The final session of the 4th Peer Review of the Development Co-operation Policies and Programmes of Greece by DAC/OECD, (Paris, Wednesday 28 November 2018), took place successfully and with significant participation (22 out of 30 DAC members). The final session was chaired by DAC’s Vice Chair, Mr. D. Rogers, and Greece was represented, at the political leadership level, by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. T. Quick (Head of the Delegation) and the Secretary General for Migration Policy Mr. I. Klapas, Hellenic Ministry for Migration Policy.
In his speech, Mr. Deputy Minister referred to: (a) Greece’s response to the double (financial and migration) crisis, (b) the fact that the Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Greece increased over the last years (0,19% of GNI, in 2016), (c) the judicial investigation of cases of mismanagement of public funds by NGOs, (d) the strategic choice of Greece to focus on multilateral assistance, (e) the considerable efforts to cover the needs of refugees and immigrants, (f) the direct and effective response of Greek people to other humanitarian crises around the world and (g) the important role of Greece as a pillar of stability and peace in the wider region.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister confirmed Greece’s committed to the full compliance with DAC’s recommendations, as regards the: (a) drafting of the new legal framework of Hellenic Aid within 2019 and the preparation of a new Five-year Development Co-operation Programme, (b) completion of both evaluations of the Greek scholarship programme to developing countries citizens and of the multilateral programme, (c) commitment to continue support to multilateral organizations and (d) placement of appropriate mix of humanitarian and development experts in DG Hellenic Aid.
The Secretary General for Migration Policy, whose contribution to the successful outcome of the Peer Review has been substantial, presented the Greek State’s and society’s efforts for effective response to migration crisis highlighting: (a) the mobilisation of State’s mechanisms for protection and rescue of lives at sea, (b) the establishment of structures at central and local level, (c) the effective co-ordination with EU and other countries, (d) the wave of solidarity of Greek people, (e) the importance of solidarity at the international community level and especially at the EU level, in order to ensure proportional distribution of responsibility in managing refugee flows and (f) the need to confront the root causes of these flows.
Mr. Rogers, as well as the Peer Review team countries (Austria and Czech Republic) and other DAC and OECD members that took the floor, commented positively and focused on the significant and continued efforts of Greece to respond to the double crisis, and simultaneously provided, their experience on the most suitable response to refugees’ and immigrants’ flows. In particular, the reviewers recognised: (a) the ongoing commitment of Greece to support international development co-operation, (b) the participation of Greece in international and regional fora, (c) Greece’s contribution to peace, (d) the considerable efforts to protect refugees, (e) the establishment of a specialised Ministry of Migration Policy and (f) the establishment, within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings.