This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 ATHENS 000187 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA 
 
TREASURY FOR IMI/HOLLOWAY 
 
USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/OEURA 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR WASHDC 
 
PARIS FOR USOECD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN EINV KSPR KIDE KTDB ELAB GR
SUBJECT: 2005 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT  GREECE 
 
REF: STATE 250356 
 
This cable transmits the 2005 Investment Climate 
Statement for Greece. 
 
------------------------------- 
INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT 
January 2005 
------------------------------- 
 
A.1. Openness to Foreign Investment 
----------------------------------- 
 
Greece, a member of the European Union, provides a 
reasonably hospitable climate for foreign 
investment.  Greece's membership in the EU's 
Economic and Monetary Union offers currency 
stability.  Greece's infrastructure has improved 
after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and the ongoing 
liberalization of the energy and telecommunication 
markets offer investment opportunities. 
Greek businesses are among the leading investors in 
Southeast Europe, and Greece is increasingly a hub 
for Balkan trade.  The economy is projected to grow 
by approximately 3-4 percent annually over the next 
three years.  Growth will be financed by private 
sector borrowing and public sector absorption of EU 
structural adjustment funds (about 24 billion dollars 
for the 2000-2006 period plus another 24 billion 
dollars from Greek government and private 
participation). 
 
The Greek government encourages private foreign 
investment as a matter of policy.  Investments are 
screened only when the investor wants to take 
advantage of government provided tax and investment 
incentives.  In such cases, foreign and domestic 
investors face the same screening criteria.  Greece, 
which restricted foreign and domestic private 
investment in public utilities, has opened its 
telecommunications market and is in the process of 
liberalizing its energy sector.  Restrictions exist 
on land purchases in border regions and on certain 
islands (on national security grounds).  Also U.S. 
and other non-EU investors receive less advantageous 
treatment than domestic or EU investors in the 
banking, mining, broadcasting, maritime, and air 
transport sectors (these sectors were opened to EU 
citizens due to EU single market rules). 
 
Major investment laws are: 
 
-Legislative Decree 2687 of 1953 which, in 
conjunction with Article 112 of the Constitution, 
gives approved foreign "productive investments" 
(basically manufacturing and tourism enterprises) 
property rights, preferential tax treatment, work 
permits for foreign managerial and technical staff, 
and permission for the export of capital, dividends, 
interest, and other current payments.  The Decree 
also provides a constitutional guarantee against 
unilateral changes in the terms of a foreign 
investor's agreement with the Greek Government, but 
the guarantee does not cover changes in the tax 
regime. 
 
-Law 2601/98, known as the investment incentives 
bill, emphasizes assistance for large projects, 
mergers of small and medium size manufacturing 
companies, and on the development of new products. 
Under this law, new businesses (with less than five 
years of operation) may choose either of the 
following combinations of incentives: a) grants and 
interest subsidies as well as subsidies for leasing 
equipment, or b) tax exemptions and interest 
subsidies.  However, law 2601/98 is about to be 
revised. The revised development law, which will be 
submitted to the Parliament in first quarter 2005, 
aims to increase the range of companies eligible for 
subsidies, boost regional growth and offer additional 
financial support to small and middle size businesses 
and investments in tourism and hotel upgrades. 
-Laws 89/67, 378/68, 27/75 and 814/78 provide special 
benefits (such as tax and import duty exemptions) for 
offshore operations of foreign companies established 
in Greece. 
 
-Law 468/76 governs oil exploration and development 
in Greece.  Law 2289/95, amending this legislation, 
allows private participation in oil exploration and 
development. 
 
-Law 2773/99 opened up 34 percent of the Greek energy 
market in compliance with EU Directive 96/92 
concerning the regulation of the internal electricity 
market. Law 3175/2003 is also a major step towards 
the deregulation of Greece's electricity market since 
it harmonizes Greek legislation with the requirements 
of the EU's Directive 2003/54/EC on common rules for 
the internal market in electricity. 
 
-Law 2246/94 and supporting amendments have opened 
Greece's telecommunications market to foreign 
investment. 
 
