Region of Central Macedonia 
Regions according to the Law 3852/2010 “New Architecture of the Self-Government and Decentralized Administration – Kallikratis Programme” are self-governed public bodies and represent the second degree of local government. Regions design, plan and implement policies at regional level in the context of their jurisdiction, according to the principles of sustainable development and social inclusion of the country and in line with national and European policies.
Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) is a public authority at the second degree of local government, operating at regional level (NUTS 2). It is comprised of seven regional units (former “prefectures”): Imathia, Thessaloniki, Pella, Kilkis, Pieria, Serres and Chalkidiki. Its regional administration is structured at central and regional level. According to its structure all the relative regional units organizationally belong to the central administration which is seated in Thessaloniki.
RCM borders with the Region of Western Macedonia at the west, the Region of Eastern Macedonia at the east, the Aegean Sea at the south, and the states of FYROM and Bulgaria at the north. It is the largest Region occupying 14,5% of the country’s total size and the second largest Region with 17,1% of the country’s total population (1.871.952 inhabitants), out of which 40% lives in the capital of the Region, Thessaloniki.
