OECD territorial reviews : Athens, Greece.

223 Pages·2004·2.593 MB·English

by  OECD

«
OECD Territorial Reviews
Athens, Greece
OECD
This review outlines the key issues which will be important in shaping the future Territorial Reviews
development of Athens. It identifies trends in governmental policies and highlights
the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the Athens Region. Three policy
areas identified as requiring particular attention have been examined:
Athens,
(cid:127) enhancing economic development and the competitiveness of the Athens Region;
(cid:127) improving governance, in particular spatial planning and implementing regulatory
Greece
reforms; and
(cid:127) capturing the benefits of the Olympic Games in the post-Olympic period.
O
E
C
D
T
e
r
r
it
o
r
ia
l R
e
v
ie
w
s

A
t
h
e
OECD's books, periodicals and statistical databases are now available via www.SourceOECD.org, n
our online library. s
,

G
This book is available to subscribers to the following SourceOECD theme:
r
Territorial Economy e
e
c
Ask your librarian for more details of how to access OECD books online, or write to us at
e
[email protected] Athens
www.oecd.org
ISBN 92-64-01594-9
04 2004 04 1 P
-:HSTCQE=UVZ^YY:
© OECD, 2004.
© Software: 1987-1996, Acrobat is a trademark of ADOBE.
All rights reserved. OECD grants you the right to use one copy of this Program for your personal use only.
Unauthorised reproduction, lending, hiring, transmission or distribution of any data or software is
prohibited. You must treat the Program and associated materials and any elements thereof like any other
copyrighted material.
All requests should be made to:
Head of Publications Service,
OECD Publications Service,
2, rue André-Pascal,
75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
FOREWORD
The efforts being made to implement European Union policies and
programmes and to deliver the Olympic Games have together been instrumental
in facilitating and sustaining a process of reform, which will help create a new
role for Athens as a modern international and sustainable urban region. The
Attica Region is undergoing bold and pragmatic changes, which should improve
the performance of the urban region and impact on the way other Greek
metropolitan areas are governed.
The Review outlines key issues, which will be important in shaping the
future development of Athens. These are:
• enhancing economic development and competitiveness across the
region;
• improving governance, in particular spatial planning and
implementing regulatory reform; and
• making a success of the Olympic Games and capturing benefits in the
post Olympic period.
The review highlights trends in related governmental policies, which are
creating a dynamic policy context in Athens, for example:
• regulatory reforms in the banking, telecommunications and maritime
transport sector are encouraging foreign direct investment;
• reorientation of regional policy to underpin the role Athens will play
as the “gateway” to Greece in a globalised economy;
• relocation of numerous public sector jobs to the suburbs to liberate
space in the central city;
3
• for the first time an integrated transport plan has being implemented to
upgrade public transport, provide modern highway links, and improve
accessibility throughout the metropolitan region;
• spatial planning is being reformed and more closely connected to
economic development requirements;
• environmental policies are supporting the “greening” of Athens.
The report highlights strengths and weaknesses of the Region, noting that
key challenges will be:
• to simplify the governance/administrative/planning framework to
better integrate the economic, social and environmental concerns of
the entire Attica Region;
• to maintain the momentum of civic pride and public involvement
created by the Olympic Games;
• to ensure continuity in finance for investment in the metro region;
• to develop endogenous economic activities which fully exploit the
assets of the region, for example year round sporting and conference
activities, the health, ecology and cultural/archaeological tourism;
education as an economic activity, etc.
OECD Reviews of Metropolitan Regions aim to improve the performance
of urban regions by assisting decision makers to make better use of
underdeveloped assets and comparative advantages and to implement policies
more effectively. The Region of Athens illustrates the challenges, which urban
regions face in dealing with occasional major events such as a world trade fair
or international games. A key question is how such events contribute to the
realisation of a city’s goals and development strategy.
The Review was carried out over the period November 2002 –
March 2003. The report, assessment and recommendations were discussed and
approved by the OECD Urban Working Party in October 2003 and by the
Territorial Development Policy Committee in November 2003.

