Greece rules out immediate discussion of a transitional appeals court in Eastern Macedonia
Greece’s Ministry of Justice has signaled that establishing a transitional Court of Appeal in Eastern Macedonia is not currently under consideration, with Secretary-General Pelops Laskos stressing that the existing Court of Appeal of Thrace will remain in Rhodope. Speaking during a visit to Gümülcine (Komotini) on October 27, Laskos said any proposal to establish an additional judicial seat would need to be supported by reliable statistical evidence and demonstrate a genuine need.
“The Court of Appeal is in Rhodope, and it will stay here,” Laskos said, addressing discussions among bar associations in Kavala and Drama about creating a transitional appeals court to serve the two cities.
He described the proposal as being at a very early stage, noting that Greece was still at the beginning of implementing its revised judicial map. He warned against fragmented initiatives driven by individual developments, arguing that changes should support the long-term functioning of the justice system.
COURT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN İSKEÇE
During his visit, Laskos inspected the courts in Komotini and met with judicial officials and local representatives to discuss staffing and infrastructure needs.
He described the civil and criminal courts as operational, while acknowledging a moderate shortage of court clerks, particularly in the administrative justice system. He also identified a need to reinforce staffing in the civil and criminal courts in response to migration-related caseloads.
The existing courthouse is set to undergo renovation following approval by the Judicial Buildings Financing Fund (TAXDIK), with the project assigned to the state-owned building infrastructure company KTIP. According to the latest information provided to Laskos, the tender was expected to be launched before Christmas 2026.
PLANS TO RESTORE THE OLD COURTHOUSE
The authorities are also pursuing plans to restore Komotini’s old courthouse. The renovation is expected to be financed through the development agency of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
Laskos said the relevant contractual documents had been agreed and that the parties hoped to secure final signatures by Christmas. If the process proceeds as planned, tender documents could potentially be ready before March 25, 2027, Greece’s national holiday marking the start of the Greek War of Independence.
He pledged to return to Komotini to review progress on the projects and said his ministry would remain in contact with the authorities involved.
JUDICIAL OFFICIALS HIGHLIGHT HEAVY WORKLOAD
A broader meeting during the visit brought together officials from the Court of Appeal of Thrace and representatives of the Rhodope Bar Association to discuss the pressures facing the region’s judicial services.
Rhodope Bar Association President Sofia Michalitsoudi welcomed Laskos’s engagement with the issues raised, saying he had shown an interest in practical solutions to the challenges faced by judges, lawyers and court employees.
She also expressed satisfaction with his comments on the proposed transitional court, arguing that the priority should be to strengthen the existing Court of Appeal of Thrace rather than pursue arrangements that could weaken it.
The debate over a potential transitional appeals court in Eastern Macedonia remains unresolved at the local level. However, Laskos’s remarks indicate that any proposal would need to demonstrate a clear operational need and be assessed in the context of Greece’s broader judicial reform.
