Interview with the Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, on grtraveller

 

The leaps that have been made in recent years for the digital transformation of Greece have made life easier for citizens. What are the next steps? What priorities has the Ministry of Digital Governance set to reduce bureaucracy and protect against any challenges the internet may present? The Minister for Digital Governance, Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, the man who before assuming the ministerial post, transformed an entire municipality digitally, talks to grtraveller about how technology and the endless possibilities provided by artificial intelligence will contribute to further improving the lives of citizens and about his favourite destination, Trikala.

 

 

When you simplify procedures,

you reduce bureaucracy,

accelerate the Civil Service,

you have a genuine respect for the citizens and their time.

 

We live in the age of new technologies and the digital transformation of all aspects of everyday life. What is your personal attitude towards technology and its role in improving human life?

I have been interested in technology for almost as long as I can remember myself, I am fascinated by it and I am constantly involved with it. That is why I chose to study polytechnics. So, you can see first-hand that I am improving my life every day thanks to technology. As someone who has been involved in the public sphere for decades and now as a Minister, I could not but ensure that it is used for the benefit of citizens on an ongoing basis. I am proud because Trikala, the city where I was mayor, has become a model in terms of digital applications. Everyone admits the leaps that have been made in Greece in recent years in this area and I assure you that now, by exploiting the potential of emerging technologies, we will be able to take the country to another level digitally. Exploiting, for example, the endless potential of AI is an opportunity that we cannot afford to let go to waste and which can transform the whole spectrum of our lives for the better.

On the other hand, are we ready for the challenges or possibly the ethical issues that arise and will arise from the development of technology?

The more technology advances, the more forcefully we need to address the ethical and legal issues of this progress. We have an obligation to define the limits of this evolution and the relationship between man and technology. In this direction, coordinated institutional and technical preparation is needed.

I will give the example of the law implementing the EU Digital Services Act. We have adopted specific rules at European level to strengthen the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights when using online platforms. At the same time, we are creating the appropriate legal framework to tackle phenomena such as misinformation or the circulation of illegal content, misleading advertisements, deep fake products on the internet.

 

 

 

Tell us a few words about the mAigov app, its functions and how they will help citizens and businesses?

With the Digital Assistant-mAigov, the first Artificial Intelligence application of the Greek State, we have inaugurated a new era in the citizen-state relationship. mAigov answers at any time the questions that citizens ask on issues of Public Administration by drawing information from more than 1714 services of gov.gr and more than 3320 procedures of MITOS. Citizens have welcomed the application with great enthusiasm. Recently the Digital Assistant has become multilingual as it “speaks” the 24 official languages of the European Union and Albanian.
Soon its functions will be extended, as it will also be able to take actions on our behalf. It will issue certificates, make appointments for us in public institutions. The contact between citizens and businesses and the public administration becomes simpler, friendlier, more direct.

To what extent has the digital transformation affected public services in Greece and how do you see this development affecting the daily life of citizens in the future?

The digital transformation of the state is inextricably linked to the modernisation of public services, with two-way positive results for both citizens and the public administration. When you simplify procedures, reduce bureaucracy, speed up public administration, you show respect for citizens and their time. Just think how many queues in front of counters we save by offering over 1714 services of gov.gr. At the same time, however, in this way we are saving important state resources, both human and material, which we can allocate for the effective service of the citizen. So we are continuing the digital switchover with the same intensity. By 2027, we aim to provide all public services digitally. With each passing day, we are closer to its realization.

What is the main strategy of the state to support Greek businesses in their digital transformation process and how do you encourage the adoption of new technologies?

Our aim at the Ministry of Digital Governance is to contribute so that all institutions and businesses are participants in the digital transition of the Greek society and economy. In this context, we are using the resources of the Recovery and Resilience Fund and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. For example, with the “Digital Transformation of SMEs” action, with a total budget of more than €440 million, thousands of businesses are modernising their administrative, production and commercial activities. For example, over 60 thousand applications for the supply of new digital tools and over 120 thousand applications for the supply or replacement of POS have been approved.

Which of your trips to Greece have left you with the best memories?

If we choose one part of Greece, we will clearly do injustice to countless others. From the mountains of Epirus to the beaches of Crete, our country is ideal for travel and intense experiences. Of course the ideal destination is always Trikala. The unparalleled beauty, the hospitality of the people, the attentive catering and accommodation facilities make up the perfect choice for a peaceful and carefree holiday. I highly recommend it!