and insurance regimes index (0–2) 1 1 1 Which parties (if any) are held liable by law for Architect or engineer; 1 Architect or engineer; 1 Architect or engineer; 1 structural flaws or problems in the building once it is Professional in charge Professional in charge Professional in charge in use (Latent Defect Liability or Decennial Liability)? of the supervision; of the supervision; of the supervision; (0–1) Construction company. Construction company. Construction company. Which parties (if any) are required by law to obtain No party is required 0 No party is required 0 No party is required 0 an insurance policy to cover possible structural flaws by law to obtain by law to obtain by law to obtain or problems in the building once it is in use? (0–1) insurance. insurance. insurance. Professional certifications index (0–4) 2 4 3 What are the qualification requirements for the There are no specific 0 Minimum number of 2 University degree 1 professional responsible for verifying that the requirements. years of experience; in architecture or architectural plans or drawings are in compliance University degree engineering; Being a with existing building regulations? (0–2) in architecture or registered architect or engineering; Being a engineer. registered architect or engineer. What are the qualification requirements for the Minimum number of 2 Minimum number of 2 Minimum number of 2 professional who supervises the construction on the years of experience; years of experience; years of experience; ground? (0–2) University degree University degree University degree in engineering, in engineering, in engineering, construction or construction or construction or construction construction construction management; Being a management; Being a management; Being a registered architect or registered architect or registered architect or engineer. engineer. engineer. Source: Doing Business database. GETTING ELECTRICITY IN GREECE – PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A NEW ELECTRICITY CONNECTION, BY CITY Name of utility: HEDNO S.A. Data as of: May 1, 2019 Alexandroupoli Athens Heraklion Larissa Patra Thessaloniki Comments 1. Submit application to HEDNO After the submission of the application, HEDNO informs the client about when a technical designer Time (days) 10 2 22 14 10 5 will inspect the building. After the inspection, HEDNO sends a letter to inform the client about the cost of the connection, the time needed to complete the works, and the documents that the Cost (EUR) No cost client has to submit before the connection can be completed. The connection fees have to be paid at banks that have an agreement with HEDNO. 2. Receive external inspection by A technical designer from HEDNO inspects the HEDNO and await estimate Time (days) 5 12 3 4 5 7 location of the connection and elaborates the technical plan. The client or a representative has to be present at the time of the external Cost (EUR) No cost inspection. 3. Sign connection contract and After the payment of the fees, the client signs a await completion of external connection contract with HEDNO. Among other Time (days) 22 33 30 30 30 65 works and meter installation documents, the client submits the electrician's sworn statement on the details of the internal installation. At this point, HEDNO requests an 9,511 [5,565 10,895 [5,565 9,511 [5,565 9,511 [5,565 9,511 [5,565 9,511 [5,565 excavation permit from the local Municipality. (connection fees (connection fee (connection fees (connection fees (connection fees (connection fees for 150 meters) for 150 meters) for 150 meters) for 150 meters) for 150 meters) for 150 meters) + 3,710 (fee for + 5,060 (fee for + 3,710 (fee for + 3,710 (fee for + 3,710 (fee for + 3,710 (fee for Cost (EUR) the requested the requested the requested the requested the requested the requested capacity) + 236 capacity) + 270 capacity) + 236 capacity) + 236 capacity) + 236 capacity) + 236 (price of meter (price of meter (price of meter (price of meter (price of meter (price of meter and ancillary and ancillary and ancillary and ancillary and ancillary and ancillary materials)] materials)] materials)] materials)] materials)] materials)] 4. Obtain statement on the In order to obtain electricity, clients need to surface of the property from Time (days) 1 1 1 1 1 1 submit to HEDNO a statement from the local Municipality* Municipality showing the surface of the building, as established by laws 25/75, 1080/80, and Cost (EUR) No cost 2130/93. 