The report Rule of Law 2020 by the European Commission identifies serious problems in Greece regarding the administration of justice, the pluralism in the media, the fight against corruption, the activities of lobbies as well as the protection of whistle-blowers.
According to the report, Greece has adopted a significant number of justice reforms initiated in the context of the three economic adjustment programmes, however, the implementation record shows mixed results and the justice system continues to face challenges as regards its quality and efficiency.
Each citizen deserves to have access to independent judges, to benefit from free and pluralistic media, & to trust their fundamental rights are respected.
The first EU-wide #RuleofLaw report shows many EU countries have high rule of law standards but important challenges exist.
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) September 30, 2020
2020 Rule of Law Report on the rule of law situation in Greece
Greece has adopted a significant number of justice reforms initiated in the context of the three economic adjustment programmes. Reform activities included changes in the organisation of courts, measures to improve the management of courts, the broadening of the use of information technology tools in courts and the promotion of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. However, the implementation record shows mixed results and the justice system continues to face challenges as regards its quality and efficiency. Ongoing efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the recent reforms and further progress in the digitalisation of the justice systems are particularly important for achieving concrete results.
Greece embarked on a wide range of anti-corruption reforms in the past years and continues implementing a comprehensive national anti-corruption plan. Efforts have been made to streamline the institutional framework and improve coordination of various agencies and bodies tasked with fighting corruption. A modern legal framework for asset declarations and political party financing is in place, but implementation still shows some gaps. Some obstacles to the prosecution of high-level corruption were eliminated by way of constitutional review in 2019, as procedures regarding immunity regimes and statutes of limitation were modified. A revision of the criminal legislation in June 2019 raised a number of concerns, most notably as regards the criminalisation of bribery. While subsequent revisions remedied this situation, ongoing cases remain affected. Lobbying in Greece remains largely unregulated and the whistle-blower protection framework is incomplete.
The Constitution provides for the protection of freedom of expression and the right to access public information. Structures to ensure media pluralism and press rights are in place. However, some questions exist with regard to the effectiveness of rules geared at ensuring transparency of media ownership. Key concerns relate to insufficient mechanisms to ensure respect for professional standards in the practice of journalism, and precarious working conditions for journalists resulting from, among other things, the economic and financial crisis.
The system of checks and balances in Greece has been facing some challenges in practice. In particular, the process for enacting laws has been under considerable pressure in past years, mainly due to the consequences of the economic and financial crisis. Better regulation principles were not fully adhered to, but recent comprehensive legislation in this field aims at addressing these challenges and is gradually being implemented. Fundamental and constitutional rights are protected through the courts and independent authorities. There is no specific enabling framework for civil society in Greece, and there are civil society organisations active in the field of migration which have expressed concerns that the civic space to operate on the ground has narrowed.
Corruption
Whereas Greece scored 36/100 in 2012 on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, its score increased to 48/100 in 201926,placing Greece 17thin the EU and 60th globally.95% of the respondents to the latest Eurobarometer survey on corruption think that corruption is widespread in their country (EU average: 71%)27. 95% of businesses see corruption as a widespread and more than half (58%) say that corruption is a problem when doing business28. Then, 36% of people consider that there are enough successful prosecutions to deter people from corrupt practices (EU average of 36%) while 20% of companies believe that people and businesses caught for bribing a senior official are appropriately punished, against a EU average of 31%.
Media
Journalists face challenges as regards their working conditions and safety. Working conditions remain problematic and journalists are not free from attacks and threats to their physical integrity. Several attacks on journalists have been reported in the recent past. The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) indicates that, with few exceptions, the main threat to journalists’ safety in Greece comes from far-right extremists61. In 2019 and 2020, the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and Mapping Media Freedom reported nine alerts linked to smear campaigns against journalists, attacks targeting journalists covering migration and refugees issues and Covid-19 state funding to media. Journalists’ unions in Greece provide legal assistance, limited financial support, and training for journalists.
Fll report about the situation in Greece here in pdf
Greece needs to get rid of the old guard in many sectors and start with a new generation. And the concept of Fakelaki needs to rooted out. Corruptions is everywhere but in the Balkans it is in your face. From bribing a cop that sets you up for a speeding violation, to the oil to smear the bureaucratic machine with, to corrupt doctors and judges. It all needs to go.
I don’t need corrupt northern countries telling me how my country should act. Clean your own houses first.
In all areas of life the Greek Government bodies cannot comprehend the basic concept of “the rule of law”.
They very easily make a citizen a non citizen for the most trivial reasons.
Lazy Greek Governments and the casual approach too often by the public service of the rights of citizens is incredible. The Greek Government bodies think its below them to get involved in governing the country.
There are no laws that govern plumbing so Greeks keep used toilet paper in their Bath Rooms. Greeks do not have their rights to clean drinking water recognised. The rights of old people, children and the disabled is not considered when roads and footpaths are constructed. The lack Mosquito control kills children and babies but the deaths are recorded as something else to avoid frightening tourists. Feral dogs and cats roam the streets making walking on public streets impossible or eating in a clean place in a restaurant very difficult.
The main problem is that Greeks elect people in Parliament who think they are Princes’s who do not need to get involved in the ordinary things of life. Greeks do not understand they do not need to invent the wheel again; free information is out there; all they need to do is copy success.
“Mosquito control kills children and babies but the deaths are recorded as something else to avoid frightening tourists. Feral dogs and cats roam the streets making walking on public streets impossible or eating in a clean place in a restaurant very difficult.” Where have we seen that???
Google “Germany next to Nigeria in fraud report” to read an article by Germany’s newspaper in English indicating how “German businesses have reported one of the highest levels of corruption in the world”
Emission scandals, trade cheats, waterboarding other poor nations after closing their banks, selling arms under austerity, seeking to steal their shipping industry during crisis, etc., it is endless. Who on earth allowed these genocidal savages and friends of Turkey to run Europe?