Greece is divided into 14 administrative regions, which constitute the first level of the country's two-tier local government structure. Established in their current form following the 2010 Kallikratis reform, these regions serve as decentralized administrative units responsible for regional planning, economic development, transportation infrastructure, environmental management, and public health services. Each region is governed by a directly elected regional council and regional governor who serve four-year terms. The regions coordinate policies between the central government in Athens and the second-level municipalities, managing EU structural funds and implementing regional development programs. This administrative framework replaced the previous system of prefectures and aimed to streamline governance while enhancing local autonomy in areas such as spatial planning, tourism promotion, and cultural affairs.