In 2011, the NUTS1 code of Greece was changed from GR to EL. GR1 was changed to EL5, GR2 to EL6, GR3 to EL3 and GR4 to EL4.[1] The change became official per European Commission regulation No. 31/2011. With regard to the transmission of data to Eurostat, the new codes entered into force by 1 January 2012.[2]
Following the Kallikratis territorial reform, the NUTS regions of Greece were redefined. With the region of Epirus being reclassified as part of Voreia Ellada ("Northern Greece", former EL1), and the region of Thessaly in exchange going to Kentriki Ellada ("Central Greece", former EL2), new NUTS1 codes have been assigned to both regions. Apart from that, a number of third-level divisions have been changed. The changes became official in December 2013 by European Commission regulation No. 1319/2013. With regard to the transmission of data to Eurostat, the new codes entered into force on 1 January 2015.[3]