Greece - National AI Strategy

Overview

The High-Level Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence under the Prime Minister, coordinated by the Special Secretariat of Foresight, published A Blueprint for Greece’s AI Transformation on 25 November 2024. The Blueprint is a foundational national strategy proposal that articulates vision, values, institutional design choices and six flagship programmes to guide Greece’s transition to an AI-enabled economy and public sector. It was prepared through wide consultation with Greek and international experts and situates Greece’s strategy within EU and OECD frameworks. The document is available from the Special Secretariat’s study page and as a downloadable report; see A Blueprint for Greece’s AI Transformation (Special Secretariat of Foresight) and the report PDF Blueprint_GREECES_AI_TRANSFORMATION.pdf.

Definitions

The Blueprint sets out working definitions for ‘AI’ and related terms that mirror international practice: AI systems as software (and sometimes hardware) that perform tasks requiring human-like capabilities; models (including foundation/generative models); data governance; model risk; high-risk applications; transparency and explainability; oversight and governance bodies; and ethical AI principles (human dignity, participation, transparency, oversight). These definitions are intended to be compatible with EU terminology used in the EU AI regulatory framework and OECD guidance, facilitating legal and technical alignment when legislative measures are enacted.

Governance and Institutional Framework

The Blueprint recommends a layered governance approach with distinct roles: a central co‑ordination function led by the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance (to integrate policy across ministries), an independent national AI supervisory authority to oversee conformity and enforcement, an AI National Interministerial Committee for high-level oversight, and an advisory interdisciplinary research lab (AI Politeia) to provide evidence-based policy advice. For monitoring and early warning, the Blueprint proposes an AI observatory and public dashboard. The report also proposes integrating the Hellenic Data Protection Authority into cross-cutting oversight where personal data or fundamental-rights risks arise and aligning public procurement and digital public infrastructure for safe AI deployment. See the Special Secretariat page at foresight.gov.gr – Blueprint for institutional proposals.

Key Focus Areas

The Blueprint organises policy action around four domains: (1) Innovation and Entrepreneurship—measures to grow startups, attract investment, create testbeds and public-private partnerships; (2) Education and Research—creation of a world-class AI institute, national AI curricula, reskilling and PhD fellowships, and an AI education platform for schools and universities; (3) Regulatory Framework—recommendations for a risk-based regulatory approach aligned with EU law, strong data governance, model documentation and conformity assessments; and (4) AI in Government—flagship public-sector projects to modernise service delivery, improve policymaking and increase transparency. Cross-cutting priorities include ethical data governance, cultural heritage preservation using AI, sustainability-focused applications and targeted interventions in healthcare, tourism and maritime sectors. The Blueprint outlines six flagship programmes that act as implementation vectors combining institutional, technical and financing components.

Implementation Framework

The Blueprint proposes a staged implementation approach: immediate (0–12 months) actions to set governance bodies, launch flagship pilots and mobilise seed funding; medium-term (1–3 years) actions to scale research infrastructure, roll out national education platforms and embed procurement rules; and longer-term (3–7 years) actions to establish mature regulatory machinery, national AI observatory analytics and international partnerships. It recommends a combination of public funding, international cooperation, EU funds and private investment incentives. Implementation emphasizes co‑design with industry, civil society and academia, agile procurement rules for experimentation, and robust technical standards for cybersecurity and model safety.

Monitoring and Evaluation

To measure progress the Blueprint proposes an AI observatory and a monitoring dashboard with indicators tracking: research output and talent pipeline, number and impact of flagship projects, public-sector AI deployments, incidents and near-misses, and compliance rates for documentation and oversight. It recommends periodic independent evaluations and a feedback loop to update the strategy every 2–3 years. Data from the observatory would inform evidence-based budget allocation and legislative refinement.

Penalties, Liability, and Appeals

The Blueprint itself is a strategic document and does not institute statutory penalties; however, it anticipates follow-on legislation and supervisory powers that would incorporate a risk-based enforcement regime consistent with EU practice. The report recommends that future rules establish conformity assessment requirements for high-risk systems, administrative fines for non-compliance, remedies for affected persons, and accessible appeal mechanisms. It also highlights the need to clarify civil liability for harms caused by AI in coordination with EU-level liability workstreams.

Relationship to Other Instruments

The Blueprint expressly situates itself in relation to existing Greek digital strategies (e.g., the Digital Transformation Bible 2020–2025), the EU AI Act and the EU Coordinated Plan on AI, and international guidance such as OECD AI principles. It proposes using existing ministerial and supervisory structures while creating new bodies where gaps exist. The Blueprint recommends harmonisation with data protection rules (GDPR) and national cybersecurity requirements and leveraging EU funding instruments for research and infrastructure.

International Alignment

International cooperation is a central theme. The Blueprint recommends active participation in EU and OECD fora, alignment with the EU AI Act’s risk-based approach and conformity frameworks, and bilateral research and capacity-building partnerships. It advocates for Greece to contribute to international standard-setting and to host collaborative research initiatives that reflect Greek priorities in culture, tourism, maritime domains and sustainability. See OECD country note referencing the Blueprint at OECD – Progress in Implementing the EU Coordinated Plan: Greece.

Implementation Timeline

Sources and References