ABTTF President: “It is impossible to effectively protect fundamental rights in an environment where the rule of law is eroding. As the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, we too have long faced similar structural issues regarding our fundamental rights, such as freedom of association, education, and religious autonomy. It is of great importance that European Union institutions continue to resolutely monitor the shortcomings regarding the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece’’.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) participated in a meeting held in Brussels on 13 July 2026 held at the European Parliament’s (EP) Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) regarding the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Group, which operates under the LIBE Committee.
At the meeting, attended by the ABTTF Brussels Representative Office, recent developments regarding the rule of law in EU Member States were assessed; concerns regarding judicial independence, high-level corruption investigations, media freedom, and accountability in public administration in Greece were also raised.
During the meeting, the Monitoring Group Chair, MEP Sophie Wilmès, noted that Greece had been examined in detail as part of the assessments of nine countries conducted during the first half of the year. Wilmès indicated that, despite consultations with European Union institutions, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), and civil society organisations, serious concerns persisted regarding the effectiveness of judicial processes, high-level corruption investigations, and the transparency of public officials in Greece. Furthermore, highlighting the critical role of civil society organisations in upholding the rule of law, Wilmès emphasised the importance of removing the administrative obstacles these organisations face and ensuring they can carry out their activities freely.
“The concerns raised in the European Parliament regarding Greece are not limited solely to judicial independence and corruption; they demonstrate that issues concerning the rule of law and democratic oversight mechanisms in the country remain on the agenda of European institutions It is impossible to effectively protect fundamental rights in an environment where the rule of law is eroding. As the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, we too have long faced similar structural issues regarding our fundamental rights, such as freedom of association, education, and religious autonomy. It is of great importance that European Union institutions continue to resolutely monitor the shortcomings regarding the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece’’, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe.
