European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality : Greece : with comparative data Annex provided by EDE.
Date: 2023-11-14
Institutions: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Subjects: European Semester, Greece, adult education, disabled person, educational system, employment policy, equal treatment, health care, integration of people with disabilities, labour market, poverty, social policy, social security, unemployment, worker with disabilities

European Semester 2022-2023 
country fiche on disability equality 

Greece 

January 2023 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion 
Directorate D — Social Rights and Inclusion 
Unit D3 — Disability & Inclusion 

European Commission 
B-1049 Brussels 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

European Semester 2022-2023 
country fiche on disability equality 

With comparative data Annex provided by EDE 

Greece 

Eleni Strati 

European  Disability  Expertise  (EDE)  provides  independent  scientific  support  to  the 
Commission’s  policy  unit  responsible  for  disability  issues.  It  aims  to  mainstream 
disability  equality  in  EU  policy  processes,  including  implementation  of  the  United 
Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

This country report has been prepared as input for the European Semester in 20221 
and  has  been  developed  under  Contract  VC/2020/0273  with  the  European 
Commission. 

1  For an introduction to the Semester process, see: 

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/european-semester/how-european-semester-works/. 

Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEGAL NOTICE 

Manuscript completed in January 2023 

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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2023 

© European Union, 2023 

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Except  otherwise  noted,  the  reuse  of  this  document  is  authorised  under  a  Creative  Commons  Attribution  4.0 
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provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated. 

PDF 

ISBN 978-92-76-99556-2 

DOI: 10.2767/719077 

KE-07-23-064-EN-N 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

Table of contents 

1 

Executive summary and recommendations .................................................. 6 
Key points and main challenges for Greece in 2022 .............................. 6 
1.1 
Recommendations for Greece ................................................................ 7 
1.2 
2  Mainstreaming disability equality in the 2022 Semester documents .......... 8 
Country Report (CR) and Country Specific Recommendation (CSR) ..... 8 
National Reform Programme (NRP) and Recovery and Resilience Plan 

2.1 
2.2 
(RRP)  ............................................................................................................... 9 
2.3 
Semester links to CRPD and national disability action plans ................ 10 
Disability and the labour market – analysis of the situation and the 
effectiveness of policies ............................................................................... 11 
Summary of the labour market situation of persons with disabilities ..... 11 
3.1 
3.2 
Analysis of labour market policies relevant to the Semester ................. 12 
Disability, social policies and healthcare – analysis of the situation and 
the effectiveness of policies ......................................................................... 15 
Summary of the social situation of persons with disabilities ................. 15 
4.1 
Analysis of social policies relevant to the Semester ............................. 17 
4.2 
Disability, education and skills – analysis of the situation and the 
effectiveness of policies ............................................................................... 20 
Summary of the educational situation of persons with disabilities ........ 20 
5.1 
Analysis of education policies relevant to the Semester ....................... 21 
5.2 
Investment priorities in relation to disability ............................................... 24 
Annex: disability data relevant to the Semester ......................................... 26 
Data relevant to disability and the labour market .................................. 27 
7.1 
EU data relevant to disability, social policies and healthcare (2020) .... 31 
7.2 
EU data relevant to disability and education ......................................... 33 
7.3 

3 

4 

5 

6 
7 

5 

 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

1 

Executive summary and recommendations 

1.1  Key points and main challenges for Greece in 2022 

Disability and the labour market 
The  employment  situation  of  persons  with  disabilities  in  Greece  has  not  improved, 
considering also that the economy only reached pre-pandemic levels in the past year. 
Persons  with  disabilities  are  more  likely  to be  long-term  unemployed, which  is  also 
increasingly linked to limited access to lifelong learning. Women and young people are 
disproportionally affected. Key policies, such as quota employment in the public sector 
and  wage  subsidies  accompanied  by  funding  for  reasonable  accommodation,  have 
been  reactivated  to  promote  the  inclusion  of  persons  with  disabilities  in  the  labour 
market. Investment plans emphasise improvement of accessibility in the workplace, 
however those are not linked at this stage to a specific legislative, strategic and / or 
programme framework. 

Disability, social policies and healthcare 
Long-term unemployment accounts for a significant share of those at risk of poverty. 
The risk of poverty for persons with disabilities of working age is significantly reduced 
after social transfers. Material deprivation remains considerably high in comparison to 
the  EU  average  and  almost  a  third  of  persons  with  severe  limitations  report  unmet 
needs for medical treatment. Chronic low investment in community-based long-term 
health and social care impacts on the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities, 
but also  female unemployment.  The  new  National  Strategy  on  Social  Inclusion  and 
Poverty  Reduction  (2022)  puts  in  place  a  comprehensive  framework  for  policy  and 
investment focused on expanding and improving the quality of community-based care, 
making use of regular state budgets, the European Structural and Investment Funds 
(ESIF) and the National Recovery and Resilience Facility. 

Disability, education and skills 
Young people with disabilities are significantly less likely to complete secondary and 
tertiary education than their peers, which further affects their access to employment 
and risk of poverty. The majority of pupils with disabilities attend mainstream education 
facilities, however, there are systemic gaps in ensuring an inclusive environment. This 
relates  primarily  to  adequate  staffing  and  provision  of  individualised  support  in 
mainstream  classrooms.  Built  environment  accessibility  has  improved  as  local 
authorities have utilised available funding, while digital transformation / accessibility in 
the field of education forms a new priority in investment plans. 

Investment priorities for inclusion and accessibility 
Disability is mainstreamed in policy choices and the expected results of the ESIF 2021-
2022, which will support actions addressing challenges across the fields of education, 
including targeted vocational training, access to community-based health and social 
care services, and accessible places to live and work. In most cases, funding is used 
to secure continuation and expansion of existing structures, while pilots in the field of 
independent  living  and  inclusive  education,  with  technical  assistance  from  EU 
agencies, stand out as new developments.  

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European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

1.2  Recommendations for Greece 

These  recommendations  are  based  on  the  evidence  and  analysis  presented  in  the 
following sections of our report. 

Recommendation:  Focus  active  labour  policies  for  persons  with  disabilities  on 
enhancing access to mainstream vocational training / lifelong learning programmes, 
especially  for  long-term  unemployed  people,  women  and  young  people.  Invest  in 
accessibility in private and public workplaces within the existing legal framework for 
disability  rights  and  accessibility,  including  the  employer’s  obligation  to  ensure 
reasonable accommodation, to ensure coherence and effectiveness of actions.  
Rationale: Evidence shows that persons with disabilities are more likely to be long-
term unemployed with limited access to opportunities to develop their technical skills, 
while  low  performance  is  noted  in  adult  lifelong  learning  overall.  High  youth  and 
women’s unemployment should also be assessed from a disability perspective to the 
extent it relates to low educational outcomes for young people with disabilities and an 
inadequate (community-based) long-term care system. Targeted active labour policies 
are promising for the inclusion of persons with disabilities (and relatives) in the labour 
market, but are only meaningful if accessible workplaces are created. 

Recommendation:  Ensure  a  strong  monitoring  and  evaluation  framework  and 
processes  in  the  implementation  of  actions  under  the  National  Strategy  for  Social 
Inclusion, mainstreaming disability sensitive indicators and methodologies to capture 
results and impact for persons with disabilities.  
Rationale:  The  OECD  (2019)  cross-cutting  remark  on  the ‘need  to  improve  ex-post 
evaluation of primary and subordinate regulations’ is particularly relevant in the case 
of  the  launch  of  the  National  Strategy  for  Social  Inclusion  which  directly  informs 
choices  for  investment  from  national  and  EU  funding  sources,  addressing  a  wide 
spectrum of disability-specific challenges.  

Recommendation: Adjust level of investment for inclusive education (ESIF and State 
budget) to level of needs and challenges, to ensure coverage of requests for parallel 
support,  recruitment  of  specialised  teaching  and  support  staff  and  investment  in 
professional development. Ensure disability is mainstreamed in early school leaving 
monitoring frameworks. 
Rationale:  While  most  pupils  with  disabilities  attend  mainstream  schools,  a  large 
proportion  receive  education  in  separate  classes  and  only  10 %  receive  parallel 
support  in mainstream  classes. Gaps  in  staffing  which  result  in  disrupted  schooling 
are reported every school year. Students’ socio-economic background has a negative 
impact on  school  performance, more  than in  many  other  EU Member  States,  while 
disability  is  not  yet  visible  in  official  research  and  reports  related  to  early  school 
leaving.  

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European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

2  Mainstreaming disability equality in the 2022 Semester documents 

2.1  Country Report (CR) and Country Specific Recommendation (CSR) 

The following key points highlight where a disability perspective was considered, or 
should be considered, in the CR/CSR. We address the most relevant of these in the 
next sections. 

