Policies regarding rural areas formed part of the process of national integration and urban modernization. The geographical region of Macedonia is where new programmes about rural space were implemented. The policies

aimed to consolidate Greek supremacy in terms of technical infrastructure (land reclamation, the construction of roads, railway links with southern Greece - completed in 1918 - improvements to the harbour of Thessaloniki), which were considered to be the prerequisites of social and economic development.
At the same time, thought was given to national and social policy. As early as 1918, the Ministry of Transport elaborated an ambitious programme for the settlements of eastern Macedonia, and to this end took into account the needs of local people, examined the eligibility of sites, made up-to-date maps and plans of facilities and buildings.

The objective, which was completed in the following period with the refugee settlement and agricultural reforms, was the national homogenization of the area (demographic reinforcement of the Greek element, removal of cultural peculiarities) and economic and social development according to the needs of urban modernization, by wiping out traditional features of the economy and society of the area.