The European Commission released its annual report on the rule of law, and while the overall assessment was positive for Greece, it highlights persisting and unresolved issues regarding freedom of the press, delays in the judicial process, and the lack of transparency in many sectors.
The report mentions the Predator spyware surveillance scandal, stressing that all public servants and officials implicated had been acquitted of any culpability following judicial investigations.
It focuses on the fact that despite the government’s pledges to establish institutional checks and balances, it had failed to issue a relevant presidential decree safeguarding private communications from spyware.
The commission also raises concerns over a decline in public confidence in the independence of the judiciary. Perceptions of judicial independence among the general public dropped slightly to 38% in 2025, down from 40% in 2024, and significantly lower than 55% in 2021.
This growing distrust, the report suggests, is being fueled by high-profile cases and actions such as recent attempts to initiate disciplinary proceedings against judges for their rulings.
Perhaps the most pressing issue identified is the chronic delay in the delivery of justice, which the commission describes as “the greatest challenge facing the judicial system.” These continued delays, it notes, significantly hinder the effectiveness and credibility of the judiciary.
While the overall tone of the report is cautiously positive, it underlines the need for substantial structural reforms to strengthen democratic checks and balances and ensure the integrity of Greece’s institutions.
The annual EC Rule of Law Report examines developments across all Member States, both positive and negative, in four key areas for the rule of law: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and freedom, and other institutional issues related to checks and balances.