In  2022,  the  Country  Report  for  Greece  included  the  following  direct  reference  to 
disability issues: 
• 

p. 45 ‘The disability employment gap is slightly above the EU average (27.7 pps 
vs 24.5 pps).’ 

However,  the  situation  of  women  and  young  people  with  disabilities  needs  to  be 
assessed  further  as  they  are  disproportionally  affected  by  unemployment,  which 
remains ‘one of the highest in the EU’. As the Country Report notes: 
• 

p. 12 ‘In the age range 20-64, women have 30 % less chances than men to be 
employed,  while  almost  one  fifth  of  young  people  (aged  15-29)  are  not  in 
employment, education or training.’ 

Furthermore,  the  national  disability  equality  gap  must  be  assessed  in  relation  to 
additional  indicators  which  highlight  persisting  challenges,  as  mentioned  in  the 
Country Report: 
• 

p. 46 ‘The proportion of adults aged 25-64 who participated in learning in the past 
four weeks is far below the EU average (3.5 % vs 10.8 % in 2020).’ 
p. 11 ‘The share of people at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) was 
well above the EU average (21.9 %) in 2021 and energy poverty (17.1 %) was 
more than twice as high as in the EU as a whole (8.2 %) in 2020.’ 
p.  46  ‘The  share  is  higher  among  children  (30.8 %  in  2021),  and  the share of 
children with severe material and social deprivation (19.6 % in 2020) is among 
the highest in the EU.’ 
p.  47  ‘Gaps  persist  in  access  to  social  protection  for  non-standard  forms  of 
employment  in  general’,  while  ‘public  expenditure  on  long-term  care  is 
significantly below the EU average.’ 
p.  47  ‘Greece  recorded  the  largest  drop  in  the  share  of  early  leavers  from 
education and training in the last decade’. 
p.  45  ‘The  impact  of  students’  socio-economic  background  on  school 
performance is among the strongest in the EU.’ 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

In 2022, the Country Specific Recommendations (CRS) did not make direct reference 
to disability, however they included the following relevant issues: 
• 

p.  3  ‘The  2019  and  2020  country-specific  recommendations  remain  equally 
relevant also for recovery and resilience plans revised’ and those had included 
direct reference to disability.2 
p. 13 CSR 1 ‘targeted support to households and firms most vulnerable to energy 
price hikes.’ 

• 

2   EC (2020), European Semester 2020: Country Specific Recommendation / Commission 

Recommendation ‘20. Comprehensive access to social services is necessary for the most 
deprived and vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers’. 

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European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

• 

p. 13 CSR 3 ‘ensuring adequate and equal access to healthcare.’ 

Finally,  the  CSR  accurately  noted  the  limited  capacity  of  regional  and  local 
administrations, which need to be strengthened to implement key components of the 
National Reform Programme (NRP) and Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). From 
a  disability  perspective,  this  has  been mainly  identified  in  inclusion  priorities  largely 
missing in regional investment plans in previous programmatic periods. On the other 
hand,  CRS  (2)  emphasises  the  need  to  ‘swiftly  finalise  the  negotiations  with  the 
Commission of the 2021-2027 cohesion policy programming documents with a view 
to starting their implementation’. 

2.2  National  Reform  Programme  (NRP)  and  Recovery  and  Resilience  Plan 

(RRP) 

The  following  key  points  highlight  where  the  situation  of  people  with  disabilities  or 
disability policies is relevant to the NRP/RRP. We analyse the most relevant of these 
in the next sections. 

The  2022  NRP  includes  the  following  selected  actions  targeting  people  with 
disabilities,  in  addressing  key  employment,  social  inclusion  and  educational 
challenges.  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

p.  20  ‘Enhancing  accessibility  of  disability  specific  health  and  social  care 
services,  namely  Social  Welfare  Centres  of  regions,  as  well  as  residences, 
private and public workplaces.’ 
p.  23  ‘Announcement  of  500  positions  for  people  with  disabilities  and  200 
positions for people having relatives (child, spouse, or sibling) with disabilities in 
the public sector, according to the provisions of Law No. 2643/1998, placement 
expected to be completed within 2023.’ 
p.  31  ‘Partnership  of  the  Public  Employment  Service  (DYPA)  and  UNICEF 
implementing  EU  Child  Guarantee  Initiative  Preparatory  action,  to  support 
adolescents and youth at risk for better employment opportunities. In addition, a 
support  action  for  Social  Cooperative  Enterprises  is  also  under  preparation, 
specially designed for young social entrepreneurs with disabilities and aiming to 
help them start their own businesses.’ 
p.  19  ‘Expansion  of  hospital  at  home  services,  and  specialised  mental  health 
structures and services.’ 
p. 20 ‘Building the capacity of 15 social welfare institutions across the country, 
mainly through recruitment of healthcare staff. Noting that social welfare centres 
provide both residential health and social care and outpatient rehabilitation and 
habilitation services for children and adults with disabilities.’ 
p.  69  ‘Digital  transformation  of  the  social  support  system’,  which  includes  ‘a 
national  portal  of  disability  benefits  and  establishment  of  the  disability  card  in 
order  to  provide  information  in  a  simple  and  systematic  way  to  people  with 
disabilities  and  simplify  access  to  in-kind  benefits  and  reduce  red  tape 
concerning disability benefits.’ 

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European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

2.3  Semester links to CRPD and national disability action plans 

It is important that Semester plans align with national disability strategy. In Greece, 
this refers to the Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.3 In 2019, the 
UN Committee recommended that Greece ‘Develop a comprehensive, coherent and 
long-term national strategy and action plan for the implementation of the Convention, 
with clear timelines, benchmarks and budget allocations’. The government launched 
a National Plan of Action on the Rights of People with Disabilities at the end of 2020, 
and the first Annual Progress Report was published in November 2021.4 This report 
notes  that  the  National  Plan  of  Action  for  the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities, 
especially  the  timeframe  of  implementation,  will  be  revised  in  2022.  This  national 
action plan is not explicitly mentioned in the 2022 NRP, even though specific actions 
for disability are outlined.  

Furthermore, the 2022 NRP makes reference to the new National Strategy for Social 
Inclusion and Poverty Reduction, which targets persons with disabilities among other 
groups  at  risk  and  works  in  synergy  with  the  national  disability  action  plan.5  This 
National Strategy supports the policy priorities for the 2021-2027 programme period 
in  relation  to  preventing  and  combating  social  exclusion,  including  exclusion  from 
employment,  and  it  will  further  support  structuring  the  main  pillars  of  Regional 
Operational Programmes. The main policy measures and investment plans concern 
access  to  adequate  resources  and  basic  goods,  access  to  services  and  access  to 
active labour market policies, which are discussed in the next sections. 

Relevant  recommendations  arising 
the  United  Nations 
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) are highlighted in the 
following sections. The last UN CRPD Committee recommendations to Greece were 
in  2019,  the  most  recent  submission  by  Greece  was  in  2019  and  the  most  recent 
response from the Committee was the 2019 Concluding Observations. 

from  participation 

in 

3   Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities https://amea.gov.gr/action. 
4   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State) (2021), Annual Implementation Report on the National Action 
Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 25 November 2021, https://amea.gov.gr/action-
report. 

5   Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, General Secretariat of Social Solidarity & Combating Poverty 
(2022), National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction, July 2022, Athens, Microsoft 
Word - Εθνική Στρατηγική για την Κοινωνική Ένταξη και Μείωση της Φτώχειας .docx 
(ypergasias.gov.gr). 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

3 

Disability  and  the  labour  market  –  analysis  of  the  situation  and  the 
effectiveness of policies 

In 2019, the UN CRPD Committee made the following recommendations to Greece: 

Article 27 UN CRPD addresses ‘Work and employment’.  

‘39. The Committee recommends that the State party take effective measures to ensure the 
inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, in the open labour 
market,  with  a  view  to  achieving  target  8.5  of  the  Sustainable  Development  Goals.  It  also 
recommends that the State party ensure the provision of specific measures and individualized 
support in the workplace; promote among employers the right of persons with disabilities to 
employment  on  an  equal  basis  with  others;  and  mainstream  the  disability  dimension  in  all 
employment policies, measures and programmes, including in the policy design of the Greek 
Manpower Employment Organization.’ 

The most recent CRPD development is the 2019 Concluding Observations and the 
State’s submission in 2019. 

3.1  Summary of the labour market situation of persons with disabilities 

According  to  the  Social  Scoreboard  indicator,  cited  in  the  Semester  package,  the 
disability employment gap in Greece is considered ‘Average’. 

