Local and Regional Governments in Europe

Greece
Greece is a unitary state
composed of municipalities (dimos)
and self-governing regions (peripheria).
State structure
unitary
Number of
Sub-national governments
2012 2016
LOCAL 325 325
INTERMEDIATE 13 13
Capital city
Athens
Population
10,992,589 (2.2% EU)
Geographical size
131,957 km²
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Vote
compulsory
EU Member State since
1981
21
Seats in the
12
Seats in the
European Parliament
European Committee
of the Regions
Local level 325 municipalities (dimos)
The municipal council (dimotiko
simvoulio) is composed of members
elected by direct universal suffrage
for a five-year term. This deliberative
assembly, headed by the mayor, is
the decision-making body of the
municipality. The municipal council is
composed of a number of committees
including the financial committee,
the quality of life committee and the
board of immigrant integration.
The executive committee (ektelestiki
epitropi dimou) is the municipality's
executive body. It is composed of
the mayor and deputy mayors and
monitors the implementation of
municipal policy, as adopted by the
municipal council.
The mayor (dimarchos) is elected
by direct universal suffrage for a
period of five years. He/she defends
local interests, oversees all local
development actions and represents
the municipality. The mayor
also presides over the executive
committee and coordinates the
implementation of its decisions.
Competences
• Building permits and urban
planning applications
• Social welfare
• Issuing of professional licenses
• Agriculture, livestock and fisheries
• Transport infrastructure
• Health care
• Education
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