5. Sign supply contract and Once the construction is finished and the receive meter installation by internal wiring is ready to be connected to the HEDNO Time (days) 8 4 15 6 4 6 external network, the client signs a contract with a supplier. For the Doing Business case study, the estimated security deposit requested by the supplier is EUR 735. The supplier then informs HEDNO that a contract is in place Cost (EUR) 735 through an electronic shared platform. From this moment, HEDNO has four days to make the final connection. Source: Doing Business database. *Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 49 Greece 50 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY GETTING ELECTRICITY IN GREECE – RELIABILITY OF SUPPLY AND TRANSPARENCY OF TARIFFS INDEX 8 (Patra) Reliability of supply and transparency of tariffs index (0–8) 7 (5 cities) 3 (Patra) Total duration and frequency of outages per customer a year (0–3) 2 (5 cities) System average interruption duration index (SAIDI) 0.71 (Patra) 1.57 (Athens) Greece 1.58 (Heraklion) 2.10 (Thessaloniki) 2.70 (Alexandroupoli) 3.60 (Larissa) System average interruption frequency index (SAIFI) 0.68 (Patra) 1.10 (Heraklion) 1.30 (Thessaloniki) 1.44 (Athens) 1.47 (Larissa) 2.00 (Alexandroupoli) Mechanisms for monitoring outages (0–1) 1 (all cities) Does the distribution utility use automated tools to monitor outages? Yes (all cities) Mechanisms for restoring service (0–1) 1 (all cities) Does the distribution utility use automated tools to restore service? Yes (all cities) Regulatory monitoring (0–1) 1 (all cities) Does a regulator—that is, an entity separate from the utility—monitor the utility’s performance on reliability of supply? Yes (all cities) Financial deterrents aimed at limiting outages (0–1) 1 (all cities) Does the utility either pay compensation to customers or face fines by the regulator (or both) if outages exceed a certain cap? Yes (all cities) Communication of tariffs and tariff changes (0–1) 1 (all cities) Are effective tariffs available online? Yes (all cities) Are customers notified of a change in tariff ahead of the billing cycle? Yes (all cities) Source: Doing Business database. REGISTERING PROPERTY IN GREECE – PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO REGISTER A PROPERTY, BY CITY (continued) Property value: EUR 853,218 Data as of: May 1, 2019 Alexandroupoli Athens Heraklion Larissa Patra Thessaloniki Comments Receive site visit by Time (days) 1 An on-site inspection by an engineer is required for the the engineer new topographic site plan to be drafted. Cost (EUR) Included in a following procedure Obtain a topographic Following the inspection conducted by an engineer in the site plan and a previous procedure 1, a recent topographic diagram is certificate for the Time (days) 7 issued depicting the boundaries of the property (new site absence of non- plan) sealed and signed by the engineer. The plan shall licensed construction be submitted to the notary public a few days before the by the engineer conclusion of the sale contract. Additionally, according to Cost (EUR) 400 Law N. 4495/2017, a certificate from an engineer is required stating that there are no illegal constructions and/or change of ancillary uses to the principal use of the property. Title and 1 A lawyer conducts a search of the ownership titles, encumbrances search Time (days) 1 1 3 2 2 encumbrances and claims at the Land Registry. Once the at the Land Registry* lawyer obtains all the necessary, the lawyer drafts the 4,486 (EUR 440 + 0.5% of the property value between 44,000 - 1.4 million. Lawyer fees are freely agreed with the parties. initial sale and purchase agreement. Only lawyers are Cost (EUR) Annex II of the new Lawyer's code gives an indicative fee schedule for legal fees.) entitled to conduct a search at the Land Registry. Title and A lawyer conducts a search of the ownership titles, encumbrances Time (days) 1 1 1 1 1 encumbrances and claims at the Interim Cadastre Office. search at the Interim The search is done both at the Land Registry and the Cadastre Office* n.a. Interim Cadastre office as a precautionary measure. Some Included in of the Interim Cadastre offices have electronic search Cost (EUR) a previous Included in a previous procedure system, but they don't have all property records in the procedure system. Obtain property tax 1 According to Article 59 of Law 4483/2017 in the event of certificate from the Time (days) 3 1 40 3 1 transfer of the ownership of all kinds of property for any Municipality* reason and before signing the transfer contract, the sellers are required to provide the notary with a certificate of the Cost (EUR) No charge relevant local authority stating that no real estate fees are due, otherwise the transfer contract will be invalid. Obtain tax clearance As of January 2014, a new Unified Real Estate Ownership certificate and the tax was created to the acquisition of in-rem rights over Real Estate Unified Time (days) Less than one day (procedure conducted online) real estate. In order for the notarial deed of the