Data from EU-SILC indicate an employment rate for persons with disabilities in Greece 
of 33.9 % in 2020, compared to 62.2 % for other persons. This results in an estimated 
disability  employment  gap  of  approximately  28  percentage  points  (estimated  EU27 
average gap 24.5, see Tables 2-4) or an employment chances ratio of 0.5. Statistics 
published  on  the  Eurostat  database  indicate  a  disability  employment  gap  of  27.7 
percentage points in 2020, using a slightly different methodology, and falling again to 
23.8 points in 2021 (against a pre-COVID-19 figure of 29 points).6 

The  same  data  indicate  unemployment  rates  of  28.6 %  and  19.9 %,  respectively  in 
2020 (see Tables 5-7) and the economic activity rate for persons with disabilities in 
Greece was 47.5 %, compared to 77.6 % for other persons (see Tables 8-10). These 
indications are broken down by gender and age in the respective tables in the Annex.  

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on employment in 2020-2021, some caution 
is needed when interpreting trend data. 

The employment rate for people with disabilities has not recovered since the economic 
crisis.7 The labour market situation deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a 

6   Eurostat, Disability employment gap by level of activity limitation and sex (source EU-SILC), 2022, 

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/hlth_dlm200/default/table. 

7   Quoting from the EDE 2021 European Semester Report – Greece, p. 8: ‘Analysis of EU-SILC data 
from 2016 to 2019 for Greece shows a trend for the employment rate of people with disabilities to 
decrease (overall by -2.1 % for moderate disability, and -2.9 % for severe disability), even as the 
labour market situation is improving, albeit slowly (5.2 % increase), for the non-disabled 
population’, Disability Observatory of the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) 
(2020), Annual Disability Report 2020, p. 92. 

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European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

higher rate than the rest of the EU on average, and economic activity reached its pre-
pandemic level by the end of 2021.8 

Young people seem to have been hit hardest by the consequences of the pandemic 
with ‘youth unemployment climbing to 38.6 % in Q3-2020, before falling to 31.3 % in 
Q4-2021’.9  Greece  also  has  a  considerable  share  of  young  people  who  are  not  in 
employment, education or training (NEET), reaching 28.7 % for the age group 25-29 
in  2021.10  There  is  no  disaggregation  of  NEET  rates  by  disability,  however,  young 
people  with  disabilities  are  likely  to  be  disproportionally  affected,  considering  the 
employment gap, but also low educational outcomes, including vocational education 
(please see Section 4) and limited access to vocational training.11 

Low skills levels are increasingly recognised as an obstacle to growth. As the 2022 
Country Report notes: 

‘A  considerable  share of  adults  state  that  they  lack  technical  skills  (47 %  vs  an  EU 
average of 28 %) or general skills (38 % vs 22 %) to perform their work at the required 
level. The share of individuals with at least basic digital skills increased from 46 % in 
2017 to 52 % in 2021 (EU average: 54 %).’12 

Long-term unemployment is a persistent challenge, disproportionally affecting women. 
More than half of those registered in the Public Employment Service were long-term 
unemployed  in  201913  and  similarly  in  2022,  and  ‘women  were  twice  as  many  as 
men’.14  Evidence  suggests  that  people  with  disabilities  are  also  disproportionately 
affected by long-term unemployment (84 % of people with disabilities registered in the 
Public  Employment  Service  in  May  2020),  with  an  average  of  5.5  years  in 
unemployment.15  

3.2  Analysis of labour market policies relevant to the Semester 

For  reference,  see  the  2022  National  Reform  Programme,  the  Recovery  and 
Resilience  Plan  for  Greece  and  the  Action  Plan  for  the  Rights  of  Persons  with 
Disabilities. 

A call for approximately 2 090 placements in the public sector under Article 3 of Law 
2643/1998 was published in September 2021, out of which 700 are to target persons 

8   European Commission (2022), 2022 Country Report Greece, Brussels SWD (2022) 609 final, p. 3. 
9   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 4. 
10   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 45. 
11   Quoting from EDE 2021 European Semester Report pp. 8-9: ‘Only 2.3 % of this group (people with 

disabilities registered as unemployed in May 2020) had participated in vocational training 
programmes, typically designed and implemented as part of active labour market policies 
(ALMPs).’ Disability Observatory NCDP (2020), p. 94. 

12   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 46. 
13   Data available in European Anti-Poverty Network (2019) Poverty Watch: GREECE – 2019, 

https://www.eapn.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/EAPN-PW2019-Greece-EN-EAPN-4494.pdf. 

14   European Commission SWD (2022), pp. 12-13. 
15   Disability Observatory NCDP (2020), p. 94. 

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European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

with disabilities and persons who are relatives of beneficiaries.16 This quota scheme 
had last been activated in 2014 and the relevant procedures have proved extremely 
time-consuming.17  It  is  worth  noting  that  the  same  Law  (2643/1998)  foresees  the 
employment  of  persons  with  disabilities  at a  3 %  quota  in  private  companies  which 
employ more than 50 staff, however, there has been only one such procurement (in 
2008), which was never completed.18 

The wage subsidy scheme, covering up to 90 % of employers’ salary costs for a period 
of  12  months,  is  another  disability-specific  employment  policy,  funded  and 
implemented  periodically  by  the  regular  budget  of  the  Public  Employment  Service, 
although  this  is  not  mentioned  in  the  2022  NRP.  The  latest  call  was  launched  in 
February  2020,  and  until  November  2021  a  total  of  1 616  recruitments  had  been 
registered.19 In addition, this programme is the single source of funding for reasonable 
accommodation.  Under  the  latest  call,  12  out  of  50  available  individual  funding 
opportunities for reasonable accommodation have been covered.20 

While  the  2022  NRP  mentions  investment  for  accessibility  in  public  and  private 
workplaces mainly funded through the RRP,21 this is not linked to a specific policy or 
programme, for instance any of the (two main) disability-specific employment policies 
described  above.  Similarly,  relevant  actions  have  no  reference  to  the  legislative 
framework for the rights of persons with disabilities (or the National Disability Action 
Plan  for  that  matter),  which  foresees  universal  design  of  administrative  products, 
environment  and  services,  and  reasonable  adjustment  (Law 4488/2017;  Article  63, 
paragraph 2). This weakens the focus and prioritisation of actions funded under this 
initiative. 

On a positive note, the Public Employment Service established a working group for 
mainstreaming disability in its policies and programmes with the active implementation 
of  the  National  Confederation  of  Disabled  People  (NCDP)  in  the  framework  of  the 
National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2020.22 This is the first 
the 
partnership  of 

the  country.  The  working  group  assessed 

this  kind 

in 

16   Hellenic Republic (2022), National Reform Programme 2022, p. 23. See also: 

https://www.oaed.gr/idikes-koinonikes-omades?tab=enimerwseis-skhetika-me-to-
n264398&tab2=prokirykseis-2021-ghia-tin-plirosi-theseon-toy-arthroy-3-toy-n264398&tab3. 
17   Disability Observatory of the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) (2020), Annual 

Disability Report 2020, p. 98, https://www.paratiritirioanapirias.gr/el/results/publications/63/e8nikh-
ek8esh-gia-thn-anaphria-etoys-2020. 

18   Greek Ombudsman (2021) Special report: The rights of persons with disabilities (reference year 
2020), p. 53, https://www.synigoros.gr/el/category/atoma-me-anaphria/post/dikaiwmata-twn-
atomwn-me-anaphries:-eidikh-ek8esh-2020. 

19   This includes individuals from other protected social groups such as individuals completing 

rehabilitation from addiction or jail sentence, survivors of domestic abuse and delinquent young 
people. Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (2021), Employment Policies for Persons with 
Disabilities, https://primeminister.gr/wp-
content/uploads/2021/11/politikes_apasxolhshs_gia_atoma_me_anaphria.pdf. 

20   Minister of State (2021), Annual implementation report on the National Action Plan for the Rights of 

Persons with Disabilities (25 November 2021), p. 56, https://amea.gov.gr/action-report. 

21   Hellenic Republic (2021), Recovery and Resilience Plan, p. 107, Included under Reform: Support 

for persons with disabilities. 

22   Minister of State (2021), Annual implementation report on the National Action Plan for the Rights of 

Persons with Disabilities (25 November 2021), p. 56, https://amea.gov.gr/action-report. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

recommendations put forward by the NCDP and submitted a technical report to the 
Ministry of Labour in March 2021. 

