Greece Approves New Spatial Framework for Industry

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Greece has introduced a significant institutional reform in industrial spatial planning with the new Joint Ministerial Decision approving the Special Spatial Framework (SSF) for Industry. The framework establishes a coherent set of rules, directions and priorities designed to create a stable, predictable and functional environment for industrial activity nationwide.

The SSF defines the core principles for organising industrial zones, upgrading existing infrastructures, strengthening spatial coherence and promoting investments linked to production, innovation and the green transition. It also sets clear guidelines for the siting of new industrial facilities, emphasising sustainable development, environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources.

A key objective of the new framework is to address longstanding spatial inconsistencies and provide a unified regulatory system that facilitates cooperation between public administration, market stakeholders and the scientific community. The SSF includes monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that spatial policies adapt to the real needs of production and the economy.

A central element of the new Spatial Framework is its alignment with European Union directives on industrial policy, green transition and modern spatial planning. The SSF forms part of the structural reforms agreed under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), as the EU finances industrial infrastructures and investment programmes only when supported by comprehensive spatial tools and clear siting rules. This alignment enhances transparency, reduces uncertainty and creates conditions that favour the development of modern, highvalue industrial activities.

The framework gives priority to organised investment schemes, industrial zones with adequate infrastructure and facilities that incorporate technological upgrading and environmental compliance. While it does not exclude traditional entrepreneurs, it encourages a shift toward more structured and modern operational models, as requirements for environmental performance, spatial coherence and technical compliance become increasingly demanding. The SSF does not impose mergers or cooperative structures, but it clearly favours organised industrial development and investments with strong technological and environmental characteristics.