real Tax clearance estate transfer to be valid, the taxpayer has to present a certificate from the tax certificate issued by the competent Tax Authority to Tax Authority* the Notary, stating that the property has been properly declared as well as that the taxpayer has paid off the Cost (EUR) No charge Unified Real Estate Ownership tax or the Real Estate Tax over the past 5 years prior to the signature of the deed that transfers the property at issue. Seller obtains a The seller must obtain a certificate of good standing certificate from the Time (days) Less than one day (procedure conducted online) from the Social Security Institute, which assures that the Unified Social Security seller (company) has been paying its social security. Since Agency (EFKA)* January 2017 all Social Security Institutions have been unified into the Unified Social Security Agency (EFKA) Cost (EUR) No charge (Implementation of Law 4387/2016 implementing a reform in the social security system). CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 51 Greece Greece 52 REGISTERING PROPERTY IN GREECE – PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO REGISTER A PROPERTY, BY CITY (continued) Property value: EUR 853,218 Data as of: May 1, 2019 Alexandroupoli Athens Heraklion Larissa Patra Thessaloniki Comments Deliver the initial This procedure is a common practice only in Athens and Time (days) 1 1 draft of the sale and Patra. Typically the lawyer 1) submits the initial draft sale purchase agreement n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. and purchase agreement to the association 2) is issued an to the local bar Included in a Included in a invoice by the association and 3) pays minimum legal fees Cost (EUR) association previous procedure previous procedure due to the association. Payment of property Time (days) 4 1 1 1 2 1 Parties obtain a copy of the declaration made before the transfer tax at the Tax Tax Authority with powers on the locality of the property Authority Cost (EUR) 26,364 [For the buyer, 3% of the property value (transfer tax) plus 0.09% of the property value (city tax)] verifying that the buyer has paid the property transfer tax. A notary public The notary drafts and notarizes the final sale and drafts and notarizes Time (days) 1 purchase agreement and prepares the public deed in the the final sale and presence of the parties (and their lawyers if they wish), purchase agreement 5,931 (0.8% of property value up to EUR 120,000; 0.7% of property value between EUR 120,000.01 and 380,000; 0.65% who must also sign. The notary also checks up on the and prepares the Cost (EUR) of property value between EUR 380,000.01 and EUR 2,000,000 fixed fee of EUR 20 and additional fee of EUR 5 per each documentation which legitimizes the legal representatives transfer deed additional sheet of the sale agreement) of the contracting parties. Record deed at the Time (days) 11 14 11 The public deed is delivered to the Land Registry to Land Registry be recorded under the name of the buyer. At the same Cost (EUR) 4,079 [0.475% 4,082 [0.475% 4,079 [0.475% time, parties request a property certificate, an ownership of property value of property of property value certificate, a non-opposition certificate and a records (registrar’s rights) value (registrar’s (registrar’s rights) certificate from the Land Registry. + 24% VAT + rights) + EUR 3 + 24% VAT + EUR 6.50 for application stamp n.a. EUR 6.50 for n.a. n.a. each of the 4 fee + EUR 6.50 each of the 4 certificates (EUR for each of the certificates (EUR 4.50 for the 4 certificates 4.50 for the certificate + EUR (EUR 4.50 for the certificate + EUR 2 for stamp duty)] certificate + EUR 2 for stamp duty)] 2 for stamp duty)] DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Register transfer at Time (days) 9 1 90 10 12 120 In Athens, the Cadastre is not fully created yet--the the Cadastre office registration is done only for statistical purposes. In all Cost (EUR) 35 35 4,950 [0.575% 35 4,964 [0.575% 4,932 [0.575% (ktimatologio) other cities, the registration with the local cadastre office (registration fee) (registration fee) of property (registration fee) of property value of property value is mandatory. value (registrar’s (registrar’s rights) + (registrar’s rights) rights) + EUR EUR 6.50 for each + EUR 6.50 for 6.50 for each of of the 4 certificates each of the 4 the 4 certificates (EUR 4.50 for the certificates (EUR (EUR 4.50 for certificate + EUR 2 4.50 for the the certificate + for stamp duty) + certificate + EUR EUR 2 for stamp EUR 3 application 2 for stamp duty)] duty) + EUR 3 fee + EUR 13.5 application fee + fixed fee + EUR 15 EUR 15.44 fixed property diagram fee)] fee)] Source: Doing Business database. n.a. - not applicable *Simultaneous with a previous