Complementary  actions  foreseen,  such  as  recruitment  and  upskilling  of  1 000 
employment  counsellors,  through  the  period  of  2022-2025,  as  well  as  diversity 
awareness projects, including the creation of a national diversity corporate index, are 
promising  for  enhancing  on  the  one  hand  the  effectiveness  of  job-seeking  support, 
which has hampered access to Active Labour Policy programmes, and on the other, 
take-up by employers of incentives for employing persons with disabilities.23 

Finally, initiatives supporting women and young people at risk into employment are at 
a  preparatory  stage.  The  NCDP  and  the  General  Secretariat  of  Family  Policy  and 
Gender Equality have established a partnership with the objective of mainstreaming 
gender equality in the national disability action plan, while research into the situation 
of  women  and  girls  with  disabilities  was  launched  in  2021-2022  as  foreseen  in  the 
National Disability Action Plan.  

Increasing access to childcare remains the principal measure for addressing female 
unemployment. However, ‘affordable childcare services are still not widely available in 
Greece’ as ‘demand has continued over recent years to outstrip supply’, which has 
meant  a  shift  in  focus  on  to  employed  and  unemployed  parents  equally.24  From  a 
disability perspective, it must be noted that, since 2018, all welfare cash benefits are 
treated  as  disposable  income  in  the  relevant  application  process,  which  may  affect 
eligibility  for  households  with  members  with  disabilities  receiving  disability  welfare 
cash  benefits,  even  though  evidence  shows  that  these  households  have  additional 
living  costs,  up  to  EUR  5 000  annually  (approximately  EUR  415  monthly),  due  to 
disability.25 

Furthermore,  measures  aiming  to  tackle  women’s  long-term  unemployment  must 
acknowledge how this has been linked with the ‘lack of a comprehensive long-term 
care strategy’26 and ‘increased number of family members (especially women), who 
take care of their dependent relatives’.27 This is particularly relevant for households 
with  members  with  disabilities.  Finally,  the  2022  NRP  makes  reference  to  a 
partnership-based  project  under  the  EU  Child  Guarantee,  between  the  Public 
Employment Service and UNICEF, supporting young people with disabilities to access 
employment,  including  social  entrepreneurship.  However,  no  further  details  are 
mentioned, such as budget and number of individuals who will benefit and it does not 
seem to be linked to any disability-specific priorities. 

23   Hellenic Republic (2022), pp. 21 and 25. 
24   ESPN Thematic Report on In-work poverty in Greece (2019), p. 21, 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333421269_ESPN_Thematic_Report_on_In-
work_poverty_in_Greece. 

25   European Centre for Constitutional Law (2020), Study for the additional living costs due to 
disability, National Confederation of Disabled People, Athens 2020. Please see European 
Semester 2021-2022 country fiche on disability equality Greece for more information on the study. 

26   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 47. 
27   ESPN Thematic Report on In-work poverty in Greece (2019), p. 21, 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333421269_ESPN_Thematic_Report_on_In-
work_poverty_in_Greece. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

4 

Disability, social policies and healthcare – analysis of the situation and the 
effectiveness of policies 

In 2019, the UN CRPD Committee made the following recommendations to Greece: 

Article 28 UN CRPD addresses ‘Adequate standard of living and social protection’.  

‘41. The Committee recommends that the State party revise the relevant legal provisions and 
practices  on  welfare  allowances,  benefits,  pensions  and  tax  exemptions  for  persons  with 
disabilities, harmonizing the existing rules and repealing discriminatory rules and practices, 
including in the disability certification system. The Committee also recommends that the State 
party  ensure  the  effective  implementation  of  the  existing  social  protection  framework,  and 
progressively develop further measures to ensure an adequate standard of living for persons 
with disabilities.’ 

Article 19 UN CRPD addresses ‘Living independently in the community’. 

‘29. The Committee recommends that, in line with its general comment No. 5 (2017) on living 
independently  and  being  included  in  the  community,  the  State  party:  (a)  Adopt  a 
comprehensive  national  strategy  with  clear  time-bound  measures  and  sufficient  funds  for 
effective deinstitutionalization at all levels; (b) Ensure the active involvement of persons with 
disabilities through their representative organizations in the development of independent living 
strategies and schemes that provide accessible community-based services, especially at the 
local level.’ 

Article 25 UN CRPD addresses ‘Health’. 

‘37.  The  Committee  recommends  that,  taking  into  account  targets  3.7  and  3.8  of  the 
Sustainable Development Goals, the State party: (a) Put in place a stable, continuous, long-
term  strategy  containing  effective  and  harmonized  measures  to  guarantee  persons  with 
disabilities  access  to  health  services;  (b)  Effectively  monitor  the  implementation  of  the 
provision of health services by health service providers to persons with disabilities on an equal 
basis  with  others.  The  Committee  also  recommends  that  the  State  party  render  health 
facilities, equipment and instruments accessible, particularly to ensure that women and girls 
with  disabilities  have  access  to  sexual  and  reproductive  health  services  in  urban  and  rural 
areas.’ 

The most recent CRPD development is the 2019 Concluding Observations and the 
State’s submission in 2019. 

4.1  Summary of the social situation of persons with disabilities 

Data  from  EU-SILC  indicate  that the  poverty  risk  rate  for  working age  persons  with 
disabilities in Greece was 25.0 % in 2020, compared to 17.8 % for other persons of 
similar age – an estimated disability poverty gap of approximately 7 percentage points 
(see  Table  14).  For  people  aged  over  65,  the  disability  poverty  gap  was  3.2  points 
(14.2 % for older persons with disabilities and 11.0 % for other persons of similar age). 
The tables in the Annex also indicate the respective rates of risk of poverty or social 
exclusion  and  break  these  down  by  gender  as  well  as  age.  Recently  updated  data 
from  Eurostat  indicate  that  this  relative  risk  reduced  slightly  for  the  working  age 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

disabled  population  (24.4 %)  but  rose  slightly  for  the  older  age  group  (14.8 %)  in 
2021.28 

For persons with disabilities of working age in Greece (aged 18-64) the risk of poverty 
before  social  transfers  was  58.3 %  and  25 %  after  transfers  in  2020.  The  in-work 
poverty rate for persons with disabilities aged 18 or over was 13 % in 2020 and 13.3 % 
in 2021. 

Of high significance for health policy are the data on self-reported unmet needs for 
medical examination, shown in Table 15 (too expensive or too far to travel or waiting 
list). Extreme disability equality gaps are evident here and, on this basis, the rate for 
persons with disabilities in Greece was 18.9 %, compared to 2.7 % for other persons 
(26 % for persons with severe disabilities).29 

Furthermore, 29 % of persons with severe disabilities self-reported unmet needs for 
medical  treatment,  marking  an  increase  of  4.5  percentage  points  in  comparison  to 
2019, noting that persons with severe disabilities were estimated to be 10.2 % of the 
population, that is 914 098 individuals (2020).30 The Health Survey 2019 further shows 
that  8.8 %  of  persons  with  severe  disabilities  and  7.3 %  of  those  with  moderate 
disabilities could not afford prescribed medicine, in comparison to 2.7 % of the non-
disabled population in Greece. 

Data available from the European System of National and Regional Accounts shows 
that the total expenditure per capita in Greece has decreased by 34 % between 2009-
2018.31 Out-of-pocket expenditure for health is one of the highest in EU at 35.2 % of 
total  expenditure  (2019),  while ‘public  expenditure  on  long-term  care  is  significantly 
below the EU average (0.2 % vs 1.7 % of GDP in 2019).’32 

Severe  material  deprivation  remains  a  challenge.  While  in  the  rest  of  the  EU  (on 
average) there has been a steadily declining trend since 2012, in Greece it peaked in 
2016 (22.4 %), dropping to 16.7 % in 2018 and remaining stable since, in comparison 
to a 5.5 % EU average according to latest data.33 Similarly, the 2022 Country Report 
notes  that  ‘while  the  population  unable  to  keep  their  homes  adequately  warm 

28   Eurostat, People at risk of poverty by level of activity limitation, sex and age, 

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/HLTH_DPE020__custom_3348056. 

29   Eurostat, Self-reported unmet needs for medical examination by level of activity limitation, sex and 

age, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/hlth_dh030/default/table. 

30   Disability Observatory of the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) (2022), 11th 

Statistical Release: Health, disability and chronic illness, Athens, June 2022, 
https://www.paratiritirioanapirias.gr/el/results/publications/71/11o-deltio-toy-parathrhthrioy-ths-
esmea-ygeia-anaphria-kai-xronia-pa8hsh. 

