The state of the rule of law in Greece came under scrutiny during a session of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), where Gerhard Ermischer, president of the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organizations of the Council of Europe, addressed ongoing concerns.
Ermischer highlighted the pressures faced by NGOs in Greece, noting accusations of unlawful political activity against organizations working on sensitive issues. He reminded that states adhering to international treaties are obliged to respect them fully.
The discussion was prompted by a question from Kostas Arvanitis, Vice-chair of The Left in the European Parliament and MEP with Syriza–Progressive Alliance, who criticized the Greek government’s migration bill.
According to Arvanitis, the legislation undermines asylum rights and contravenes both European law and international conventions, including the Geneva Convention. He further condemned what he described as a retaliatory stance against NGOs and their legal representatives, as well as recent statements from Greece’s health minister rejecting the authority of the International Criminal Court.
Arvanitis urged the European Commission to clarify its position and stop shielding Athens with the repeated claim that it does not comment on political statements.
Ermischer responded that similar challenges to international courts are being observed in other countries, affecting the European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, and the Court of Justice of the European Union. He stressed that such developments strike at the heart of the rule of law.
Ermischer also announced plans for an official visit to Greece in November, with the aim of meeting government representatives to discuss these issues further.