procedure. CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 53 REGISTERING PROPERTY IN GREECE – QUALITY OF LAND ADMINISTRATION INDEX (continued) Alexandroupoli, Heraklion, Larissa and Patra Athens Thessaloniki Answer Score Answer Score Answer Score Quality of the land administration index (0–30) 5.5 4.5 14.5 Reliability of infrastructure index (0–8) 0 0 4 Greece In what format are the majority of title or deed Paper 0 Paper 0 Paper 0 records kept in the largest business city—in a paper format or in a computerized format (scanned or fully digital)? (0–2) Is there an electronic database for checking for No 0 No 0 Yes 1 encumbrances (liens, mortgages, restrictions and the like)? (0–1) In what format are the majority of maps of land plots Paper 0 Paper 0 Computer/ 2 kept in the largest business city—in a paper format Fully digital or in a computerized format (scanned or fully digital)? (0–2) Is there an electronic database for recording No 0 No 0 Yes 1 boundaries, checking plans and providing cadastral information (geographic information system)? (0–1) Is the information recorded by the immovable property Separate 0 Separate 0 Separate 0 registration agency and the cadastral or mapping databases databases databases agency kept in a single database, in different but linked databases or in separate databases? (0–1) Do the immovable property registration agency No 0 No 0 No 0 and cadastral or mapping agency use the same identification number for properties? (0–1) Transparency of information index (0–6) 1.5 1.5 1.5 Who is able to obtain information on land ownership Only intermediaries 0 Only intermediaries 0 Only intermediaries 0 at the agency in charge of immovable property (notaries, lawyers, (notaries, lawyers, (notaries, lawyers, registration in the city? (0–1) etc.) etc.) etc.) Is the list of documents that are required to complete Yes, online 0.5 Yes, online 0.5 Yes, online 0.5 any type of property transaction made publicly available–and if so, how? (0–0.5) Is the applicable fee schedule for any property Yes, online 0.5 Yes, online 0.5 Yes, online 0.5 transaction at the agency in charge of immovable property registration in the city made publicly available–and if so, how? (0–0.5) Does the agency in charge of immovable property No 0 No 0 No 0 registration commit to delivering a legally binding document that proves property ownership within a specific time frame–and if so, how does it communicate the service standard? (0–0.5) Is there a specific and separate mechanism for filing No 0 No 0 No 0 complaints about a problem that occurred at the agency in charge of immovable property registration? (0–1) Are there publicly available official statistics tracking No 0 No 0 No 0 the number of transactions at the immovable property registration agency? (0–0.5) Who is able to consult maps of land plots in the Only intermediaries 0 Only intermediaries 0 Only intermediaries 0 largest business city? (0–0.5) and interested and interested and interested parties parties parties Is the applicable fee schedule for accessing maps of Yes, online 0.5 Yes, online 0.5 Yes, online 0.5 land plots made publicly available—and if so, how? (0–0.5) Does the cadastral or mapping agency commit to No 0 No 0 No 0 delivering an updated map within a specific time frame—and if so, how does it communicate the service standard? (0–0.5) 54 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY REGISTERING PROPERTY IN GREECE – QUALITY OF LAND ADMINISTRATION INDEX (continued) Alexandroupoli, Heraklion, Larissa and Patra Athens Thessaloniki Answer Score Answer Score Answer Score Is there a specific and separate mechanism for filing No 0 No 0 No 0 complaints about a problem that occurred at the cadastral or mapping agency? (0–0.5) Greece Geographic coverage index (0–8) 0 0 4 Are all privately held land plots in the economy No 0 No 0 No 0 formally registered at the immovable property registry? (0–2) Are all privately held land plots in the city formally No 0 No 0 Yes 2 registered at the immovable property registry? (0–2) Are all privately held land plots in the economy No 0 No 0 No 0 mapped? (0–2) Are all privately held land plots in the city mapped? No 0 No 0 Yes 2 (0–2) Land dispute resolution index (0–8) 4 3 5 Does the law require that all property sale Yes 1.5 Yes 1.5 Yes 1.5 transactions be registered at the immovable property registry to make them opposable to third parties? (0–1.5) Is the system of immovable property registration Yes 0.5 Yes 0.5 Yes 0.5 subject to a state or private guarantee? (0–0.5) Is there a specific compensation mechanism to cover No 0 No 0 No 0 for losses incurred by parties who engaged in good faith in a property transaction based on erroneous information certified by the immovable property registry? (0–0.5) Does the