31   Disability Observatory of the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) (2022), 11th 
Statistical Release: Health, disability and chronic illness, Athens, June 2022, p. 4, quoting 
Disability Observatory of the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) (2020), p. 84, 
https://www.paratiritirioanapirias.gr/el/results/publications/71/11o-deltio-toy-parathrhthrioy-ths-
esmea-ygeia-anaphria-kai-xronia-pa8hsh. 
32   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 47. 
33   Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, General Secretariat of Social Solidarity & Combating Poverty 
(2022), National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction, July 2022, Athens, p. 105, 
Microsoft Word - Εθνική Στρατηγική για την Κοινωνική Ένταξη και Μείωση της Φτώχειας .docx 
(ypergasias.gov.gr). 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

decreased from 29.2 % in 2015 to 17.1 % in 2020, it remains twice as high as the EU 
average (8.2 %).’34 

National data  (2019)  show  that  ‘the most  severe  problem of poverty  (43.3 %  of  the 
total) is faced by the unemployed population’, which simultaneously has ‘the highest 
chance (70 %) of not returning to the labour market.’35 

Out of 268 262 households included in the Minimum Guaranteed Income in the period 
2017-2019,  53 %  declare  zero  income,  while  a  considerable  share  (28 %)  receive 
income  exclusively  from  social  benefits.  In  total,  2.4 %  of  households  receiving  the 
benefit  are  headed  by  persons  with  disabilities,  while  another  3.5 %  households  in 
receipt of the benefit include at least one member with disabilities.36 

4.2  Analysis of social policies relevant to the Semester 

For  reference,  see  the  2022  National  Reform  Programme,  the  Recovery  and 
Resilience  Plan  for  Greece  and  the  Action  Plan  for  the  Rights  of  Persons  with 
Disabilities. 

An important development in this field is the finalisation of the National Strategy for 
Social  Inclusion  and  Poverty  Reduction  (2022).  It  is  worth  noting  that  this  strategy 
frames  policy  choices  of  the  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Social  Affairs  under  the 
programme  period  2021-2027,  as  well  as  the  main  pillars  of  action  for  Regional 
Operational Programmes. It works in synergy inter alia with the National Action Plan 
for 
for 
Deinstitutionalisation,37 and draws upon multiple funding sources, including the regular 
national budget (e.g. welfare benefits, Public Employment Service), the new European 
Structural  and  Investment  Funds,  and  the  Resilience  and  Recovery  Fund  (RRF).38 
This is a significant shift of focus from combating extreme poverty, to a comprehensive 
framework for policy and investment in social inclusion.39 

the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  and 

the  National  Strategy 

Furthermore,  disability  is  mainstreamed  across  key  pillars,  namely  access  to 
necessary goods and services (e.g. Minimum Guaranteed Income, disability welfare 
benefits,  housing  benefits,  etc.),  enhanced  community-based  services,  with  new 
emphasis  on  independent  living,  and  access  to  active  labour  market  policies.  Key 
policies which are anticipated to be funded in the new programme period (2021-2027), 

34   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 33. 
35   European Anti-Poverty Network (2019), p. 4, quoting General Confederation of Greek Workers 

(GSEE) Interim Report 2019, p. 54. 

36   Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (2019), Monitoring report social solidarity benefit (Minimum 
Guaranteed Income), September 2019, p. 5, https://kekpa.gr/el/ypiresies/98-koinoniko-eisodima-
allileggyis-k-e-a/2935-enimerosi-gia-kea-epidoma-stegasis. 

37   European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) (2021), 
Technical support on the deinstitutionalisation process in Greece Grant Agreement: 
SRSS/S2019/02 Deliverable 2 under Component 1,Output 1.1 Activity 1.1.1 “Support the 
completion of the national DI strategy, roadmap and action”, National DI strategy plan, Brussels, 
February 2021 https://easpd.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/DI_Strategy_-_EN_with_layout.pdf. 

38   Additional sources mentioned are the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), EAA Grants, 
DG Justice Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme and emergency DG HOME funds and the 
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (2022). 

39   ESPN (2019). 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

with some already underway, and address the issues and key challenges identified 
above (see Sections 3.1 and 4.1) are: 

• 

• 

• 

Actions targeting people at risk of poverty, indicatively beneficiaries of Minimum 
Guaranteed Income, to access employment opportunities. 
Reducing  child  poverty,  increasing  access  to  health,  education  and  childcare. 
Early  identification  and  intervention  for  children  aged  0-6  with  disabilities  in 
preschool care, established by law 4837/2021, stands out as a new intervention. 
A pilot is expected to start at the end of 2022 funded by the RRF and designed 
to  reach  1 450  children,  while  the  DG  Reform –  Technical  Support  Instrument 
will support implementation and evaluation of the programme.40 
Transition  from  institutions  to  expanded  and  upgraded  community-based 
services, including personal assistance. There has been progress in establishing 
an  information  system  for  adoption  and  foster  care,  including  registration  of 
children  in  institutional  care  and  staff  training  on  potential  caregivers’  skills 
training. Financial assistance for adoption and foster care was legislated for in 
2021  (EUR 325  per  month,  EUR 375  for  children  with  disabilities  on  top  of 
disability cash benefit), while the proposal for professional foster care for children 
with 67 % disability has been approved and is expected to be partially funded by 
the RRF.41 

Moreover,  the  measure  of  personal  assistance,  introduced  in  the  2021  RRP,  was 
subsequently established by Law No. 4837/2021, while a study will be commissioned 
to support the design of the pilot and secondary legislation, including eligibility criteria 
and an evaluation committee. The initial pilot will support 2 000 individuals, for a period 
up to two years, and is expected to be fully rolled out in 2024. The pilot will be funded 
by the RRF (EUR 41 million) and the ESIF (EUR 320 million).42  

• 

Enhanced access to social protection provisions, primarily through digitalisation 
and digital transformation of relevant procedures. Plans include full digitalisation 
of the disability certification procedure to reduce red tape.43  

Seeking  to  implement a  rights-based  approach  to  disability  assessment, the  reform 
includes additional actions such as improving the accessibility of premises of Disability 
Certification Centres (KEPA) and enriching the composition of health committees with 
specialised  doctors  and  non-medical  specialised  health  professionals  (Law  No. 
4826/2021  Article  90).44  Furthermore,  71  public  administration  services  relevant  for 
persons with disabilities, including 15 services related to the National Organisation of 
Health  Service  Provision,  have  been  digitalised  under  the  digital  citizens’  service 
platform (MyKEPlive), combined with staff training in serving citizens with disabilities 
(500 staff trained by the end of 2021).45 

40   Minister of State (2021), Annual implementation report on the National Action Plan for the Rights of 

Persons with Disabilities (25 November 2021), p. 31. 

41   Minister of State (2021), p. 30. 
42   See: https://ypergasias.gov.gr/prosopikos-voithos-gia-amea/. 
43   See: https://ypergasias.gov.gr/erchontai-ta-psifiaka-kepa-kai-i-karta-anapirias/. 
44   Minister of State (2021), p. 21. 
45   Minister of State (2021), p. 22. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

Finally, it is worth noting that the National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty 
Reduction  includes  horizontal  actions  to  strengthen  governance  structures  and  the 
operational capacity of municipalities. As the strategic document notes, the National 
Mechanism  for  Coordination,  Monitoring  and  Evaluation  of  Social  Inclusion  and 
Cohesion Policy has had limited capacity, and thus effectiveness, so far, while various 
consultation  committees  tasked  with  supporting  the  Mechanism  at  regional  and 
municipal level have not systematically convened. 

The OECD cross-cutting remark on the ‘need to improve ex-post evaluation of primary 
and subordinate regulations’ is particularly relevant in the case of the launch of the 
National Strategy for Social Inclusion which is directly linked with investment: 

‘Greece needs to improve ex-post evaluation of primary and subordinate regulations. 
In 2017 Greece had one of the lowest scores (0.21) in iREG both for primary laws and 
for subordinate regulations (in comparison to an OECD average of 1.75 and 1.70) on 
ex-post evaluation. The iREG indicators measure progress made by OECD countries 
in improving the way they regulate, they range from 0 (worst) to 4 (best).’46 

46   (OECD 2019): https://www.oecd.org/gov/gov-at-a-glance-2019-greece.pdf. 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

5 

Disability,  education  and  skills  –  analysis  of  the  situation  and  the 
effectiveness of policies 

In 2019, the UN CRPD Committee made the following recommendations to Greece: 

Article 24 UN CRPD addresses Education.  

