The Greek state is strengthening ties with the Hellenic diaspora, by providing ex-pat Greeks with online services as elaborated recently by the Deputy Minister for Diaspora Greeks Andreas Katsaniotis in collaboration with the Minister of Digital Government Kyriakos Pierrakakis. The goal is to export electronic services to Greeks abroad to facilitate service in everything that has to do with the homeland.

The implementation of the goal is based on two central pillars. The first is the creation of a 12th link on the home page of gov.gr entitled “Expatriates”. Clicking on this link will take you to a page that will include all the online services for expatriates. These are about 60 services of various ministries, which are already offered electronically but are scattered.

The Greeks abroad will be able to visit the new link and find all categories they are interested in, such as the registration in the special electoral lists abroad (of the Ministry of Interior), the interruption of the postponement of the classification of permanent residents abroad (of Ministry of the Interior), a copy of the criminal record (Justice), computerised of expatriates and recognition of a degree (Education), special identity card of expatriates from Albania, Turkey, former USSR (Citizen Protection) etc.

The second pillar concerns the digital transformation of the diplomatic authorities so that the expatriates are served electronically through the sites of the consulates. The project concerns a total of 84 embassies, 37 consulates general, 9 permanent delegations, 7 consulates, 1 liaison office. The aim is to fight the bureaucracy by alternatively processing requests beyond the physical presence of the citizens, which mainly concern the following procedures: relocations, g) tax – customs. The new procedures will support and include direct and 24-hour citizen communication with consular authorities.

The project also includes the interoperability of the system through the interconnection of digital services for the best and fastest service of the citizens. The interconnection will not only concern the services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also those that belong to other ministries. The digital information and service platforms outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are Citizens’ register (registry, civil registry), recruitment, Police online, independent criminal record department, E-efka, special electoral list abroad (electronic application for registration and submission of necessary supporting documents for the possibility of from abroad), digital transaction services for citizens and businesses with the State (Digital Service Center gov.gr). These services will be utilized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to simplify and optimize the way of serving the citizens, as well as to support the interoperability with other systems of public administration.

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