Since Greece joined the European Monetary Union 
("Eurozone") on January 1, 2001 it will have to 
undergo serious structural reform to meet EMU 
convergence criteria. Toward this end, the Greek 
Government has opened its telecommunications market 
and has plans to gradually liberalize its energy 
sector.  The Greek energy market has entered a phase 
of deregulation.  Since February 19, 2001 about 34 
percent of eligible consumers of middle and high- 
tension voltage may obtain their electricity from 
producers other than the state monopoly, the Public 
Power Corporation (PPC). To this end, the first 
private electricity generation plant (a 120MW power 
plant by the Terna-GEK contracting company) will be 
operational in July 2005, and a second one (a 400MW 
power plant by Hellenic Petroleum) is expected to 
begin operation in September 2005. Two other private 
400MW power plants should be integrated into the 
system by 2007 and another one by 2008.   The 
electricity market in Greece will have to be fully 
deregulated by the end of 2005. 
 
The New Democracy government, which assumed power in 
March 2004, has pledged to undertake fiscal and other 
structural reforms to enhance the competitiveness of 
the Greek economy.  The new administration has been 
gradually adopting an economic policy mix designed to 
achieve fiscal consolidation, implement tax reforms, 
reduce red tape in business transactions and expedite 
market deregulation (including privatizing state 
owned companies).  The sale of Olympic Airlines, the 
Natural Gas Corporation, the Athens Water Company, 
and the Hellenic Post are at the top of the 
government's agenda.  The government has not yet 
announced its plans on the future exploitation of the 
venues for the 2004 Olympic Games, but there are 
proposals to lease some of them to private concerns. 
Foreign and domestic investor participation in 
privatization programs is not subject to 
restrictions. International consultants are usually 
hired to act as advisors to the Greek government on 
the sale of state entities, and the bidding process 
follows internationally accepted norms. 
 
A.2.  PRIVATE  Conversion and Transfer Policies tc 
\l 5 "Conversion and Transfer Policies" 
------------------------------------- 
 
Greece's foreign exchange market is in line with EU 
rules on free movement of capital.  Receipts from 
productive investments can be repatriated freely at 
market exchange rates.  Remittance of investment 
returns is made without delays or limitations.  As of 
January 1, 2001, Greece became part of the European 
Monetary Union. 
 
 
A.3.  PRIVATE  Expropriation and Compensation tc  \l 
5 "Expropriation and Compensation" 
----------------------------------- 
Private property may be expropriated for public 
purposes, but only in a nondiscriminatory manner and 
with prompt, adequate and effective compensation. 
Due process and transparency are mandatory, and 
investors and lenders receive compensation in 
accordance with international norms.  There have been 
no expropriation actions involving the real property 
of foreign investments in recent history. 
 
A.4.  PRIVATE  Dispute Settlement tc  \l 5 "Dispute 
Settlement" 
----------------------- 
 
A dispute between the Greek Public Gas Corporation 
and GAZPROM, the Russian supplier of natural gas, 
over the price of gas went to international 
arbitration but the two sides reached a friendly 
settlement before the final ruling. 
 
The Canadian-U.S. mining company (TVX Gold), recently 
acquired by a Canadian firm, Kinross, cancelled its 
investment plans after having spent more than 250 
million dollars in Greece to develop and operate its 
assets in Chalkidiki in Northern Greece.  Delays in 
the issuance of required permits and legal challenges 
against government issued permits and mining 
activities had been a constant impediment to the 
operations since 1995. In March 2002 and again in 
October 2002, the Greek State Council issued 
judgments that annulled the purportedly valid permits 
given by the Greek Government to the company for the 
development of the project.  TVX Gold, with new 
Canadian owners, has been forced to write off its 
investment in Greece. 
 