‘5. Recalling its general comment No. 4 (2016) on the right to inclusive education, and taking 
into account Sustainable Development Goal 4, especially targets 4.5 and 4.a, the Committee 
recommends that the State party increase its efforts to guarantee inclusive education, and in 
particular that it: (a) Adopt and implement a coherent strategy on inclusive education in the 
mainstream  educational  system;  (b)  Ensure  the  accessibility  of  school  and  university 
environments,  in  line  with  the  Convention,  by  promoting  universal  design,  the  provision  of 
specific  measures  and  individualized  support,  such  as  accessible  and  adapted  materials, 
inclusive  curricula,  inclusive  information  and  communication  technologies  for  pupils  and 
students  with  disabilities,  and  digital  pedagogy;  (c)  Immediately  ensure  access  to  formal 
education for all refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant children with disabilities, and for Roma 
children with disabilities; (d) Allocate effective and sufficient financial and material resources 
and  adequately  and  regularly  trained  personnel,  including  persons  with  disabilities,  to 
effectively  guarantee  inclusive  education;  (e)  Incorporate  inclusive  education  training  into 
higher  education  curricula  for  trainee  teachers,  and  into  training  programmes  for  current 
teaching staff, with an adequate budget.’ 

The most recent CRPD development is the 2019 Concluding Observations and the 
State’s submission in 2019. 

5.1  Summary of the educational situation of persons with disabilities 

The  EU-SILC  2020  estimates  concerning  educational  attainment  should  be  treated 
with caution due to relatively wide confidence intervals but they consistently indicate 
disability equality gaps (an average of 2-3 years provides a more stable indication). 
Table  16  indicates  early  school  leaving  rates  disaggregated  by  disability  status  in 
Greece.  Young  people  with  disabilities  (aged  18-24)  tend  to  leave  school  early 
significantly more than their non-disabled peers of the same age groups (and this is 
reinforced  by  widening  the  sample  size  to  age  18-29).  Table  17  shows  completion 
rates  of  tertiary  education  disaggregated  by  disability  and  age  group.  Persons  with 
disabilities (aged 30-34) are less likely to complete tertiary education than their peers 
(and this is reinforced in the wider age range 30-39). 

The  most  recent  available  national  data  on  school  population  with  disabilities  were 
published in July 2021: 

‘Data by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs shows that in the year 
2019-2020,  pupils  with  disabilities  comprised  7 %  of  the  total  pupil  population 
(101,683 out of 1,454,921), of whom 88 % attended mainstream education (this 
percentage  is  maintained  across  primary  and  secondary  education  levels). 
Children with disabilities of school age are mainly in inclusion (separate) classes 
in mainstream schools (42.1 %) or supported solely by the main class teacher 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

(41.2 %),  while  only  10 %  receive  parallel  support  in  mainstream  classes, 
although progress is noted since last school year (+53%).’47 

It is worth noting that ‘inclusion’ classes, although placed in mainstream schools, do 
not fulfil the criteria of ‘80 % of time placement benchmark’ of the European Agency 
for  Special  Needs  and  Inclusive  Education  (EASIE)  framework.  Finally,  there  is  no 
data  reported  under  the  Agency’s  indicator:  ‘All  children  /  learners  with  an  official 
decision of [special educational needs (SEN)] who should, by law, be in some form of 
recognised education, but who are out of any form of recognised education.’48 

The total population in special education remained stable in 2019-2020, following an 
increase  of  18  percentage  points  in  the  three  preceding  school  years  (2016/17  to 
2018/19).49 Between 2019 and 2020, while the total population remained stable, there 
was a noticeable increase in the number of pupils with disabilities attending preschool 
special education (7.1 %), and upper secondary vocational school (9.4 %), while the 
highest  dropout  was  noted  in  lower  secondary  education,  a  trend  consistently 
observed  through  the  years.50  Intellectual  disability,  autism  and  multiple  disabilities 
remain the most frequently represented categories in special educational units. 

5.2  Analysis of education policies relevant to the Semester 

For  reference,  see  the  2022  National  Reform  Programme,  the  Recovery  and 
Resilience  Plan  for  Greece  and  the  Action  Plan  for  the  Rights  of  Persons  with 
Disabilities. 

While Greece performs well in preventing early school leaving, reducing the share of 
early leavers from education and training from 13.5 % in 2010 to 3.2 % in 2021, there 
remain challenges in improving educational outcomes especially for students from a 
disadvantaged socio-economic background.51 

Evidence suggests that students’ socio-economic background negatively affects both 
school attendance and performance, and this impact is ‘among the strongest in EU’ 
according to the EC 2022 Country report, noting further that ‘almost half of the students 
from the lowest socio-economic quartile lack basic skills in reading compared to almost 
1 in 7 in the highest quartile’.52 

The  EC 2022  Country  Report  confirms  that ‘chronic  limited  investment’  and  ‘limited 
professional development’ are two determining factors, which are particularly relevant 
from  a  disability  perspective.53  Quoting  from  previous  EDE  European  Semester 
Country Reports respectively: 

47   Quoting from the European Semester Country Fiche 2021-2022 Greece, p. 17. 
48   See: https://www.european-agency.org/data/greece/datatable-overview#tab-

official_decision_on_sen_v3. 

49   Disability Observatory NCDP (2021), p. 21. 
50   Hellenic Statistical Authority (7 December 2021), Special Education School Units 2019, 

https://www.statistics.gr/el/statistics/-/publication/SED41/-. 

51   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 45. 
52   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 47. 
53   European Commission SWD (2022), p. 47, quoting further: ‘General government spending on 

education in 2019 remained below the EU average, both as a proportion of GDP (4.0 % vs 4.7 %) 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

long-term  disability 

in  education  (Law 
‘Implementing 
No. 4368/2016), 
therapy, 
psychological support and other specialised support, requires long-term funding from 
state, i.e. permanent qualified staff, which has so far been lacking.’54 

including  developing  daily 

life  skills,  occupational 

inclusion  programmes 

‘Teachers  supporting  pupils  with  disabilities  in  mainstream  education  have  limited 
practical  experience  as  well  as  knowledge  of  specific  types  of  disability,  while 
professional  development  is  not  sufficiently  funded  by  the  state,  as  reported.  Very 
frequently, specialised staff (in inclusion classes) reported difficulties in cooperation 
with the main class teacher. There were also examples such as parallel support staff 
supporting deaf children not using sign language; pupils with intellectual disability were 
more hindered by lack of differentiated teaching methods, despite the fact that such 
educational material is available by the Institute of Educational Policy, reinforcing the 
assumption that staff are not aware or do not have competences or are not actively 
encouraged to use this material.’55 

It  is  worth  noting  that obstacles  to accessing mainstream and  special  education  for 
students  with  disabilities  related  primarily  to  gaps  in  staffing  for  inclusion  classes, 
parallel support, as well as additional support staff to meet individual needs, were also 
raised  by  the  National  Committee  for  Human  Rights  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the 
Minister of Education in October 2021.56  

However,  disability-focused  analysis  in  relation  to  early  school  leaving  and  /  or  low 
school performance is not yet visible in policy documents and official research.57 

There have been some positive developments to address those gaps and challenges. 
Law No. 4823/2021 introduced permanent placements (1 100) for psychologists and 
social  workers  in  mainstream  education  to  build  the  capacity  of  interdisciplinary 
support  committees  which  are  tasked  with  ensuring  equal  access  for  all  students, 
including putting in place necessary support for pupils with disabilities.58 In addition, 

and of total general government spending (8.3 % vs 10 %), the latter being the second lowest in 
the EU.’ 

54   EDE European Semester Greece 2020, p. 25, quoting the Greek Ombudsman (2019a) Report on 

Implementation of UN CRPD (ar.72 L. 4488/2017), first report, p. 24, 
https://www.synigoros.gr/resources/ohe_el--2.pdf. 

55   EDE European Semester Greece 2021, p. 19 referring to findings from: European Centre for 

Constitutional Law (2020), Study for the transition from special education to education without 
exclusions, National Confederation of Disabled People, Athens 2020, 
https://paratiritirioanapirias.gr/el/news/publications/69/meleth-gia-th-metabash-apo-thn-eidikh-
agwgh-kai-ekpaideysh-sthn-ekpaideysh-xwris-apokleismoys, pp. 144-145. 

56   National Committee for Human Rights (2021), Letter to Minister of Education Protocol 

No. 289/25.10.2021. 

57   A number of studies on early school leaving, including primary data collection, were conducted 

under the scientific supervision of the Institute for Educational Policy, funded by ESIF 2014-2020, 
Operational Programme for Growth, Human resources, Education and Lifelong learning, available 
at: http://www.iep.edu.gr/pes/index.php/meletes-ergou. Please see more specifically IEP (2019) 
‘Study/ Expert Opinion on the correlation between early school leaving and social phenomena’ 
does not include any reference to disability: http://iep.edu.gr/pes/images/pes/files/p1216-
SocialConnection.pdf. 

58   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State) (2021), Annual implementation report on the National Action 

Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 25 November 2021, p. 39, 
https://amea.gov.gr/action-report. 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

the  law  urged  for  decision-making  processes  regarding  appropriate  educational 
settings for pupils to include both parents and pupils. Importantly, a new role has been 
established in special vocational high schools (upper and lower) to support connection 
with apprenticeship schemes in the post-graduation year. 

