EU rule of law report criticized as incomplete and out of touch with reality in Greece

Six leading Greek civil society organizations have strongly criticized the latest European Commission Rule of Law Report on Greece, describing it as "incomplete," "selective," and largely disconnected from the actual state of institutions and accountability in the country.

The Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR), HIAS Greece, Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), Reporters United, and Vouliwatch jointly expressed their concerns in a statement following the publication of the report on July 8. These organizations, which regularly contribute evidence and recommendations to the EU, argue that the Commission's assessment fails to address chronic and systemic shortcomings in Greece’s rule of law framework.

Key Omissions in the EU Report

According to the organizations, the report:

Fails to address the lack of accountability and independence in the judiciary, especially in light of recent controversial decisions such as the shelving of the Predator spyware scandal and the Tempi train crash investigation.

Ignores European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings condemning Greece for violations related to pushbacks and police violence, as well as Greece's repeated non-compliance with ECHR interim measures.

Overlooks concerns about political party finances, the “source of wealth” declarations (πόθεν έσχες), and the lack of transparency in the Parliamentary Audit Committee’s published data.

Does not adequately analyze the implementation and real-world impact of legislative reforms, focusing instead on symbolic changes or future commitments.

Positive Points Lack Depth or Accuracy

Even the limited positive points mentioned in the report come under criticism:

The report highlights ongoing obstacles faced by civil society, but fails to evaluate the legality of restrictive registration rules imposed on NGOs since 2020.

It praises the initiation of criminal proceedings related to the Pylos shipwreck, but neglects hundreds of similar allegations of misconduct by security forces that remain uninvestigated.

It claims improved enforcement of lobbying rules, yet the Transparency Registry remains underutilized, and contradictions appear between reported meetings by interest groups and state officials.

The report mentions improved access to public documents, but avoids acknowledging persistent gaps in enforcement and shortcomings in the revised legislation.

Civil Society: “The King Remains Naked”

The groups argue that the European Commission, instead of strengthening its oversight role, risks undermining its credibility and deepening public mistrust in institutions and democratic accountability in Greece.

Despite this, the organizations reaffirm their commitment to defending the rule of law and documenting institutional failures with transparency and accuracy.

“The king remains naked,” their statement concludes, “no matter how many pretend not to see it.”