Greece accepts binding international arbitration of 
investment disputes between foreign investors and the 
Greek State.  International arbitration as well as 
European Court of Justice judgments supersedes local 
court decisions.  Greece has an independent 
judiciary.  The court system is a highly time- 
consuming means for enforcing property and 
contractual rights.  Foreign companies report that 
Greek courts do not always provide unbiased and 
effective recourse.  The Greek judicial system 
provides for civil court arbitration proceedings for 
investment and trade disputes.  Although an 
investment agreement could be made subject to foreign 
legal jurisdiction, this is highly uncommon, 
particularly if one of the contracting parties is the 
Greek State.  Foreign court judgments are accepted 
and enforced, albeit slowly, by the local courts. 
 
Commercial and bankruptcy laws in Greece are in 
accordance with international norms.  Under Greek 
bankruptcy law, private creditors receive 
compensation after claims from the state and 
insurance funds have been satisfied.  Monetary 
judgments are usually made in the country's currency 
(euro) unless explicitly stipulated otherwise. 
Greece has a reliable system of recording security 
interests in property. 
 
Greece is a member of both the International Center 
for the Settlement of Investment Disputes and the New 
York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and 
Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. 
 
A.5.  PRIVATE  Performance Requirements/Incentives tc 
\l 5 "Performance Requirements/Incentives" 
---------------------------------------- 
 
Greece is in compliance with WTO TRIMS requirements. 
Investment incentives are available on an equal basis 
for both foreign and domestic investors in productive 
enterprises.  The monetary value of an incentive is 
inversely proportional to the level of development of 
a given region; in other words, the less developed 
the region where the investment will occur, the more 
generous the incentive.  Under the current Investment 
Incentives Law 2601/98, new businesses (with less 
than five years of operation) may choose either of 
the following combinations of incentives: a) grants 
and interest subsidies as well as subsidies for 
leasing equipment, or b) tax exemptions and interest 
subsidies.  Businesses with more than five years of 
operation qualify only for interest subsidies and tax 
exemptions. 
Additional tax incentives are extended to foreign 
investors if they establish export-oriented 
businesses, or if they save foreign exchange through 
import substitution (Law 2687/53).  The Hellenic 
Center for Investment (ELKE), a quasi-state entity 
established as a one-stop shop for assisting 
investors, is responsible for reviewing projects 
valued over 8.8 million euros ($11.7 million), or 3 
million euros ($4 million) if there is at least 50 
percent foreign participation, for which government 
incentives are sought. 
 
There are no performance requirements for 
establishing, maintaining, or expanding an 
investment.  However, performance requirements come 
into play when an investor wants to take advantage of 
tax and/or investment incentives.  Local content, 
import substitution, export orientation, and 
technology transfers are considered by the Greek 
authorities in evaluating applications for investment 
incentives.  Companies that fail to meet the 
specified performance requirements may be forced to 
give up the incentives they were initially granted. 
All information transmitted to the government for the 
approval process is treated confidentially. Offset 
agreements, co-production, and technology transfers 
are commonplace in Greece's procurement of defense 
items. 
 
U.S. and other foreign firms may participate in 
government-financed and/or subsidized research and 
development programs.  Foreign investors do not face 
discriminatory or other de jure inhibiting 
requirements.  However, many potential and actual 
foreign investors assert that the complexity of Greek 
regulations, the need to deal with many layers of 
bureaucracy, and the involvement of various 
government agencies discourage investment. 
 
Foreigners from EU countries may freely work in 
Greece.  Foreigners from non-EU countries may work in 
Greece after receiving residence and work permits. 
There are no discriminatory or preferential 
export/import policies affecting foreign investors, 
as EU regulations govern import and export policy, 
and increasingly, many other aspects of investment in 
Greece. 
 
A.6.  PRIVATE  Right to Private Ownership and 
Establishment tc  \l 5 "Right to Private Ownership 
and Establishment" 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
Foreign and domestic private entities have the right 
to establish and own business enterprises.  They may 
engage in all forms of remunerative activity, 
including the right to establish, acquire, and 
dispose of interests in businesses. 
 