Furthermore, a guide for inclusive education was completed with the support of DG 
Reform,  implemented  by  the  European  Agency  for  Special  Needs  and  Inclusive 
Education (EASIE) and the Ministry of Education, which will be piloted in three schools. 
It is worth quoting the key messages communicated from the final event:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

‘the need for a cultural change in Greece, to broaden the understanding of what 
additional support needs and inclusive practice are; 
the need to focus less on removing learners with support needs from mainstream 
schools  and  more  on  ensuring  schools’  capacity  to  work  effectively  with  all 
learners; 
the  need  for  improved  collaboration  between  sectors  such  as  education  and 
health; 
the  need  for  improved  communication  and  collaboration  between  schools  and 
KESY (Regional Educational Support Structures); 
a focus on quality education and better training for teachers.’59 

Finally,  in  the  field  of  higher  education,  an  accessibility  assessment  has  been 
completed  by  the  29  universities  in  the  country,  including  recommendations  for 
improvement,  which  will  inform  preparatory  work  for  a  new  legal  framework  and 
support  programme  development  in  the  future.  It  is  noted  that  20  out  of  29  higher 
education institutions have an operational accessibility unit.60 

59   Final meeting of the Agency’s work with DG REFORM in Greece on 14 July 2021, 

https://www.european-agency.org/news/final-meeting-srsp-greece. 

60   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State), 25 November 2021, p. 42. 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

6 

Investment priorities in relation to disability 

The Partnership Agreement for Greece for the ESIF 2021-2027 was approved in July 
2021 and actions are anticipated to be designed and implemented in a staged manner. 
One new action approved concerns Just Development Transition, related to the EU’s 
targets for energy and climate.61 

The Social Charter, comprising 30 % of allocated funds, aims to ensure equal access 
to  goods  and  services,  with  emphasis  on  increasing  employment  and  focusing  on 
target  groups  such  as  the  long-term  unemployed,  unemployed  with  low  socio-
economic background, persons with disabilities, migrants and asylum seekers.62 The 
National Strategy for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction provides an overview of 
anticipated programmes, most of which concern securing funding for the continuation 
of  existing  structures.  Key  examples  are  outlined  below,  with  available  data  from 
implementation within the previous programmatic framework. 

Action 2.5.5.5 Education of pupils with disabilities and / or special educational needs 
– Strengthening vocational training 
Approximately 200 individuals are supported with vocational training and counselling 
in  the  vocational  training  centres  for  persons  with  disabilities  in  Athens  and 
Thessaloniki  run  by  the  Public  Employment  Service,  the  School  for  the  Blind  and 
Shelter Workshops.63 

Action 2.2.1.1, 2 and 3 Access to community-based care services 
In  2021-2022,  a  total  of  152 269  individuals  benefited  from  financial  assistance 
(voucher)  to  access  preschool  care,  of  whom  6 902  were  children  with  disabilities. 
Furthermore,  simplified  procedures  for  licensing  and  funding  are  in  place  for  the 
continuation  of  daycare  and  rehabilitation  centres  for  both  adults  and  children  with 
disabilities  from  the  State  budget  (National  Organisation  for  Health  Provision  and 
Services) and ESIF 2021-2027. 

Action  2.4.1.3  Promoting  comprehensive  deinstitutionalisation  procedures  – 
Deinstitutionalisation of minors 
The programme foresees the transition from institutions to ‘supported living facilities 
initially in Attika and Western Greece. Two supported living facilities in Attika (capacity 
of 10 individuals in total) have been completed and another three units (12 individuals 
in total) are anticipated to be completed within 2022. Similarly, two units have been 
completed in Western Greece and another two are planned to be constructed.64 

61   See: https://www.espa.gr/el/Documents/2127/Dikaih_Anaptyxiaki_Metavasi_2021EL16JTPR001-

1.3.pdf. 

62   Partnership Agreement – Article 10(6) Greece 2021-2027, p. 23, 

https://www.espa.gr/el/Documents/2127/Etairiko_Symfwno_Perifereiakis_Anaptyxis_2021-
2027.pdf. 

63   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State) (25 November 2021), p. 46. 
64   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State) (25 November 2021), p. 36. 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

Action 2.1.6.2 Access to preventive services – Home assistance (2021) 
841  Home  assistance  units,  run  by  280  agencies,  supported  a  total  of  814 824 
individuals in 2021, of whom 97 800 were persons with disabilities.65 The programme 
will be included under the local authorities’ regular budget with open-ended contracted 
staff.  

Action  2.3.1.1  Transition  from  institutions  to  supported  living  in  the  community  – 
Supported living shelters 
A total of 104 units operate, hosting 512 individuals with disabilities, for which funding 
is secured through ESIF 2021-2022.66 

Action 2.5.5.3 Improving environment and education-related accessibility 
200 municipalities participated in the funding scheme for the construction of accessible 
ramps in 3 967 school units and accessible toilets in 4 649 units.67 Furthermore, the 
NRP outlines plans for digital transformation in education, including: digitalisation of 
educational  material,  necessary  technological  equipment  of  special  education  units 
and  digital  transformation  of  the  national  network  of  Greek  libraries  (audio  and 
electronic formats).  

Finally, key priorities in the current programme framework, which are also consistent 
with  the  RRF,68  include  reference  to  disability.  However,  no  further  details  on 
implementation are available at this stage. 

Digital transformation 
In outlining policy choices and expected results, digital accessibility and research and 
development of disability-specific applications are explicitly mentioned.69 

Green transition 
Plans  for  sustainable  development,  mobility  within  and  restoration  of  urban  areas 
explicitly mention improvement of the accessibility of the environment.70 

65   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State), 25 November 2021, p. 37. 
66   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State), 25 November 2021, p. 31. 
67   Gerapetritis, G. (Minister of State), 25 November 2021, p. 44. 
68   Please see EDE European Semester Report 2021 for more information on the National Recovery 

and Resilience Plan involving actions for digital transformation especially. 

69   Partnership Agreement – Article 10(6) Greece 2021-2027, p. 16. 
70   Partnership Agreement – Article 10(6) Greece 2021-2027, p. 20. 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

7 

Annex: disability data relevant to the Semester 

See also disability data published in the Eurostat database71 and statistical reports.72 

Unless specified, the summary statistics are drawn from the most recent EU-SILC data 
available to researchers from Eurostat. The EU-SILC sample includes people living in 
private  households  and  does  not  include  people  living  in  institutions  (congregative 
households). The sampling methods vary somewhat in each country. 
The proxy used to identify people with disabilities (impairments) is whether ‘for at least 
the past 6 months’ the respondent reports that they have been ‘limited because of a 
health problem in activities people usually do’.73 

Table 1: Self-reported ‘activity limitations’ as a proxy for impairment / disability 
(2020) 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

%

Not limited

All limited

Strongly limited

Limited to some extent

Men

Women

Age 16-64

Age 65+

Age 65+

Age 16-64

Women

Men

EU27 average

National average

49,0

61,1

17,0

10,2

27,2

25,1

22,4

22,1

Limited to
some
extent
17,7

13,7

Strongly
limited

All limited

Not limited

7,2

9,9

24,9

23,7

75,1

76,3

Source: EU-SILC 2020 Release April 2022 

In  subsequent  tables,  these  data  are  used  to  indicate  ‘disability’  equality  gaps  and 
trends relevant to the analytical sections – for the labour market, social policies and 
healthcare, and education – by comparing outcomes for persons who report and do 
not  report  ‘activity  limitations’.74  National  estimates  for  Greece  are  compared  with 
EU27 mean averages for the most recent year.75 

71   Eurostat Health Database: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/health/data/database. 
72   Eurostat (2019) Disability Statistics: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-

explained/index.php?title=Disability_statistics. 

73   The EU-SILC survey questions are contained in the Minimum European Health Module (MEHM), 

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-
explained/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/Glossary:Minimum_European_Health_Module_(
MEHM).  

74  This methodology was developed in the annual statistical reports of ANED, available at: 

http://www.disability-europe.net/theme/statistical-indicators. 

