Kallikratis

Kallikratis Plan (Greek: Καλλικράτης) is the name given to the 2010 reform of local government in Greece. Named after the ancient architect Kallikrates, it was implemented by the Ministry of the Interior and replaced the Kapodistrias Plan of 1997. The reform took effect in 2011 and aimed to streamline local administration and curb fragmentation during a period of financial crisis.

The core changes included a substantial reduction of municipalities—from about 1,034 to 325 through mergers—along with the abolition of prefectural authorities. It created 13 peripheries (regions) at the top level, with 74 regional units beneath them, and established seven decentralized administrations that oversee the peripheries on behalf of the central government. This introduced a three-tier structure: municipalities for local self-government, regional units within the peripheries, and the central state via the decentralized administrations.

The reform sought to improve efficiency, planning, and service delivery by reallocating powers and consolidating budgets. It faced criticism over centralization, funding constraints, and uneven implementation across regions, and the transition required substantial administrative capacity-building at the local level. Since its adoption, Kallikratis has remained the prevailing framework for local government organization in Greece, though subsequent reforms and adjustments have continued to address fiscal and governance challenges.