THE IMPACT OF E-GOVERNMENT ON MODERNIZING GREEK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION BEFORE AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

E-government in the Greek public administration is constantly evolving. At the same time, however, its development presents significant delays, mainly due to the long-term entanglements of the public administration. In addition, the initial suspicion and limited public confidence in the public administration should be addressed. Many citizens do not have the necessary digital skills to benefit from the use of ICT. The coronavirus pandemic accelerated the process of digital transformation of the Greek State, as it showed that this choice is one way. The Greek state proceeded to the drafting of the National Plan for Recovery and Sustainability "Greece 2.0", creating a new productive model, which will help the country, the economy and society itself to enter a new era leaving behind problems and delays created by the long economic crisis and the pandemic. It should be emphasized, however, that although the pandemic is a lever for the reform of the public administration and a driving force for the restart of the country's economy, unfortunately significant weaknesses in the Greek e-government remain and costly and time-consuming processes still exist. The consequence of these structural features is that the procedures of the public administration are reconstructed, as the pre-existing procedures are re-evaluated, abolished or restructured and are interconnected in hierarchical and sequential relations.