EU Commission responds to stigmatization of NGOs in Greece

The European Commission has officially responded to a written parliamentary question titled "Stigmatization of Civil Society Organizations in Greece", submitted by Ilhan Kucuk, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Bulgaria and a representative of the Renew Europe group, on March 15, 2025.

In a written reply delivered on June 26, 2026, Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, emphasized the crucial role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in upholding fundamental rights, democracy, and the rule of law. He highlighted that, under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme, the Commission supports around 1,500 CSOs across all 27 Member States.

Commissioner McGrath noted that the Commission closely monitors developments affecting civil society through its annual Rule of Law Report. The 2024 report’s section on Greece expressed ongoing concerns regarding the civil society environment. It also referenced the Bekir Usta and Others group of cases, which remains unimplemented more than 15 years after a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

He affirmed that the Commission will continue monitoring the situation and provide an updated assessment in the 2025 Rule of Law Report.

The written question, submitted with the support of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), drew attention to continued obstacles to CSO registration in Greece. It cited findings by the Council of Europe’s Expert Council on NGO Law, which pointed to efforts to criminalize and stigmatize certain civil society activities in the country.

The question also emphasized that vulnerable groups—particularly minorities such as the Western Thrace Turkish community—are being stigmatized and targeted. As an example, it mentioned the ABTTF as a civil society organization representing that community.

MEP Kucuk asked what concrete steps the European Commission plans to take in response to serious backsliding in democracy, rule of law, and human rights in Greece, and what measures it might adopt to prevent the stigmatization of individuals and CSOs representing the Western Thrace Turkish minority.

The full response from the European Commission can be accessed here:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-001113-ASW_EN.html#ref4