75   The exit of the United Kingdom from the EU changed the EU average. EU27 averages have also 

been affected by time series breaks in other large countries, such as Germany. 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

7.1  Data relevant to disability and the labour market 

Table 2: EU and Greece employment rates, by disability and gender (aged 20-
64) (2020) 

%

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

No
disability

Some
disability

Severe
disability

Disabled
women

Disabled
men

Non-
disabled
women

Non-
disabled
men

Disabled
total

EU27 average

National average

75,3

62,2

56,8

39,7

30,3

25,7

48,2

28,3

52,8

39,6

69,4

50,8

81,1

73,9

50,3

33,9

Table 3: Employment rates in Greece, by disability and age group (2020) 

%

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

age 16-24*

age 25-34

age 35-44

age 45-54

age 55-64

Disabled

Non-disabled

8,3

24,3

21,5

73,1

41,4

83,8

45,9

79,5

29,2

55,1

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

Table 4: National trends in employment rates, by disability status (aged 20-64) 

%

90,0

80,0

70,0

60,0

50,0

40,0

30,0

20,0

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

National (disabled)

34,7 31,4 38,2 30,2 32,9 29,4 27,8 34,3 36,2 36,7 31,1 32,6 33,9

National (non-disabled) 69,8 68,1 66,5 57,0 56,9 53,8 54,7 56,2 57,5 59,7 60,7 62,8 62,2

Source: EU-SILC 2020 Release April 2022 (and preceding UDBs) 
Note: Microdata concerning employment status was  not available for Germany  and Italy in this data 
release, which affects the EU27 average (which is therefore estimated). 

7.1.1  Unemployment 

Table 5: Unemployment rates by disability and gender (aged 20-64) (2020) 

%

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

EU27 average

National average

Disabled
women

17,3

31,3

Disabled men

Non-disabled
women

Non-disabled
men

Disabled total

Non-disabled
total

16,8

26,6

10,6

24,7

8,8

16,0

17,1

28,6

9,7

19,9

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

Table 6: Unemployment rates in Greece, by disability and age group (2020) 

%

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

age 16-24

age 25-34

age 35-44

age 45-54

age 55-64

Disabled

Non-disabled

32,1

47,2

54,3

29,5

29,5

17,3

26,0

14,4

26,0

15,0

Table 7: National trends in unemployment rate, by disability status (aged 20-64) 

%

50,0

45,0

40,0

35,0

30,0

25,0

20,0

15,0

10,0

5,0

0,0

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

National (disabled)

17,1 17,9 19,0 32,6 34,1 39,2 40,2 34,7 32,2 32,0 32,8 31,1 28,6

National (non-disabled) 7,9

9,6 12,4

24

25

28,7 28,4 26,4 24,7 23,1 21,8 19,5 19,9

Source: EU-SILC 2020 Release April 2022 (and preceding UDBs) 

7.1.2  Economic activity 

Table 8: Activity rates in Greece, by disability and gender (aged 20-64) (2020) 

%

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Disabled
women

Disabled
men

Non-disabled
women

Non-disabled
men

Disabled
total

Non-disabled
total

EU27 average

National average

59,1

41,1

65,4

53,9

88,8

88,0

62,0

47,5

82,5

77,6

76,2

67,5

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

Table 9: Activity rates in Greece, by age group (2020) 

%

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

age 16-24

age 25-34

age 35-44

age 45-54

age 55-64

Disabled

Non-disabled

12,3

27,7

47,1

86,5

58,7

89,7

62,0

85,1

39,5

59,1

Table 10: National trends in activity rates, by disability status (aged 20-64) 

%

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

National (disabled)

41,8 38,2 47,1 44,9

50

48,3 46,5 52,5 53,4 54,0 46,3 47,4 47,5

National (non-disabled) 75,8 75,3 75,9 75,0 75,9 75,4 76,3 76,3 76,4 77,6 77,6 78,0 77,6

Source: EU-SILC 2020 Release April 2022 (and preceding UDBs) 

7.1.3  Alternative sources of labour market data in Greece 

Disability data are not yet available from the core European Labour Force Survey but 
labour  market  indicators  for  Greece  were  disaggregated  from  ad  hoc  modules 
conducted in 2001 and 2011. These can be found in the Eurostat disability database.76 

76   Eurostat Health Database: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/health/data/database.  

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

7.2  EU data relevant to disability, social policies and healthcare (2020) 

Table  11:  People  at  risk  of  poverty  or  social  exclusion,  by  disability  and  risk 
(aged 16-64)77 
40

%

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Disabled -
low work
intensity

Non-disabled
- low work
intensity

Disabled -
low income

Non-disabled
- low income

Disabled -
materially
deprived

Non-disabled
- materially
deprived

EU27 average

National average

22,4

34,0

6,6

12,1

22,3

25,0

15,1

17,8

11,3

28,0

5,4

16,6

Table 12: People at risk of poverty or social exclusion, by disability and gender 
(aged 16+) 

%

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

No
disability

Some
disability

Severe
disability

Disabled
women

Disabled
men

EU27 average

National average

18,9

28,1

26,6

27,9

34,6

34,6

29,8

32,6

27,8

28,4

Non-
disabled
women

19,8

29,5

Non-
disabled
men

18,1

26,6

Table 13: Overall risk of household poverty or exclusion by disability and age 
(aged 16+) 

%

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Disabled (16-64)

Non-disabled (16-
64)

Disabled (65+)

Non-disabled (65+)

EU27 average

National average

34,3

47,9

19,6

29,9

23,2

22,6

15,7

16,0

Source: EU-SILC 2020 Release April 2022 (and previous UDB) 

77   Aged 16-59 for Low work intensity. 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

Table 14: Trends in the risk of poverty after social transfers, by disability and 
age group 

%

35,0

30,0

25,0

20,0

15,0

10,0

5,0

0,0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Disabled (16-64)

25,5

Non-disabled (16-64) 18,7

Disabled (65+)

Non-disabled (65+)

25,2

16,6

28,7

19,3

25,5

21,3

30,3

23,5

20,2

13,5

28,3

23,2

16,3

12,2

25,9

23,2

16,0

12,7

26,4

21,9

15,3

10,7

26,7

22,3

13,5

10,5

27,4

20,9

13,4

10,7

25,4

19,2

12,3

10,0

25,2

18,2

13,9

9,4

25,0

17,8

14,2

11

Source: Eurostat Health Database [hlth_dpe020] – People at risk of poverty  
Note: This table shows national trends in financial poverty risk, rather than the general AROPE indicator 
(which is not as comparable between age groups due to the effect of paid employment); the survey 
does not distinguish ‘activity limitation’ for children under 16. 

Table 15: Self-reported unmet needs for medical examination (%, aged 16+) 2020 

%

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

No disability

Some disability

Severe disability

Disabled total

EU27 average

National average

1,0

2,7

3,6

13,8

6,5

26,0

4,4

18,9

Source: Eurostat Health Database [hlth_dh030] – ‘Too expensive or too far to travel or waiting list’ 
Note:  EU  mean  averages  are  also  skewed  by  high  values  in  a  minority  of  countries  within  disability 
groups but median averages for the total disability and no disability groups in 2020 are consistent with 
the three-year mean values. 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Semester 2022-2023 country fiche on disability equality – Greece 

7.2.1  Alternative sources of poverty or healthcare data in Greece 

The EU-SILC data provide a comprehensive and reliable source concerning poverty 
or  social  exclusion  rates.  In  addition  to  the  summary  tables  presented  so  far,  the 
Eurostat  disability  database  also  contains  breakdowns  concerning  disability  and 
poverty before and after social transfers, as well as in-work-poverty.78 

7.3  EU data relevant to disability and education 

Table 24: Early school leaving rates, by disability status (aged 18-24 and 18-29)79 

%

25

20

15

10

5

0

Disabled young
people (18-24)*

Non-disabled (18-
24)

Disabled young
people (18-29)

Non-disabled (18-
29)

EU27 average

National average

20,3

8,2

9,8

2,7

21,3

17,6

10,9

4,6

Table 25: Completion of tertiary or equivalent education (aged 30-34 and 30-39) 

%

50
40
30
20
10
0

Disabled young
people (30-34)

Non-disabled (30-
34)

Disabled young
people (30-39)

Non-disabled (30-
39)

EU27 average

National average

29,4

24,3

43,8

44,3

30,4

28,5

41,7

42,7

Source: EU-SILC 2020 Release April 2022 (and preceding UDBs) 
Note: Confidence intervals for the disability group are large and reliability low (due to the small sample 
size in the target  age group). An  average  of several  years may  be needed  to establish trends  or to 
compare  breakdowns  by  gender.  There  were  fewer  than  50  observations  in  the  youngest  disability 
group in Greece, which should be treated with caution. 

7.3.1  Alternative sources of education data in Greece 

There  are  no  alternative  sources  of  education  data  identified  by  the  authors  of  this 
report. 

78  Eurostat Health Database: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/health/data/database.  
79   There was a change from ISCED 1997 to ISCED 2011 qualification definitions in 2014, although 

some Member States continued to use the older definition after this time. 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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