EU Cohesion Policy in Greece: Patterns of Governance and Europeanization ∗

The article employs a bottom-up approach inspired by historical institutionalism to examine the implementation of EU cohesion policy in Greece. Its objective is to identify the main characteristics of the Greek response to the multiple and mutating challenges of adopting novel policy goals, maximizing the effectiveness of a cluster of policies permeating sectoral lines and enhancing participation in policy-making. Contrary to expectations, it is found that EU influence does not manifest itself principally in the field of territorial relations, where the evolution of the Greek model has been dictated essentially by domestic forces, but in the domain of policy objectives, policy style and practices. In fact, the main policy tendencies exposed (centralism, technocratic policy-making and the proliferation of semi-autonomous structures operating ‘outside’ mainstream public administration) reflect a pattern of accommodation emphasizing managerial efficiency at the expense of participation.