Private enterprises enjoy the same treatment as 
public enterprises with respect to access to markets 
and other business operations, such as licenses and 
supplies.  Access to credit has traditionally been 
easier for public enterprises, which could borrow 
easily from state-controlled banks.  Liberalization 
of the banking system and increased compliance with 
EU norms, however, have gradually forced state banks 
to operate in a more market-oriented fashion, making 
it easier for the private sector to obtain credit. 
A.7.  PRIVATE  Protection of Property Rights tc  \l 5 
"Protection of Property Rights" 
---------------------------------- 
 
Greek laws extend protection of property rights to 
both foreign and Greek nationals.  The Greek legal 
system protects and facilitates acquisition and 
disposition of all property rights.  As for 
intellectual property, Greece is a member of the 
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial 
Property, the European Patent Convention, the World 
Intellectual Property Organization, the Washington 
Patent Cooperation Treaty, and the Bern Copyright 
Convention.  As a member of the EU, Greece has 
harmonized its legislation with EU rules and 
regulations.  The WTO-TRIPS agreement has been 
incorporated into Greek legislation as of February 
28, 1995 (Law 2290/95). The Greek government has also 
signed and ratified the WIPO Internet treaties, which 
were incorporated into Greek legislation in 2003 
(Laws 3183 and 3184/2003) 
 
Greece's legal framework for copyright protection is 
contained in Law 2121 of 1993 on copyrights and Law 
2328 of 1995 on media.  Implementation and 
enforcement of these provisions however, has been 
deficient and intellectual property problems have 
long plagued Greece, resulting in its ranking on the 
Special 301 Watch List since 1994.  Significant 
progress in protecting intellectual property rights 
and fighting piracy led to Greece's removal from the 
Special 301 Watch List in May 2003. In September 
2002, Greece became the first EU country to implement 
the European Copyright Directive.  Also, the Business 
Software Alliance awarded the Greek government its 
"Cyber Champion Award" in 2003 in recognition of the 
government's anti-piracy efforts.  According to the 
U.S. Trade Representative's 2003 report on IPR 
protection, Greece has appropriate laws on the books 
and the government is making a concerted effort to 
work with industry to continue the positive trend in 
general intellectual property protection.  However, 
the report notes that problems remain in enforcement, 
as judges frequently impose minimal penalties on 
perpetrators of IPR crimes, not viewing the crimes as 
serious.  Also, the report notes, more must be done 
to increase public awareness on the effects of 
purchasing pirated music, film and software and 
counterfeit clothing apparel. 
 
Another problem is the absence of protection of 
trademarked products in the apparel sector.  Although 
Greek trademark legislation is fully harmonized with 
that of the EU, claims by U.S. companies of 
counterfeiting are still increasing.  U.S. companies 
report that smuggling of counterfeit apparel from 
Asia for distribution throughout Europe continues, 
but businessmen also report that Greek customs 
officials have raised their awareness of the problem. 
 
Intellectual property appears to be adequately 
protected in the field of patents.  Patents are 
available for all areas of technology.  Compulsory 
licensing is not used.  The law protects patents and 
trade secrets for a period of twenty years.  There is 
a potential problem concerning the protection of test 
data relating to non-patented products.  Violations 
of trade secrets and semiconductor chip layout design 
are not problems in Greece. 
 
A.8.  PRIVATE  Transparency of the Regulatory 
System tc  \l 1 "Transparency of the Regulatory 
System" 
------------------------------------------ 
 
As an EU member, Greece is required to have 
transparent policies and laws for fostering 
competition.  Foreign companies, however, report that 
they have encountered cases where there are multiple 
laws covering the same issue, resulting in confusion 
over which law applies in which situation.   Foreign 
companies consider the complexity of government 
regulations and procedures -- and the perceived 
inconsistent implementation by the Greek civil 
administration -- to be the greatest impediment to 
investing and operating in Greece. 
 
In order to simplify and expedite the investment 
process, a quasi-state investment promotion agency, 
the Hellenic Center for Investment (ELKE), was 
established in 1996.  ELKE functions as a one-stop 
shop for assisting investors in cutting through red 
tape and acquiring the numerous permits needed to 
proceed with investments.  It also advises the 
government on ways to streamline the investment 
process and to generally improve investment climate 
in Greece. 
 
