On 19 February 2025, the Europe Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe released its concluding observations on whether and how Greece has implemented the priority recommendations of its 6th country report on Greece, published in September 2022.
In its conclusions, which are based on the Greek government’s responses and information gathered from other sources, ECRI notes that it recognises the positive steps taken by Greece but notes that much of the rhetoric has not translated into action.
ECRI welcomes the Greek government’s efforts to strengthen the institution of the Ombudsman but indicates that its recommendation to enact legislation enabling the Ombudsman to intervene as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in court cases by providing information, expertise or insights has not been implemented to date.
ECRI recognises the important efforts and positive steps taken in the field of intersex persons but notes that Greece has only partially implemented its recommendation in this regard.
In its sixth country report on Greece, ECRI expressed concern about the continuing inequalities and racism in policing in the country and noted that hate speech in the country is sometimes expressed by politicians and even state officials.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) actively participated in the preparation process of ECRI’s 6th country report on Greece and submitted a written statement to ECRI on discrimination, racism and hate speech against the Turkish community in Western Thrace in Greece. Within the scope of ECRI’s visit to Greece in November 2021, ABTTF participated in the meeting with civil society organisations in Athens, where it realised a presentation on the current and fundamental issues of the Turkish community in Western Thrace in Greece under the headings of denial of the ethnic Turkish identity, freedom of association, freedom of religion, education and hate speech/hate-based attacks.
