EU releases 2025 Rule of Law Report

The European Commission published its 2025 Rule of Law Report on July 8, assessing developments across the 27 EU member states and candidate countries.

Focus on Greece: Ongoing Concerns over Freedom of Association
In the Greece country report, the Commission once again refers to the "Bekir Usta and Others" case group, citing it as an example of the ongoing violation of freedom of association for the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. This reference follows similar concerns raised in previous reports.

The Commission also recommends simplifying the registration procedures for civil society organizations (CSOs), urging Greek authorities to provide a clear and accessible framework for their operations.

Key Areas Reviewed in the Greece Report:
Judiciary:
The Commission notes that judicial proceedings remain excessively lengthy in national courts. While recent reforms show promising early results, the Commission considers it too early to assess their full impact.

Media and Journalists:
Concerns persist regarding the legal framework and political independence of public service media. While some improvements have been observed in journalist safety, field-level challenges remain.

Legislative Cooperation with Civil Society:
The Commission finds that cooperation between parliament and civil society has not yet reached a regular and structured level, recommending simplification of NGO registration as a step toward increased transparency and engagement.

Minority Rights: Persistent Legal Inaction
The report highlights the long-standing non-implementation of court decisions relating to associations representing the Turkish minority, specifically noting that some judgments have remained unenforced for over 16 years due to rulings by national courts.

ABTTF Contributes to the EU Review
As in previous years, the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) actively participated in the Commission’s consultation process.

ABTTF submitted reports on issues faced by the Turkish minority in education and religious affairs,

and highlighted instances of hate speech targeting the community.

Additionally, the closure of the Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Culture and Sports Association was brought to the Commission’s attention.

The 2025 Rule of Law Report continues to reflect the EU's monitoring of fundamental rights and its concern over minority rights violations in Greece, with repeated emphasis on the freedom of association as a critical area needing reform.