Council of Europe Committee of Ministers criticizes Greece for non-implementation of ECHR rulings

The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers reviewed the Bekir Usta and Others case group regarding the violation of the right to freedom of association of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, during its meeting held from December 3 to 5, 2024, in Strasbourg, France.

In its decision on December 5, the Committee reiterated the fundamental importance of the right to freedom of association in a democratic state and criticized Greece for failing to implement European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings related to the İskeçe Turkish Union, the Rodopi Province Turkish Women's Cultural Association, and the Meriç Province Minority Youth Association for over 16 years.

The Committee reminded that any progress regarding individual and general measures in this case group depends on the work of the Expert Commission established by Greece. It strongly urged the Greek authorities to regularly inform the Committee about the developments in the Expert Commission’s work, including consultations with the applicant associations.

The Committee also called on Greek authorities to fully utilize the Council of Europe's assistance and expertise to ensure that any proposed measures comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Bekir Usta and Others case group will be further reviewed at the Committee’s meeting in June 2025.

Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the European Western Thrace Turks Federation (ABTTF), stated, "As we have previously expressed, our country deliberately established the Expert Commission to delay the implementation of the ECHR decisions related to the Bekir Usta and Others case group and to stall the Committee of Ministers. The roadmap presented by the Expert Commission does not mention the implementation of these rulings. As seen in the decisions of the Supreme Court, our country has no intention of implementing any of the three rulings in this case group, constantly playing for time. Despite more than 16 years having passed since the ECHR rulings, the İskeçe Turkish Union still has not regained its official legal status, and the other two associations have not been registered by national courts. We will continue to closely follow the work of the Expert Commission and inform the Committee of Ministers. We reiterate our call for the Committee of Ministers to immediately initiate an infringement procedure against our country, which disregards its obligations under the Convention."

The relevant decision of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers can be accessed here.