The Observatory for the Information Society is a Private Law Body Corporate administratively and financially independent. It was founded by means of Law 3059/2002 (Government Gazette Α 241/11.10.2002) and is supervised by the Ministers of National Economy and Finance και of Internal Affairs, Public Administration and Decentralization.

The Observatory forms the third pylon of the OPIS (Operational Programme for Information Society). Together with the Special Managing Service of the O.P. and “Information Society S.A.” they all form its main implementation mechanisms and contribute to the fulfillment of its objectives.

The Observatory’s mission is to:

• Measure and evaluate the country’s progress with regard to its course towards the IS
• Contribute to the country’s effort to achieve the IS goals

Through its activity the Observatory seeks to:

• validly and timely document the quantitative and qualitative data referring to the progress of the ICT sector towards the IS,
• improve the cognitive base on which the national strategy and the IS actions are based,
• transfer and disseminate best methods and practices, and contribute to the exchange of experiences, know-how and information among institutions from Greece and abroad,
• link the offered services to the securing of equivalent resources.

The Observatory for the IS has been selected as the Best Practice among 60 programmes that were submitted by the Managing Authorities from EU Member-States as well as from Bulgaria and Romania during the 4th consecutive Conference titled “New Horizons – Shaping Best Practice IV” held in the city of Graz, Austria during 15-17 November 2006.