legal system require a control of legality of Yes 0.5 Yes 0.5 Yes 0.5 the documents necessary for a property transaction (e.g., checking the compliance of contracts with requirements of the law)? (0–0.5) Does the legal system require verification of the Yes 0.5 Yes 0.5 Yes 0.5 identity of the parties to a property transaction? (0–0.5) Is there a national database to verify the accuracy of No 0 No 0 No 0 identity documents? (0–1) How long does it take on average to obtain a decision Between 2 and 3 1 More than 3 years 0 Between 1 and 2 2 from the first-instance court for such a case (without years years appeal)? (0–3) Are there any statistics on the number of land No 0 No 0 No 0 disputes in the first instance? (0–0.5) Equal access to property rights index (-2–0) 0 0 0 Do unmarried men and unmarried women have equal Yes 0 Yes 0 Yes 0 ownership rights to property? Do married men and married women have equal Yes 0 Yes 0 Yes 0 ownership rights to property? Source: Doing Business database. CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 55 ENFORCING CONTRACTS IN GREECE – TIME, COST AND QUALITY OF JUDICIAL PROCESSES, BY CITY Time (days) Cost (% of claim) Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) Court structure and Alternative dispute Trial and judgment proceedings (-1–5) Case management Enforcement costs Court automation Filing and service Attorney fees Enforcement of judgment Court costs resolution Total (0–6) (0–4) (0–3) Total Total score Greece City time cost (0–18) Alexandroupoli 50 635 275 960 5.3 5.1 7.8 18.2 3 2 1 2.5 8.5 Athens 60 1400 251 1711 10.0 4.6 7.8 22.4 3 5 2 2.5 12.5 Heraklion 45 690 265 1000 7.6 4.5 7.8 19.9 3 2 1 2.5 8.5 Larissa 35 510 270 815 10.0 3.7 7.8 21.5 3 2 1 2.5 8.5 Patra 40 665 305 1010 6.0 4.3 7.8 18.1 3 2 1 2.5 8.5 Thessaloniki 60 610 265 935 10.0 3.3 7.8 21.1 3 5 1 2.5 11.5 Source: Doing Business database. 56 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY ENFORCING CONTRACTS IN GREECE – QUALITY OF JUDICIAL PROCESSES INDEX (continued) Answer Score Quality of judicial processes index (0–18) 8.5 (4 cities) 11.5 (Thessaloniki) 12.5 (Athens) Court structure and proceedings (-1–5) 3 Is there a court or division of a court dedicated solely to hearing commercial cases? (0–1.5) No 0 Greece Small claims court (0–1.5) 1.5 a. Is there a small claims court or a fast-track procedure for small claims? Yes b. If yes, is self-representation allowed? Yes Is pretrial attachment available? (0–1) Yes 1 Are new cases assigned randomly to judges? (0–1) Yes, but manual 0.5 Does a woman's testimony carry the same evidentiary weight in court as a man's? (-1–0) Yes 0 Case management (0–6) 2 (4 cities) 5 (Athens and Thessaloniki) Time standards (0–1) 1 a. Are there laws setting overall time standards for key court events in a civil case? Yes b. If yes, are the time standards set for at least three court events? Yes c. Are these time standards respected in more than 50% of cases? Yes Adjournments (0–1) 1 a. Does the law regulate the maximum number of adjournments that can be granted? Yes b. Are adjournments limited to unforeseen and exceptional circumstances? Yes c. If rules on adjournments exist, are they respected in more than 50% of cases? Yes Can two of the following four reports be generated about the competent court: (i) time to No (4 cities) 0 (4 cities) disposition report; (ii) clearance rate report; (iii) age of pending cases report; and (iv) single Yes (Athens and Thessaloniki) 1 (Athens and Thessaloniki) case progress report? (0–1) Is a pretrial conference among the case management techniques used before the No 0 competent court? (0–1) Are there any electronic case management tools in place within the competent court for No (4 cities) 0 (4 cities) use by judges? (0–1) Yes (Athens and Thessaloniki) 1 (Athens and Thessaloniki) Are there any electronic case management tools in place within the competent court for No (4 cities) 0 (4 cities) use by lawyers? (0–1) Yes (Athens and Thessaloniki) 1 (Athens and Thessaloniki) Court automation (0–4) 1 (5 cities) 2 (Athens) Can the initial complaint be filed electronically through a dedicated platform within the No (5 cities) 0 (5 cities) competent court? (0–1) Yes (Athens) 1 (Athens) Is it possible to carry out service of process electronically for claims filed before the No 0 competent court? (0–1) Can court fees be paid electronically within the competent court? (0–1) Yes 1 Publication of judgments (0–1) 0 a. Are judgments rendered in commercial cases at all levels made available to the No general public through publication in official gazettes, in newspapers or on the internet or court website? b. Are judgments rendered in commercial cases at the appellate and supreme court No level made available to the general public through