Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said it is time to revise Article 16 of the country’s Constitution, which governs higher education, in order to support the operation of non-state universities.
Speaking at an event marking the inauguration of a branch of the University of Nicosia in Athens, Mitsotakis welcomed the development as another milestone for higher education in Greece. He said the government’s vision for non-state universities focuses on institutions of high academic standards that are closely linked to the labor market and responsive to emerging challenges, including artificial intelligence.
According to the Prime Minister, the broader goal is not only to provide additional study options for Greek students who might otherwise go abroad, but to transform Greece into an international education hub. He noted that attracting students from regions including Europe, the Balkans, Asia, the Americas and Africa could also contribute to economic growth, particularly if graduates remain in the country’s workforce.
Addressing criticism from opposition parties, Mitsotakis referred to what he described as institutional rigidities rooted in the 1980s, arguing that progress requires looking toward the future rather than remaining tied to outdated frameworks.
He underlined that constitutional reform of Article 16 is now a top priority, aiming to provide clear legal certainty for the operation of such institutions and to end what he called Greece’s “European exception” in higher education policy.
Mitsotakis added that the government intends to launch the constitutional revision process in the coming months, stressing that it is time to move forward with reforms that have been debated for decades.
