Statement: EU Ignores Deteriorating Rule of Law in Greece

The overly positive account in the report starkly contrasts an alarming reality experienced by journalists, activists, and civil society organisations on the ground, and a growing international concern over the deterioration of the rule of law in the country. This was already highlighted by 17 human rights and press freedom groups including Free Press Unlimited in a February 2024 letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The European Commission’s report ignores a stark discrepancy between the Greek government's self-reported data and alarming accounts submitted to the European Commission by civil society organisations and journalists. It disproportionately focuses on positive developments, without weighing them against the broader systemic issues and ongoing violations. This raises concerns about the Commission's willingness to confront the depth of the crisis in a European Union member state, and uphold the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece.

Greece consistently ranks last among European Union countries in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. In February 2024, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing, “grave concerns about very serious threats to democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights” in Greece.
 

Legal attacks and impunity

While the Commission’s Rule of Law report acknowledges issues with the independence and resources of the media regulator, the independence of public service media, access to information, the persistence of threats to journalists’ safety, and the potential chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and harassment, including by politicians, it fails to grasp the severity of the ongoing crisis, the groups said.

Jasmijn de Zeeuw, researcher and legal advisor at Free Press Unlimited, finds the report very disappointing: “Despite our repeated calls, the Commission's Rule of Law report does not do justice to the state of press freedom in Greece - the only country in the EU with two unsolved murders of journalists. That conclusion is underlined this week by the acquittal of the suspects in the murder of Giorgos Karaivaz and the acquittal of the secret services in the Predator spyware scandal, in which several journalists were wiretapped.”

Impunity for those who threaten and harass journalists exacerbates the hostile environment for journalists in Greece, while concrete action plans or investigative protocols are not implemented.
 

Government control

Journalists are intimidated and harassed by invasive state surveillance, including through the use of commercial spyware, abusive legal actions, and coordinated online smear campaigns, often instigated or amplified by pro-government actors. These tactics not only erode journalists' ability to work freely but also endanger their lives, safety, and the confidentiality of their sources.

A lack of media pluralism, including inappropriate government control over state media, collusion between media owners and political interests, leads to a pervasive climate of censorship and self-censorship, which further distorts the media landscape and undermines journalistic independence.
 

Call on incoming European Commission

In their statement, the group of organisations call on the incoming European Commission to take a stronger stance on upholding its commitment to fundamental rights and democratic values in member states, including publicly condemning specific instances of press freedom restrictions, civil society crackdowns, or rule of law violations.

They conclude: the people of Greece deserve a free press, a vibrant civil society, and a government that respects the rule of law.
 

Read the full statement below:

Signatories
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR)
HIAS Greece
Human Rights Watch
Inside Story
Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
Refugee Support Aegean (RSA)
Reporters Without Borders
Solomon
Transparency International EU
Vouliwatch