17 organisations that actively monitor and defend the rule of law and human rights in Europe have appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to express “strong concern about the ongoing deterioration of the rule of law and fundamental rights in Greece,” according to Human Rights Watch.
The NGOs refer to a January 30 report by several press freedom organisations that “clearly shows the need for more EU action in favour of press freedom in Greece,” as the country ranks last in the EU in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index for the second year in a row.
The report also notes that migrant rights defenders “have been subjected to smear campaigns, a changing regulatory environment, threats and attacks and the misuse of criminal law against them, to a shocking degree.”
The organisations intend to hold the Greek government to account while raising concerns that “neither the report nor the Commission’s related statements on Greece reflect the severity of the situation”.
Among all the problems described in the official letter, the spyware scandal and its aftermath stood out. The activists noted that government surveillance of journalists posed urgent concerns over privacy and freedom of expression, as well as affected the ability of the press to bring the authorities to justice.
Such surveillance has a chilling effect on journalism and its role in a democratic society.
Representatives of non-governmental organisations stressed that the European Commission “cannot continue to turn a blind eye when surveillance may have led to abuses of EU law.”
“The PEGA Committee concluded that contraventions and maladministration in the implementation of Union law have taken place in Greece.”
The organisations call on the European Commission to “fully” investigate the reports with a view to the Greek authorities taking clear and effective remedial action, openly and publicly. They also demand an “accurate and impartial assessment of where Greece’s breach of both rule of law and fundamental rights obligations, as well as its obligations for sound management of EU funds, could result in triggering the suspension of EU funds to the country”.
