ABTTF President: “As clearly stated in the reports of EEDA and the European Commission, the systematic violation of the rule of law in our country is now an undeniable reality. Our country’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, disregards the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments concerning three associations of our community. By failing to execute these judgments for over 17 years, our country disregards its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, to which it is a party, and disregards the rule of law’’.
The Greek National Human Rights Commission (EEDA) issued warnings regarding the state of the rule of law and the functioning of the judiciary in the country, based on the European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report.
In its report, EEDA notes that the judiciary in Greece is not functioning effectively, that women’s access to justice is limited, and that judicial proceedings are excessively long, adding that Greece is not complying with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments.
Criticising threats to freedom of expression and political interference in independent institutions, EEDA points out that the decision-making periods of national courts are well above the EU average, that lawyers working within the scope of legal aid have not been paid for years, and that the judiciary is generally far from being independent, fair and effective.
‘‘It is important that EEDA, which is an independent advisory body to the state on matters relating to the protection of human rights, draws attention to the issues faced in our country regarding the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and issues warnings to the government. This is because EEDA consists of representatives from independent national authorities, universities, trade unions, NGOs, bar associations, political parties and various ministries, among others. As clearly indicated in the reports of EEDA and the European Commission, the systematic violation of the rule of law in our country is now an indisputable fact. Following a series of legal scandals in recent years, the citizens’ faith in the independence of the judiciary is virtually non-existent. Our country’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, is disregarding the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments concerning three associations of our community. By failing to execute these judgments for over 17 years, our country is disregarding its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, to which it is a party, and the rule of law’’, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
