The latest edition of EY Greece’s EY Attractiveness Survey Greece 2026 records an increase in investment projects, alongside improvements in key indicators of Greece’s appeal as an investment destination.
The findings are particularly significant given the backdrop of heightened geopolitical turmoil and a continued decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) globally and across Europe.
The survey, which examines the country’s appeal as an investment destination, was conducted through online interviews by FT Longitude on behalf of EY Greece. It covered 250 executives from foreign businesses between 27 March and 23 April 2026.
The findings were presented by George Papadimitriou, chief executive of EY Greece, at a press conference attended by Spyros Theodoropoulos, president of SEV, and George Chondroyannis, director of the Economic Analysis and Research Department at the Bank of Greece.
Investment in Greece rises in 2025
Last year, 47 investment projects were recorded in Greece, according to EY’s European Investment Monitor (EIM) database, which has tracked the number of greenfield investments creating new facilities and jobs since 2000.
The figure was up 34% from 2024, confirming the steady upward trend in foreign direct investment in the country at a time when investment activity in Europe is declining (down 7% in 2025 and 24% since 2017 across Europe).
In total, investments in Greece over the past five years account for 45% of all greenfield FDI in the country since 2000.
EIM data also confirm a shift in greenfield investment towards higher-value-added activities and sectors. The largest share of investment went to software and IT services, as well as professional and business services (23%), while investment also increased in transport and logistics (21%) and agri-food (9%).
Intention to invest reaches a record high
In the EY survey, 55% of participants said their business planned to establish or expand operations in Greece over the coming year. This is the highest proportion since the survey was first conducted in Greece in 2019.
Greece’s appeal improves
Meanwhile, 58% of respondents said their view of Greece as a place where their business could establish or expand operations had improved over the past year, while 68% expect the country’s appeal to improve over the next three years (up from 63% in 2025).
At the same time, 82% consider Greece’s policy for attracting international investors effective. The figure is unchanged from 2025 and is the highest recorded by the survey.
Participants identified geopolitical tensions or conflicts (34%) and macroeconomic conditions (31%) as the main potential threats to Greece’s appeal over the next three years.
Despite these risks, which affect all of Europe, only 22% of participants said their businesses had postponed, cancelled or scaled back investment plans, a markedly lower proportion than in the European survey (34%).
Advantages, challenges and priorities
Respondents identified geographical location (31%), quality of life, safety, diversity and culture (26%), and political stability (25%) as the country’s main competitive advantages. By contrast, they cited the regulatory environment (28%), the level of innovation and research and development (26%), and energy costs (24%) as the areas most in need of improvement.
The main areas on which Greece should focus to maintain its competitive position in the global economy are improving the education system and skills, and facilitating access to talent (30%); supporting strategic sectors such as cleantech, AI, defence and technology (30%); and investing in major infrastructure projects (26%).
Contributions to the survey were made by Greece’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis; Takis Theodorikakos, Minister of Development; Niki Kerameus, Minister of Labour and Social Security; and Dimitris Papastergiou, Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence. Also contributing were Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece; Marinos Giannopoulos, chief executive of Enterprise Greece; and George Christopoulos, director general of SEV.
Presenting the findings, George Papadimitriou, chief executive of EY Greece, said: “For another year, our survey confirms that Greece has what it takes to claim an even stronger position on the European and international investment map.
To turn potential into tangible value and enable the country to capitalise on the positive momentum built up in recent years, further strengthening its appeal, targeted action is needed to act as a catalyst for the productive transformation of the Greek economy.
By focusing on higher-value-added sectors such as technology and software, ensuring access to talent with modern skills, and further strengthening digital competitiveness, Greece can continue to earn the trust of foreign investors by offering stability in an environment of uncertainty and change”.
Spyros Theodoropoulos, president of SEV, said at the press conference: “Greece is on the road to recovery, but still has many issues to address. Three conditions are needed for us to keep moving forward.
First, we must guard fiscal discipline jealously; it has improved our standing internationally. Second, we need to invest more in production. Not all investments have the same multiplier effect on the economy: productive investment creates lasting economic activity and jobs. And third, we must ensure political stability, regardless of which government emerges from the next election”.