The Ministry of Citizen Protection is embarking on one of the largest security and modernization programs in recent history, with a budget close to €650 million.
The ambitious plan, financed largely through national funds, marks a significant leap forward from previous efforts. Notably, Greece’s earlier police modernization program, launched in 2020, had a mere €31 million budget in comparison.
The new program includes a wide range of initiatives, from the procurement of advanced vehicles and drones to the implementation of a new national identity system. The ministry plans to open tenders for new identity card issuance systems soon, a project that was previously halted in 2022 due to the fallout from wiretapping scandals.
A key component of the program is the acquisition of 2,000 body cameras for frontline police officers. These body cams, which will be attached to officers’ uniforms and their patrol vehicles, are expected to improve transparency and accountability. A competition for the cameras, valued at €7 million, will soon be under way. This move follows a 2020 pilot initiative, although large-scale implementation had been delayed until now.
The program has been dubbed “strategic,” reflecting its wide scope and national security implications. Among the major projects planned is the development of an electronic surveillance system to monitor Greece’s borders. Additionally, there are plans for encrypted communication systems for the police, a project that has seen delays since the contract for the Tetra Sepura communication system expired earlier this year.
The first tender of the program, worth €4 million, is already in motion. It concerns the procurement of 100 hybrid SUVs, with bids closing on November 25. By the end of the year, further tenders will be issued for additional vehicles aimed at border control and immigration enforcement, with an estimated value of €85 million. Drones, thermal imaging cameras, and counterfeit document detection systems are also in the pipeline, all tied to border security and monitoring of migration flows.
Of the €650 million, €429 million will come from national funds, with the remainder sourced from European funds earmarked for border protection. This program will be managed by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, which has also overseen large-scale procurements for other government sectors.