Greek labor laws limit working hours, penalize 
overtime, restrict part-time employment, and are 
restrictive regarding the dismissal of personnel. 
Under current regulations, both private and public 
companies are prohibited from firing or laying-off 
more than 2 percent of their total workforce per 
month without government authorization. 
 
Greece's tax regime lacks stability, predictability, 
and transparency.  The government often makes small 
adjustments to tax levels and has not hesitated to 
impose retroactive taxation.  Foreign investors 
object to the frequent changes in tax policies, but 
foreign firms are not subject to discriminatory 
taxation.  The New Democracy government, which 
assumed power in March 2004, has been gradually 
adopting an economic policy mix designed to achieve 
fiscal consolidation, boost development and restore 
the competitiveness of the economy.  Tax reforms 
approved by Parliament in December 2004 provide for 
lower tax rates on corporations' profits (from 35 
percent to 25 percent by 2007) and on partnerships 
and personal companies (from 25 to 20 percent). 
There are also provisions to reduce red tape and 
other sundry obstacles that affect business activity. 
New legislation gave the Financial Crimes Unit (which 
has been restructured and renamed Special Control 
Directorate) sweeping power to combat money 
laundering and financial crimes. 
 
Generally, in sectors open to private investment, 
foreign investment is not prohibited or restricted, 
either by law or regulation or by private sector 
efforts or practices. Proposed laws and regulations 
are usually published in draft form for public 
comment before being debated in Parliament. 
Unfortunately, the judicial system, although 
inexpensive by international standards, is slow and 
cumbersome, making the courts a time-consuming means 
for enforcing property and contractual rights. Plans 
to introduce EU International Accounting Standards 
(IAS) for listed companies have been postponed until 
fiscal year 2005, but some Greek banks have already 
started to publish results in line with IAS. 
 
 
 
A.9.  PRIVATE  Efficient Capital Markets and 
Portfolio Investment tc  \l 5 "Efficient Capital 
Markets and Portfolio Investment" 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
Greece has a reasonably efficient capital market that 
offers the private sector a wide variety of credit 
instruments.  Credit is allocated by private banks -- 
and increasingly by public ones too -- on market 
terms prevailing in the Eurozone and credits are 
equally accessible by private Greek and foreign 
investors.  Three American banks operate in Greece 
(Citibank, American Express and Bank of America), 
serving both the local and international business 
communities. 
 
An independent regulatory body, the Capital Market 
Committee, supervises the Athens Stock Exchange and 
encourages and facilitates portfolio investments. 
Both owner-registered and bearer bonds and shares are 
traded on the Athens Stock Exchange which was 
promoted in 2001 from "emerging market" to "developed 
country" status by key western investment firms.  It 
is mandatory for the shares of banking, insurance and 
public utility companies to be registered.  Greek 
corporations listed on the Athens Stock Exchange that 
are also state contractors are required to have all 
their shares registered. 
 
A few state-controlled banks dominate the Greek 
banking industry. Private Greek and foreign banks do, 
however, comprise an increasingly competitive and 
generally profitable private sector, holding about 59 
percent of the banking system's assets.  Private 
banks in Greece are in good financial health and are 
expanding their market share.  State banks have a 
large exposure to public enterprises of questionable 
financial health.  Total combined assets of the five 
largest banks are estimated at 126 billion dollars. 
 
There are a limited number of cross-shareholding 
arrangements in the Greek market.  To date, the 
objective of such arrangements has not been to 
restrict foreign investment.  The same applies to 
hostile takeovers (a practice which has been recently 
introduced in the Greek market). 
 