publication in official gazettes, in newspapers or on the internet or court website? Alternative dispute resolution (0–3) 2.5 Arbitration (0–1.5) 1.5 a. Is domestic commercial arbitration governed by a consolidated law or consolidated Yes chapter or section of the applicable code of civil procedure encompassing substantially all its aspects? b. Are there any commercial disputes—aside from those that deal with public order or No public policy—that cannot be submitted to arbitration? c. Are valid arbitration clauses or agreements usually enforced by the courts? Yes CITY SNAPSHOTS AND INDICATOR DETAILS 57 ENFORCING CONTRACTS IN GREECE – QUALITY OF JUDICIAL PROCESSES INDEX (continued) Answer Score Mediation/Conciliation (0–1.5) 1 a. Is voluntary mediation or conciliation available? Yes b. Are mediation, conciliation or both governed by a consolidated law or consolidated Yes chapter or section of the applicable code of civil procedure encompassing substantially all their aspects? c. Are there financial incentives for parties to attempt mediation or conciliation (i.e., No Greece if mediation or conciliation is successful, a refund of court filing fees, income tax credits or the like)? Source: Doing Business database. 58 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Acknowledgments Doing Business in the European Union .doingbusiness.org/EU3) was developed Association of Court Bailiffs (team led by 2020: Greece, Ireland and Italy was by Varun Doiphode, Akash Pradhan and Georgios Mitsis), the Hellenic Association produced by a team led by Trimor Mici, Kamalesh Sengaonkar. The report was of Rural and Surveying Engineers (team led Madalina Papahagi, Tommaso Rooms edited by Rachel Moore Weller, and the by Michalis Kalogiannakis), the Hellenic and Moussa Traore. The team comprised layout produced by Luis Liceaga. Electricity Distribution Network Operator Razvan Antonescu, Luca Bettarelli, and SPEED Development Consultants SA in Nicolas Conserva, Margherita Fabbri, The study was funded by the European Greece; (ii) the Law Society of Ireland (team Lilla M Fordos, Eleni Founti, Dimitra Commission, Directorate-General Regional led by Cormac Ó Culáin), Engineers Ireland Christina Heliotis, Joyce Antone Ibrahim, and Urban Policy. It was undertaken under (team led by Richard Manton), Electric Konstantia Katsouli, Branislav Kralik, the auspices of the Ministry of Development Ireland, ESB Networks and Irish Water in Tiziana Londero, Ioanna Pantelaiou and and Investment (formerly the Ministry of Ireland; (iii) Legance – Avvocati Associati Alberto Pellicano. The report was pre- Economy and Development) of Greece; (team led by Cecilia Carrara and Francesca pared under the direction of Pilar Salgado the Department of Finance in Ireland; and Salerno), the National Council of Italian Otónel. the Ministry of Economic Development of Engineers, the National Council of Notaries, Italy. Valuable assistance was provided by the National Association of Builders (ANCE), The team is grateful for valuable peer city halls across Greece and Ireland and a2a - Unareti, Areti, e-distribuzione, and Ireti review comments provided by col- chambers of commerce in Italy, which in Italy. leagues from across the World Bank hosted meetings between the project team Group. Isfandyar Zaman Khan, Valeria and local public officials during the imple- More than 600 lawyers, notaries, engi- Perotti and Alessio Zanelli reviewed mentation phase. neers, electricians, architects, construc- the full text. Experts in each of the five tion experts, utility providers, public areas measured were consulted when The project team extends special officials, judges and enforcement agents drafting the individual chapters: Albert thanks for information and assistance contributed to Doing Business in the Nogués i Comas, Cyrianne Coste, Klaus provided throughout the project to (i) European Union 2020: Greece, Ireland and Decker, Marie Lily Delion, Maria Antonia the General Secretariat of Commerce, Italy. The team would like to express its Quesada Gamez, Maksym Iavorskyi, Aris the Hellenic Cadastre, the Ministry of special gratitude to the national and local Molfetas-Lygkiaris, Frederic Meunier, Justice and the Regulatory Authority public officials and members of the judi- Nadia Novik, George Papakyriakopoulos, for Energy (RAE) of Greece; (ii) the ciary who participated in the project and Marion Pinto, Silvia Carolina Lopez Commission for Regulation of Utilities, who made valuable comments during the Rocha, Jayashree Srinivasan, Erick Tjong the Companies Registration Office, the consultation and data review period. The and Wael Zakout. Courts Service Ireland, the Department names of those wishing to be acknowl- of Justice and Equality, the Property edged are listed on