This index compares EU/EEA/EFTA members for intra-European sourcing decisions. Scores reflect relative risk between member states from a Nordic buyer perspective.

weighted score 5.4 · seven dimensions

Intra-EU/EEA Sourcing Risk

Greece

Governance, labour enforcement, regulatory gap, transparency, political risk, payment risk and logistics connectivity intelligence for Greece as an intra-EU sourcing origin.

Governance & rule of law

Mid-range CPI. Improving trajectory since the debt crisis. Slow courts and bureaucratic complexity remain. Public administration reform ongoing.

Labour standards enforcement

Approximately 25% of GDP in undeclared work by some estimates. Under-resourced labour inspectorate. Seasonal sectors (tourism, agriculture) are high-risk.

Regulatory enforcement gap

EU directives transposed but enforcement lags. High number of EU infringement proceedings. Environmental enforcement a concern. Reform momentum positive.

Supply chain transparency

GEMI registry improving. Heavily SME-dominated economy with limited formal reporting in smaller firms. Beneficial ownership registers in place.

Political & EU-integration risk

EU member since 1981. Eurozone member. Post-crisis political stability restored. No EU-alignment risk despite southeastern border position.

Payment & insolvency risk

Very long payment terms and high overdue rates. Slow insolvency courts despite 2021 reform. Banking sector recovered. Credit insurance recommended.

Logistics & Nordic connectivity

Southeastern tip of Europe. Far from Nordic markets. 5-7 day road transit. Limited direct shipping connections despite strong maritime industry.

Governance & Rule of Law

CPI score: Greece scores in the mid-range among EU member states on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Governance has improved since the debt crisis era but gaps remain.
Judicial system: Greece has an independent judiciary but court proceedings are slow. Administrative and commercial court backlogs are significant, reducing the practical effectiveness of legal enforcement.
Public administration: Greece has been reforming its public administration since the debt crisis. Digital governance initiatives have improved service delivery but bureaucratic complexity remains a challenge.
Buyer implication: Moderate governance risk. Improving trajectory since the debt crisis. Public procurement and government-related contracting may still involve bureaucratic delays.

TI Corruption Perceptions Index →

Labour Standards Enforcement

Undeclared work: Greece has one of the highest rates of undeclared work in the EU, estimated at approximately 25% of GDP by some measures. The informal economy is deeply embedded, particularly in tourism, agriculture, and construction.
Labour inspectorate: The labour inspectorate (SEPE) has been strengthened in recent years but remains under-resourced relative to the scale of the informal economy.
Seasonal sectors: Tourism and agriculture are heavily seasonal, creating labour market dynamics that complicate enforcement. Migrant workers in these sectors are particularly vulnerable.
Buyer implication: Elevated labour risk due to the scale of undeclared work. Supply chains touching agriculture, tourism services, or construction require enhanced labour due diligence.

Regulatory Enforcement Gap

EU compliance: Greece transposes EU directives but enforcement has historically lagged. The country has among the highest numbers of EU infringement proceedings.
Environmental enforcement: Environmental enforcement is a concern, particularly regarding waste management, coastal development, and wildfire prevention measures.
Reform momentum: Post-crisis reforms have improved regulatory capacity. Digital platforms for permits and compliance have reduced some enforcement gaps.
Buyer implication: Moderate regulatory gap. Improving trajectory but enforcement capacity remains limited in some areas. Independent verification of environmental and safety compliance is advisable.

Supply Chain Transparency

Company registries: Greece maintains commercial registries (GEMI). Digital transformation has improved data accessibility but completeness varies.
SME-dominated economy: The Greek economy is heavily SME-dominated. Micro-enterprises and family businesses may have limited formal reporting and transparency.
Beneficial ownership: Greece has implemented EU beneficial ownership directives. Register quality is improving but cross-verification is advisable for complex structures.
Buyer implication: Moderate transparency. Large firms and exporters are generally transparent. SME and family business supply chains may require more proactive due diligence.

Political & EU-Integration Risk

EU membership: Greece has been an EU member since 1981 and a Eurozone member since 2001. Despite the debt crisis, Greece remained in the Eurozone and is committed to the European project.
Political stability: Greece has returned to political stability following the turbulent debt crisis years. The current political landscape is more predictable than the 2010-2015 period.
Geopolitical position: Greece is on the EU's southeastern external border. Relations with Turkey remain a diplomatic factor but do not create practical sourcing risk.
Buyer implication: Low political risk. Post-crisis stability and continued EU/Eurozone commitment provide policy predictability. No fundamental EU-alignment risk.

Payment & Insolvency Risk

Payment culture: Greece has very long B2B payment terms by EU standards. Late payments are common and average days overdue are among the highest in the EU.
Insolvency framework: Greece reformed its insolvency framework in 2021. The new system is more modern but court capacity and case backlog remain significant bottlenecks.
Banking sector: The Greek banking sector has recovered from the crisis era. Non-performing loans have been substantially reduced. Capital controls were fully lifted.
Buyer implication: Elevated payment risk. Very long payment terms and slow courts mean contractual enforcement is difficult. Credit insurance or advance payment terms are strongly recommended.

Intrum European Payment Report →

Logistics & Nordic Connectivity

Geographic position: Greece is at the southeastern tip of Europe, far from Nordic markets. It is one of the most distant EU members from Scandinavia.
Shipping industry: Greece has a world-class shipping industry but this primarily serves global maritime routes. Direct Nordic freight connections by sea are limited.
Overland routes: Road freight to Scandinavia is possible via the Balkans and Central Europe but transit times are long (5-7 days). Limited direct rail freight options.
Buyer implication: Elevated logistics risk for Nordic buyers. Long transit times and limited direct shipping connections make Greece one of the more challenging EU sourcing origins for Nordic supply chains.

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