 
A.10.  PRIVATE  Political Violence tc  \l 5 
"Political Violence" 
------------------------ 
 
Greece is a stable parliamentary democracy currently 
governed by a pro-EU, conservative government. 
Several terrorist groups have been active in Greece 
since the restoration of democracy in 1974, including 
the "17 November" and the "ELA" organizations.  U.S. 
and western government and commercial interests, as 
well as prominent Greek businessmen, journalists and 
politicians have at times been targeted by these 
groups. In June 2002, the Greek police arrested 19 
suspected members of the "17 November" group and 4 
suspected members of "ELA".  Most of the members of 
the "17 November" and the "ELA" terrorist groups were 
convicted and sentenced to 20-years jail terms or 
life sentences.  The potential for terrorist 
activities against U.S. commercial interests appears 
to have eased since these convictions.  The 
successful staging of the August 2004 Olympic Games, 
with the concurrent increase in experience and 
technical capabilities of the Greek police, have also 
lowered the danger of terrorist attacks against 
foreign targets in Greece. 
 
 
A.11.  PRIVATE  Corruption tc  \l 5 "Corruption" 
---------------- 
 
Bribery is considered a criminal act and the law 
provides severe penalties for infractions. The law is 
impartially applied; diligent implementation and 
enforcement of the law remains an issue. The problem 
is most acute in the area of government procurement. 
Political influence and other considerations, such as 
loyalty to old suppliers are widely believed to play 
a significant role in the evaluation of bids. 
Bribery cannot be deducted from taxes. As a signatory 
of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of 
Foreign Government Officials and all relevant EU- 
mandated anti-corruption agreements, the Greek 
Government is committed to penalizing those who 
commit bribery in Greece or abroad.  The OECD 
Convention was ratified by the Greek Parliament on 
November 5, 1998 and implementation began as of 
February 15, 1999. 
 
The Greek Government has tried to fight corruption in 
public administration.  A number of inspection bodies 
have been established to check out complaints and 
investigate cases of corruption in the entire 
spectrum of public administration, including local 
authorities.  The main authority for these 
inspections is the Public Administration's Inspectors 
and Auditors Unit, established in 1997, at the 
Ministry of Interior.  Besides this main body of 
general inspectors, independent inspection divisions 
exist at various Ministries and in the Greek Police 
and the Hellenic Coast Guard. Investigation 
procedures and preliminary inquiries on financial 
crimes come under the jurisdiction of a special unit 
in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the special 
Control Directorate (Greek acronym: YPEE).  The 
responsibility for the prosecution of bribery cases 
lies with the Ministry of Justice. In cases where 
politicians are involved, the Greek Parliament 
decides whether parliamentary immunity should be 
lifted to allow a special court action to follow.  In 
recent years, there have been a number of 
investigations of alleged corruption; there was even 
a special court action against politicians, including 
the then Prime Minister, in 1989.  While private 
bankers were convicted, no government official has 
been convicted to date. The Greek Chapter of 
Transparency International closely follows 
developments to press for investigation and 
prosecution of corruption cases. 
 
The fight against corruption and the promotion of 
transparency in all government and business 
transactions is high on the agenda of the new 
government.  The government is preparing legislation 
that would create an independent authority to 
supervise and control all public procurement 
contracts, a move that will hopefully add more 
transparency and uniformity in public sector 
transactions.  In autumn 2004, the Greek parliament 
started investigating a number of corruption cases 
relevant to Defense equipment purchasing deals. 
 
¶B.  PRIVATE  Bilateral Investment Agreements tc  \l 5 
"Bilateral Investment Agreements" 
---------------------------------- 
 
Greece has bilateral investment protection agreements 
with Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Croatia, 
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, 
Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, 
Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, Romania, 
Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Syria, 
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Zaire. 
Investments by EU member states are governed and 
protected by EU regulations. 
 
Greece and the United States signed the 1954 Treaty 
of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, which covers 
a few investment protection issues, such as 
acquisition and protection of property and impairment 
of legally acquired rights or interests.  Also, 
Greece and the United States signed the 1950 Treaty 
for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the 
Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on 
Income. 
 