the following pages. Arup Banerji, Marta Mueller Guicciardini, Registration Authority and the Revenue Marcus Bernhard Heinz, Jakob Kopperud, Commissioners of Ireland; and (iii) Rita Ramalho and Nikolaos Schmidt the National Agency for Active Labour provided guidance and leadership. Policies (ANPAL), the Italian Regulatory Antonio Borges, Valeria Dessolis, Authority for Energy, Networks and Xhuliano Dule, Daria Goldstein, Marko Environment (ARERA), the Bank of Italy, Grujicic, Iva Hamel, Katherine Angela the Ministry of Justice, the Revenue Haynes, Zeljko Horvat, Anna Karpets, Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) and Monique Pelloux, Patrizia Poggi and Unioncamere in Italy. Serge Randriamiharisoa provided valu- able assistance at various stages of the Data collection was carried out in col- project. The communication campaign laboration with (i) Rokas International Law was designed and led by Chisako Fukuda Firm (team led by Alkistis Christofilou and in collaboration with Oliver Joy and Kym Mira Todorovic Symeonides), the Technical Smithies. The website (http://www Chamber of Greece (TEE), the Hellenic ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 59 PRIVATE SECTOR Christina Iliana Ventiri Lawyer Nikolaos Katsakiotis Court Bailiff Eleanna Makridou Makridis Associates SA PUBLIC SECTOR CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS Athanasia Lavda Eleni Bakoula Petros Makridis Notary Office EL. BAKOULA Engineering Makridis Associates SA GREECE Consultants GREECE Elli Kalitsounaki Theodoros Makridis Notary Office Christos Christodoulou Makridis Associates SA ALEXANDROUPOLI ALEXANDROUPOLI Electrical Engineer office Panagiota Tsitsa Georgios Chatzigiannakis Dimitra Maria Stergiou Konstantinos Papadopoulos Notary Office Drosos Chatzikostis NOMOS Law Firm District Court Civil Engineer Office Grammes Architects Nikolaos Valis Kostoula Mazaraki Anastasia Gavriil Kyriakos Arampatzis Office of Architecture Fevronia Manousaki NOMOS Law Firm Evros Chamber of Commerce Civil Engineer Office Grammes Architects Panagiotis Perakis Maria Vastaroucha Dimitris Mpakalidis Michalis Pasopoulos Panagiotis Perakis & Anastasia-Eleni Gitsara NOMOS Law Firm Evros Chamber of Commerce Civil Engineer Office Associates Law firm Law Office Andreas Papastathis Kyriaki Kyriakidou Christos Michalopoulos Alkistis Christofilou Evgenia Konteli Rokas Law Firm Evros Chamber of Commerce Court Bailiff Rokas Law Firm Law Office Dimitris Chatzimichael Dimitrios Theodorakopoulos Zisis Kalafantzis Anastasia Bolari Nikolaos Kolokithopoulos Rokas Law Firm First Instance Court Electrical Engineer office Rokas Law Firm Law Office Evridiki Evangelopoulou Georgios Tavantzis Dimitrios Kalafatzis Andriani Kantillieraki Pantelis Gliaos Rokas Law Firm First Instance Court Engineer Office Rokas Law Firm TEDRA S.A. Andreas Koustas Theodora Polymenopoulou Dimitrios Polumeris Charalampos Synodinos Trust Kataskevastiki ATE First Instance Court Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator Rokas Law Firm PATRA Alexandra Ioannidou Agapi Petropoulou Mira Todorovic-Symeonides Athanassios Katsaboulas Mortgage Office Rodia Chorinopoulou A-TOPO Technical Office Hellenic Electricity Distribution Rokas Law Firm Georgios Ouzounidis Network Operator Ioannis Andreopoulos Municipal Water Supply Paraskevi Res Rokas Law Firm Civil Engineer Office and Sewerage Service Christos Karakonstantinou Hellenic Electricity Distribution Alexandros Kazanis Giannis Vatamidis Network Operator Viktoria Chatzara Rokas Law Firm Court Bailiff Municipality Ilias Iliakopoulos Aikaterini Vgenopoulou Kalliniki Kanatsiopoulou Iliakopoulos Law Office Spyros Desulas SDTOPO Law Office Municipality, Building Office Marianna Takou Athanasios Vgenopoulos Vassiliki Pardalidou Iliakopoulos Law Office Nikolas Diakoulakis SPEED Development Law Office Municipality, Building Office Aikaterini Kipourou Consultants SA Charalampos Law Office Papachristopoulos Georgios Stasinos ATHENS Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) Law Office Petros Alepakos Georgios Grivas Law Office P. G. Alepakos Niki Pandeli First Instance Court & Associates Law Office HERAKLION Sophia Fourlari Georgios Alexakis Sofoklis Christopoulos First Instance Court ATHENS Civil Engineer Office Surveying Engineer Office Eleni Athanasaki Andreas Fassakis General Secreteriat of Commerce Civil Engineer Office Michalis Mavrakis Elina Kokkinou Civil Engineer Office Technical Office of Rezos - Kokkinou & Co Engineers Gerasimos Georgopoulos Nikolaos Detsis General Secreteriat of Commerce Civil Engineer Office Nikolaos Androulakis Civil Engineer Office Spyros Tigas Tigas Spyros & Associates Engineers Dimitrios Rokos Panagiotis Paris Charlaftis Hellenic Cadaster Civil Engineer Office Despina Sfakianaki