Institutional, Legislative and Operational Evolution of Civil Protection in Greece: From the Early Regulations to the Establishment of an Integrated Disaster Management System

Abstract

This paper examines the institutional and legislative evolution of civil protection in Greece, tracing its development from the first fragmented regulatory interventions to the gradual formation of a more comprehensive disaster management framework. Drawing on a historical-institutional approach and qualitative analysis of major legislative and organizational milestones, the study explores how civil protection evolved into a distinct field of public policy, shaped by changing administrative priorities, growing risk complexity, and the need for coordination among multiple levels of governance. Particular emphasis is placed on the establishment of key institutions, the progressive clarification of competences, and the increasing incorporation of prevention, preparedness, response, and citizen protection into the policy framework. The paper argues that the Greek civil protection system has gradually moved from a reactive and sectorally fragmented model towards a more structured and integrated approach to disaster management. At the same time, it highlights persistent challenges related to institutional coherence, operational coordination, and implementation capacity. In this context, the article also briefly discusses the main contemporary civil protection plans, presenting them as the operational expression of the broader institutional and legislative maturation of the system. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of the evolution of civil protection in Greece as a dynamic and increasingly strategic domain of public policy.