Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended an event on Wednesday organized by the Ministry of Justice focusing on reforms in the Greek judicial system.
Mitsotakis emphasized that the government’s central objective over the past five years has been to strengthen the rule of law and reform the justice system. He explained that this is necessary not due to a lack of competent judges but because the field has been plagued by longstanding systemic issues.
Mitsotakis outlined three key challenges facing the justice system: significant delays in issuing final court rulings, limited digitalization and use of technology and the need for staff retraining and infrastructure improvements.
He noted that since 2019, the government has implemented 30 significant institutional reforms, including the revision of the Penal Code. "We are correcting past mistakes by addressing offenders more strictly and protecting victims of domestic violence more effectively, with trials now prioritized," he said. He highlighted progress in combating domestic violence through inter-ministerial collaboration, assuring that women would find protection and support. Mitsotakis also mentioned advancements in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
He announced plans to build new courthouses in eight cities and to fully renovate ten more, with the most notable project being the new courthouse in Piraeus, set to be completed in the first half of 2026.
Mitsotakis also discussed the adoption of modern technology, including videoconferencing, digital document delivery and the integration of artificial intelligence.
Regarding the rule of law, he highlighted that Greece’s progress is recognized in the European Commission's annual report, which reduced its recommendations for the country to just four—fewer than those for 18 other member states.
Additionally, Mitsotakis referred to the establishment of the judicial police in 2024, stating that it demonstrates Greece's swift progress in the critical area of justice.