4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Review outlines the key issues, which will be important in shaping the
future development of Athens, identifies trends in related governmental
policies, and highlights strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats in
the Athens Region. Three policy areas identified as requiring particular
attention are examined: Enhancing economic development and the
competitiveness of the Athens Region; Improving governance, in particular
spatial planning and implementing regulatory reform; and making a success of
the Olympic Games and capturing benefits in the post Olympic period.
The Review of Athens was supported by the Ministry of Environment,
Physical Planning and Public Works which co-ordinated the consultations of the
Review Team with the following key actors of government, business and civil
society in Athens:
• Government: Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public
Works; the Organisation for Planning and Environmental Protection
of Athens; the Ministry of Culture, General Secretariat for the
Olympic Games; the Ministry of Transport and Communications; the
Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation;
the Ministry of Economy and Finance; the Community Support
Framework Managing Authority of the Ministry of Economy and
Finance; the Ministry of Agriculture; the Authors of Greek
Background Report from Thessaly University; the Prefectures of
Athens, Piraeus; Local Authorities (Athens; Piraeus; Kifissia;
Markopoulou; Kallithea; Chaidari; Paleo Faliron; the Municipalities
of Athens Development Agency ; the Hellenic Agency for Regional
Development and Local Government; the Unification of
Archaeological Sites S.A.
• Business Community: the Attica Hotel Association; the Athens
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI); the Economic Chamber
of Greece; Attica Odos SA; the Economic and Social Council of
Greece: Mr. Sklavounos Georgios, Business Consultant.
• Universities and Research/Scientific Bodies: the University of
Thessaly; KEPE: Centre for Planning and Economic Research; Mr.
Panagiotis Balomenos, Real Estate Market Researcher; Association of
Regionalists; Institute of Regional Development, Panteion University;
Architectural Centre.
5
• Olympic Games Related Bodies: Ministry of Culture, General
Secretariat of Olympic Games; Athens 2004 ATHOC; Olympic
Games Knowledge Services (IGKS); International Olympic
Committee (IOC); BUNG, Technical Consultant for the Coordination
and Management of Olympic Projects
• OECD: Delegation of Greece to OECD and Greek representatives to
the Territorial Development Policy Committee.
The OECD wishes to express gratitude to all who participated in the
Review and gave so willingly of their time and knowledge. Mr. Christos
Zambelis, Director General, Ministry of Environment, Planning and Public
Works was instrumental in the Review process as was Mrs. Catherine
Sykianaki, Director General of the Organisation for Planning and
Environmental Protection of Athens. Mr. Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, Scientific
Consultant and Ms. Maria Asteriadou of the Ministry of Environment, Planning
and Public Works, and Mr. Yorgos Klidonas of the Delegation of Greece to
OECD assured the co-operation with the OECD Secretariat. The Secretariat also
benefited from the excellent co-operation and information provided by Prof.
Costas Cartalis, General Secretary for the Olympic Games at the Ministry of
Culture, Mr. Yannis Pyrgiotis, Executive Director, and Mr. Aristidis Romanos,
Executive Adviser, of Athens 2004 as well as the assistance provided by the
staff of Athens 2004. Thanks also go to Mr. Christophe Dubi, Manager, IOC
and Mr. Craig McLatchey (OGKS) who provided advice and information
concerning the Games. The Secretariat is also grateful to Prof Harris Coccossis
and his team from Thessaly University, to Mrs. Calliope Pachaki of the Centre
of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) and alternate Delegate to the
TDPC, to Mr. Panagiotis Balomenos and Mr. Vincent Goodstadt for their
insightful analyses and Mrs. Ariane Ahl-Kampf for her background reports. The
Review was drafted by Ms. Lindsay McFarlane and Ms. Debra Mountford,
Administrators in the Public Governance and Territorial Development
Directorate. Professor Michael Parkinson of the European Institute for Urban
Affairs and Mr. Greg Clark Executive Director of the London, Development
Agency participated as Members of the Review Team and contributed as
experts. Ms. Doris Grimm and Ms. Deirdre Claassen prepared the Review for
publication. The review is published under the authority of the
Secretary-General.

