On the eve of the 21st century, the Information Society (IS) creates a new environment and new opportunities for growth, prosperity and quality of life. Its development relies on the rapid progress of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). These technologies are an essential tool for open and effective governing and the supply of improved services to the public.

At the same time they create a new, knowledge-based economy and they upgrade the role of the human resources. In order to promote IS in Greece in a cohesive and comprehensive fashion, a special Operational Program for IS (OPIS) has been formed within the scope of the 3rd CSF. The OPIS is innovative and horizontal in nature, crossing different government services.

It is the result of complete and supplementary interventions in varying aspects of the financial and social life to facilitate the expansion of IS in Greece.

On one hand, its aim is to apply the main points of the White Paper of the Greek government titled ‘Greece in the Information Technology: Strategy and Actions’ of 1999, as it is brought up to date, taking into account the developments and actions of the last few years, and on the other hand to meet the targets set by the eEurope initiative and the eEurope Action Plan 2002 which was approved by the European Council at Feira in June 2000, as well as achieving the new targets of the eEurope initiative, which is, the 2005 Action Plan.