1. Lessons from the Greek experience Robert Shotton DG REGIO Robert Shotton DG REGIO European Commission

2. The Starting Point (2002) GR +P the least advanced GR +P the least advanced 10% GR population connected to internet 10% GR population connected to internet ADSL not offered ADSL not offered BUT 43% Greek business on internet BUT 43% Greek business on internet 10 pupils per PC 10 pupils per PC

3. High ambition 2001-2008 Total cost € 2.8 billion Total cost € 2.8 billion Private expenditure € 0.57 billion Private expenditure € 0.57 billion Public expenditure € 2.26 billion Public expenditure € 2.26 billion EU participation € 1.7 billion EU participation € 1.7 billion

4. Seven large projects Training teachers IS € 89.6 million Training teachers IS € 89.6 million e-Commerce SMEs € 88.1 million e-Commerce SMEs € 88.1 million Citizen information offices € 71.4 million Citizen information offices € 71.4 million Networking government € 57.1 million Networking government € 57.1 million Networking SMEs € 44.4 million Networking SMEs € 44.4 million IS skills for unemployed € 30 million IS skills for unemployed € 30 million Police on line € 29.2 million Police on line € 29.2 million

5. The problems 60% of projects are immature 60% of projects are immature Weak change management (especially public administration) Weak change management (especially public administration) Regions unprepared Regions unprepared Unsuccessful bidders appeal and cause delays Unsuccessful bidders appeal and cause delays Service too expensive, low quality Service too expensive, low quality Re-inventing the wheel. Re-inventing the wheel. TOO MUCH MONEY? TOO MUCH MONEY?

6. Lack of maturity Project assessment Project assessment Return for improvement Return for improvement Information Society SA - Turnkey management Information Society SA - Turnkey management Takes over design, tendering and procurement Takes over design, tendering and procurement Forums for debate and information Forums for debate and information E-business, E-health, ICT skills, inter- regional group, etc E-business, E-health, ICT skills, inter- regional group, etc

7. Weak change management Business plans ( IS is part of a wider project - not an end in itself) Business plans ( IS is part of a wider project - not an end in itself) Diagnosis, strategic priorities, action plan Diagnosis, strategic priorities, action plan Dedicated team in each Ministry Dedicated team in each Ministry A condition for funding, followed during implementation

8. Regions unprepared Business plan Business plan Regional IT forum with national and international experts Regional IT forum with national and international experts Joint action plan with the centre Joint action plan with the centre Priorities, not a shopping list Priorities, not a shopping list Technical assistance during implementation? Technical assistance during implementation?

9. Unsuccessful bidders cause delays E-business forum helps service industry prepare E-business forum helps service industry prepare Open tendering - technologically neutral Open tendering - technologically neutral Avoid big central contracts Avoid big central contracts But decentralised contracting more difficult to manage But decentralised contracting more difficult to manage

10. Service too expensive and poor quality Liberalisation - slow Liberalisation - slow Wholesale price of monopoly backbone Wholesale price of monopoly backbone How to provide finance for local loops? How to provide finance for local loops? Fund infrastructure or fund service? Fund infrastructure or fund service?

11. Re-inventing the wheel? IT observatory - but not yet set up IT observatory - but not yet set up Peer review - for regions but not for centre Peer review - for regions but not for centre Too inward looking - cultural phenomenon?

12. Too much money? Slow absorption - N+2 rule a problem? Slow absorption - N+2 rule a problem? Pressure to get ahead Pressure to get ahead Delivery of technical assistance too slow/inefficient? Delivery of technical assistance too slow/inefficient? Quality in danger if credits are at risk

13. N+2

14. A Mini-CSF Education and culture € 421 million Education and culture € 421 million Better government € 879 million Better government € 879 million Business applications € 902 million Business applications € 902 million Infrastructure € 569 million Infrastructure € 569 million A model for the next generation of Structural funds? Good design: but implementation? Good design: but implementation?