¶C.  PRIVATE  OPIC and other Investment Insurance 
Programs tc  \l 5 "OPIC and other Investment 
Insurance Programs" 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
Full OPIC insurance coverage for U.S. investment in 
Greece is currently available only on an exceptional 
basis.  OPIC and the Greek Export Credit Insurance 
Organization signed an agreement in April 1994 to 
exchange information relating to private investment, 
particularly in the Balkans.  Other insurance 
programs that also offer coverage for investments in 
Greece include the German investment guarantee 
program HERMES, the French agency COFACE, the Swedish 
Export Credits Guarantee Board (EKN), the British 
Export Credits Guarantee Facility (ECGF), and the 
Austrian Kontrollbank (OKB).  Greece became a member 
of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency 
(MIGA) in 1989. 
 
For the purposes of OPIC Currency Inconvertibility 
insurance, it should be noted that since the Greek 
drachma was included in the European Union's Exchange 
Rate Mechanism (ERM) on March 16, 1998, currency 
inconvertibility is no longer an issue. Greece is 
part of the eurozone as of January 1, 2001. 
 
¶D.  PRIVATE  Labor tc  \l 5 "Labor" 
-------- 
 
There is an adequate supply of skilled, semi-skilled, 
and unskilled labor in Greece, although some highly 
technical skills may be lacking.  Illegal immigrants 
predominate in the unskilled labor sector in many 
urban areas.  The total number of immigrants is 
estimated as high as one million, nearly one-fifth of 
the work force.  About fifty percent of them are 
undocumented or hold residence permits that have 
expired.  Greece has started a process to regularize 
the status of these immigrants, necessary to 
integrate them into society, but this effort has been 
marred due to serious bureaucratic problems. 
Approximately half of the estimated one million 
aliens in the country are from neighboring Albania. 
 
Overall, the 2004 unemployment rate in Greece was 
around 11 percent.  The Greek government is currently 
negotiating social security reforms with bank 
employees.  Earlier social security reforms enacted 
in 2002 caused considerable labor protests. Labor- 
management relations in the private sector are 
generally good, but difficulties exist in the public 
sector, as evidenced by the higher level of strikes, 
labor stoppages, and related job actions by public 
sector employees. 
 
Greece has ratified ILO Conventions protecting 
workers' rights.  Specific legislation provides for 
the right of association and the rights to strike, 
organize, and bargain collectively.  Greek labor laws 
prohibit forced or compulsory labor, set a minimum 
age (15) for the employment of children and determine 
acceptable work conditions and minimum occupational 
health and safety standards. 
 
¶E. Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports 
--------------------------------- 
 
Greece has three free-trade zones, located at 
Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Heraklion port areas. Greek 
and foreign-owned firms enjoy the same advantages in 
these areas.  Goods of foreign origin may be brought 
into these zones without payment of customs duties or 
other taxes and remain free of all duties and taxes 
if subsequently transshipped or re-exported. 
Similarly, documents pertaining to the receipt, 
storage, or transfer of goods within the zones are 
free from stamp taxes. 
 
Handling operations are carried out according to EU 
regulations 2504/88 and 2562/90.  Transit goods may 
be held in the zones free of bond.  The zones also 
may be used for repackaging, sorting and re-labeling 
operations.  Assembly and manufacture of goods are 
carried out on a small scale in the Thessaloniki Free 
Zone.  Storage time is unlimited, as long as 
warehouse charges are promptly paid every six months. 
 
¶F. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics 
--------------------------------------- 
 
Statistics on foreign direct investment are not 
collected systemically.  Hence there is a wide 
variation in estimated data on investment levels, 
which in any case are the lowest in the EU. Greek 
statistical data were previously based on records of 
investment approvals kept by the Ministry of National 
Economy or the Bank of Greece.  The lifting of 
foreign exchange restrictions resulted in less 
monitoring of investment inflows and the Ministry of 
National Economy now keeps records of only the 
investments that seek government assistance.  Bank of 
Greece records of capital inflows do not distinguish 
among greenfield investments, acquisitions, foreign 
borrowing by Greek companies, and other capital 
transfers.  The Greek Government has claimed for 
several years now that a new data system based on 
surveys is being set up. 
 