Court Bailiff Maria Kalantzopoulou Georgios Mitsis THESSALONIKI Hellenic Cadaster Court Bailiff Manolis Tzanakis EMESP Pavlos Sidiropoulos Civil Engineer Office Maria Kasapi Nikoleta Katramadou Hellenic Cadaster Court Bailiff Pavlos Vardoulakis Hellenic Electricity Distribution Sofia Tzavara Network Operator Civil Engineer Office Panos Lolonis Athanassios Nikolaou Hellenic Cadaster Electrical Engineer Office Stergios Christou Archodia Golemi Law Office Court Bailiff Nikolaos Rodousakis Alexia Kourti Ministry of Economy Hellenic Electricity Distribution Georgios Moschopoulos and Development Network Operator Emmanouil Papadourakis Law Office GeoMetrisis Georgia Katsibra Emmanouil Amariotakis Nikolaos Pavlidis Ministry of Justice Hellenic Electricity Distribution Marina Simini Law Office Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator Network Operator Konstantinos Karaiskos Ioannis Vlachakis Mortgage Office Nikolaos Drosos Eleftheria Dodi Hellenic Electricity Distribution MP Mechanical Project International Organization Michail Giapalis Network Operator Eirini Chatzaki for Migration Mortgage Office Aspasia Zema Notary Office Anastasia Akritidou Eva Kontostathakou Law Office Georgios Drakonakis Law Office Municipality Chrissoula Karatzi Surveying Engineer Office Korina Batzikosta Ioannis Eymolpidis Law Office Law Office Municipality Ioanna Lytra LARISSA Aikaterini Dodi Thomas Katsadouros Law Office Georgios Kartsaflekis Law Office Municipality Civil Engineer Office 60 DOING BUSINESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2020: GREECE, IRELAND AND ITALY Evangelos Gavrielatos Despina Rasidaki Despoina Laskaridou Municipality, Building Office First Instance Court Municipality, Building Office Michail Skevofylax Stavros Koukougiannis Olympia Karagianni Municipality, Building Office First Instance Court Municipality, Building Office Olga Ploumpi Antigoni Sdougka Konstantinos Laskos Municipality, Building Office Mortgage Office Professional Chamber Soultana Spyropoulou Katerina Avrana Zaharoula Gerasimou Municipality, Building Office Municipal Water Supply Professional Chamber and Sewerage Service Stamatios Kanellopoulos Caterina Christodoulou Municipality, Building Office Katerina Nakou Water Supply and Sewerage Municipal Water Supply Company (EYATH) Evaggelia Gotzou and Sewerage Service Regulatory Authority Elizabeth Makridou for Energy (RAE) Panagiotis Dais Water Supply and Sewerage Municipality Company (EYATH) Antigoni Synodinou Water Supply and Sewerage Argyri Eythimiadou Ioannis Lioumpas Company (EYDAP) Municipality, Building Office Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYATH) Panagiotis Pousias HERAKLION Municipality, Building Office Eirini Velivasaki Christina Mitroula Chamber of Commerce and Industry Municipality, Department of Operational Planning Maria Spatharaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aristea Pertselaki PATRA First Instance Court Ioanna Giannopoulou Achaia Chamber of Commerce Sotiria Fragaki First Instance Court Konstantinos Raftopoulos Achaia Chamber of Commerce Antonia Badachaki First Instance Court Antonios Alapantas First Instance Court of Patra Stratoniki Kopaka Mortgage Office Konstantinos Riga First Instance Court of Patra Charis Papamatthaiakis Municipal Water Supply Eleftherios Tsironis and Sewerage Service Mortgage Office Eleni Kalemaki Christos Fallieros Municipality Municipality, Building Office Georgios Karantinos Nikolaos Tsimogiannis Municipality Municipality, General Secretariat Konstantinos Michianakis Dimitrios Karavidas Municipality Region of Western Greece Stella Archontaki Eleni Spyraki Municipality Region of Western Greece Antonis Mavrogiannis Municipality, Building Office THESSALONIKI Giannis Kefalogiannis Evangelia Kranioti Municipality, Building Office Cadaster Office Giorgos Fournarakis Evanthia Balai Municipality, Building Office Cadaster Office Maria Lydaki Konstantinos Gatos Municipality, Building Office Cadaster Office Renia Drosou Dimitra Anasontzi Municipality, Building Office Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aspasia Panteri Emmanouil Vlachogiannis Municipality, General Secretariat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Evgenia Stylianou Ilianna Gkogkou Municipality, General Secretariat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Evangelia Dimopoulou Theodoros Axylithiotis Mortgage Office Chamber of Commerce and Industry Evangelia Arvanitou First Instance Court LARISSA Anastasia Karligkiotou Vasilios Karanastasis Chamber of Commerce First Instance Court Georgios Ioannou Konstantina Karydi Chamber of Commerce Municipality, 100 Resilient Cities Stella Katakouta Stella Psarropoulou Ephorate of Antiquities Municipality, 100 Resilient Cities c d www.doingbusiness.org/EU3