ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 issuing of residence permits for TCNs (by allowing, for example, for the automatic search of a number of required documents through inter-operational technologies), and to improve their awareness of the current legislation on the granting and renewal of residence permits and the implementing procedures. 1.3 Economic migration 1.3.1 Satisfying labour market needs Describe whether and how your (Member) State analyses its labour market and skills needs / shortages, and any cooperation with other (Member States), for example, through the Public Employment Services. Please describe the (planned) introduction of any new labour migration policies or changes to the existing ones, e.g. introduction of quota, lists of professions, agreement with specific third countries, use of private recruitment agencies / services, etc.). Also consider the effect of the economic crisis on labour migration (e.g. revision of quota, reduction of professions listed, etc.) and how economic migration is considered to contribute to economic growth. Greece has been implementing a process of inviting third countries nationals. Under the provisions of Law 3386/2005, a third country national can be employed in Greece by a specific employer for a certain type of employment if he/she has been granted the appropriate visa (visa D). The labor market needs, job vacancies per specialty, county and duration of employment that can be covered by a third country national are recorded in a report drawn up at regional level in every District177 in the last quarter of each year. This report is then forwarded to the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection & Welfare and communicated to the Ministry of Interior. On the basis of these reports the Ministry of Labour is drawing up together with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, a Joint Ministerial Decision which defines the maximum number of residence permits for work allocated each year to nationals of third countries, per county, nationality, type and duration of employment and other pertinent details. The decision shall be communicated to the relevant regions, the Employment Service, the Ministries and the relevant Greek consular authorities. An employer, who wishes to employ a third-country national (as dependent employee), provided that the corresponding position is foreseen in the Joint Ministerial Decision, must submit an application to the territorially competent Service for Foreigners and Immigration of the Decentralized Administration178 177 Districts are the 13 second tier, elected, local government organisations of the Greek state. Each District is a legal entity of public law covering a wider area of the country (except Mount Athos) and it has its own separate services and budget. 178Decentralised Administration is a tier of the Greek government, which was established by Law 3852/2010. There are in total seven Decentralized Administration Authorities, their area of responsibility is ranging from one to three districts and they are tasked with the implementation of government policies 2