6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD.................................................................................................3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................5
ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.........................................11
EVALUATION ET RECOMMANDATIONS............................................31
CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND AND KEY ISSUES................................53
Settlement and Population........................................................................53
Social Trends and Policies........................................................................57
Environmental Trends and Policies..........................................................60
Governance and Spatial Planning.............................................................61
CHAPTER 2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND COMPETITIVENESS................................................73
Athens Metropolitan Area........................................................................75
Impact of International Economic Context and Trends on Athens...........79
Structural Aspects of the Economy of the Athens Metropolitan Area.....80
The Olympic Games and the Athenian Economy.....................................87
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.......................................................91
Land and Property Markets in Attica........................................................96
Athens Real Estate Market.......................................................................97
Spatial Aspects of Economic Development in Athens...........................103
Policies Focused Specifically on Athens and Attica...............................112
Enhancing Undervalued Assets/Fostering New Types of Activities and
Enhancing Competitiveness....................................................................113
CHAPTER 3 STRATEGIC SPATIAL PLANNING................................117
Introduction.............................................................................................117
Spatial Planning, Regulatory Reform and the Implications for Athens..119
Urban Brownfields..................................................................................123
The Spatial Planning of Athens..............................................................132
The Catalyst for Change.........................................................................141
Sustainable Development.......................................................................146
7
CHAPTER 4 OLYMPIC GAMES............................................................161
Background.............................................................................................161
Olympic Games – Athens 2004..............................................................165
Post-Olympics -– Managing the Assets..................................................192
APPENDIX 1 COMPETITIVENESS IN METROPOLITAN REGIONS195
Understanding Competitiveness in a Metropolitan Context...................195
Policies to Enhance Competitiveness.....................................................198
APPENDIX 2 EUROPEAN SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND USE.................................203
APPENDIX 3 THE INFLUENCE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.........205
APPENDIX 4 OECD PRINCIPLES OF
METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE..............................211
BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................215

Tables
Table 2.1. Gross Value Added and its Components (%, Greece)............81
Table 2.2. Gross Value Added and its Components (%, Attica region)..82
Table 2.3. Athens Prime Office Rents (€ per sq. m. / per month).........100
Table 2.4. Athens Prime Office % Yields.............................................102
Table 3.1. Competencies, Capabilities and Processes
of Effective Strategic Metropolitan Plans............................145
Table 4.1. Objectives of Recent & Upcoming Olympics Games..........178
Table A1. Breakdown of Finances by Priority Area
(in Millions of Euros)...........................................................209

8
Figures
Figure 1.1. Greece in Europe....................................................................53
Figure 1.2. Athens in Greece....................................................................54
Figure 1.3. Administrative Structure........................................................63
Figure 1.4. Urban Region of Attica..........................................................64
Figure 1.5. Administrative Structure of Attica.........................................67
Figure 2.1. Sites of Olympic Events.........................................................89
Figure 2.2. Core Office Locations, Alternative Office Locations
and Emerging Office Locations..............................................99
Figure 2.3. Spatial Structure of Greece: International Gateways
to Greece...............................................................................110
Figure 3.1. The Regulatory Spatial Planning System
and Relevant Planning Tools................................................136
Figure 3.2. Major Projects......................................................................143

Boxes
Box 1.1. The Main Characteristics of the Greek Housing Market........59
Box 2.1. Role of Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry
in the Olympic Games............................................................88
Box 2.2. Policies to Encourage Entrepreneurship
and Increase Productivity.......................................................93
Box 2.3. Developing Clusters – OECD Experience.............................96
Box 2.4. The Role of the Thriasio Plain in the Development
of the Attica Region.............................................................105
Box 2.5. Athens International Airport.................................................108
Box 2.6. Hellenic Agency for Local Development
and Local Government SA (EETAA)..................................113
Box 3.1. The Grand Promenade..........................................................121
Box 3.2. Queens Tower Park..............................................................124
Box 3.3. Criteria for Successful Brownfield Redevelopment.............125
Box 3.4. The Athens Posidonia Project..............................................126
Box 3.5. Jerrabomberra Valley -- National Ideas Competition:
A Case Study for Ecologically Sustainable Urban
Development -- Report to the OECD and Australian
Government, 1994................................................................128
Box 3.6. Sustainability Performance Areas: An option
for the Messoghia Plain........................................................131
Box 3.7. Spatial Planning and Competitiveness.................................139
Box 3.8. Challenging Urban Sprawl...................................................140
Box 3.9. Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan 2000..................146
9
Box 3.10. The Organisational Environmental Programme of Greece..149
Box 3.11. Infrastructure-led urban regeneration:
Laganside Corporation, Belfast, United Kingdom...............152
Box 3.12. A Global Action Plan for Energy Efficiency in Buildings
and Settlements “Energy 2001”............................................155
Box 3.13. Canberra No Waste Strategy, 1996......................................156
Box 4.1. Innovations for Sustainable Olympic Games.......................163
Box 4.2. ATHENS 2004.....................................................................166
Box 4.3. Revenues from the Olympic Games.....................................171
Box 4.4. Spillover Benefits from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.171
Box 4.5. The Olympic Village............................................................173
Box 4.6. Faliron Coastal Zone............................................................175
Box 4.7. Candidate City Environmental Guidelines...........................181
Box 4.8. Turin 2006............................................................................184
Box A1. Information Society for the quality of life in the Region
of Attica................................................................................209
Box A2. OECD Principles of Metropolitan Governance....................212

10