Although there is no official estimate of total 
foreign investment in Greece, the total stock of 
foreign investment is estimated at around $8 billion, 
or approximately 4.6 percent of GDP (in 2003).  Until 
the Greek Government provides more reliable data, 
this estimate should serve only as a guideline. 
Again highlighting the absence of reliable data, the 
U.S. Embassy estimates the total stock of U.S. 
investment to be about $2.3 billion, about one-third 
of the total stock of foreign investment.  U.S. firms 
employ about 8,000 people. 
 
Greece's investment abroad is mainly directed to the 
Balkans.  According to the Greek Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, Greek direct investment in the Balkans is 
estimated at 7.2 billion dollars, one third of which 
is invested in Serbia, one third in Romania, and the 
remaining one third in the Republic of Macedonia, 
Bulgaria and Albania. 
 
 
Major U.S. investments in Greece: 
 
(Based on 2002 total assets as reported by the 
companies.  Source: 2004 ICAP - Greek Financial 
Directory) 
 
NAME OF AMERICAN COMPANY       TOTAL ASSETS 
(NAME OF GREEK COMPANY)     (2002, US $ MILLIONS) 
 
Philip Morris Group              448.3 
(Papastratos) 
(Kraft Hellas) 
Hyatt Hotels Corp.               238.4 
Crown Cork and Seal              172.7 
(Hellas Can Packaging Mfrs) 
Searle (Vianex)                  128.5 
Bristol-Myers Squibb              82.6 
Abbott Laboratories               79.9 
Pepsico                           77.3 
Johnson & Johnson                 75.1 
Procter & Gamble                  69.1 
Schering-Plough                   64.6 
IBM                               57.0 
Colgate Palmolive                 54.0 
Heinz (Copais)                    32.2 
McDonald's                        31.5 
Dow Chemicals                     29.0 
Xerox                             26.6 
3M                                18.9 
Marriott (Asty)                   18.9 
Mobil Oil                         17.1 
S.C. Johnson and Son              13.5 
GE Wind                            6.1 
 
TOTAL                          1,741.3 
 
 
Major non-U.S. foreign investments in Greece are: 
 
NAME OF FOREIGN COMPANY       TOTAL ASSETS 
(NAME OF GREEK COMPANY)    (2002, US $ MILLIONS) 
 
 PRIVATE  BRITISH tc  \l 5 "BRITISH" 
 
Vodafone1,324.4 
Dixons Overseas Limited242.2 
(Kotsovolos) 
) 
British American Tobacco          78.4 
Knorr                             23.2 
 
TOTAL                          1,668.2 
 
 
 PRIVATE  FRENCH tc  \l 5 "FRENCH" 
 
Carrefour              668.0 
Lafarge                  434.8 
(Heracles General Cement) 
Alcatel (Nexans Hellas)           50.3 
L'Oreal                           49.0 
Air Liquide                       42.7 
Pernod Ricard (EPOM)              32.2 
 
TOTAL                          1,277.0 
 
 
ITALIAN 
 
Telestet 833.8 
(TIM Hellas) 
Fulgorcavi Halia                  97.7 
(Fulgor Greek Electric Cables) 
Italcimenti                       95.6 
(Halyps Building Materials) 
Barilla (Misko)                   58.6 
 
 PRIVATE  TOTAL                          1,085.7 
 
 
 PRIVATE  NETHERLANDS tc  \l 5 "NETHERLANDS" 
 
Shell                            334.0 
Amstel-Heineken                  322.8 
(Athenian Brewery) 
Unilever                         215.4 
(Elais Oleaginous Products) 
(Unilever Hellas) 
Friesland                         33.6 
 
6 
 
TOTAL                            905.8 
 
 
 PRIVATE  GERMAN tc  \l 5 "GERMAN" 
 
Siemens Tele Industrie A.G       230.0 
Praktiker                         70.9 
Bayer                             47.2 
Beiersdorf                        32.9 
Triumph International             16.7 
 
TOTAL                            397.7 
 
 
 
 PRIVATE   tc  \l 5 "" 
RIES