The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Mattias Guyomar, at the Court’s seat in Strasbourg, addressing the Minister of Justice Giorgos Floridis, emphasized that “the unwavering stance of Greece in support of the Court, the rule of law, and international law is considered extremely significant.”

Specifically, Mr. Floridis met today with Mr. Guyomar, the Court’s Secretary General Marialena Tsirli, and the national judge Ioannis Ktistakis at the ECHR headquarters.

The President of the European Court of Human Rights warmly thanked Mr. Floridis and the Greek Government for their consistent and clear support of the ECHR and the European Convention on Human Rights system.

He also praised the contribution and highlighted the high level of the national judge and the excellent cooperation with the Greek Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe.

“At this juncture,” Mr. Guyomar explained, “where there is clear democratic backsliding and a rise of populism in Europe, the unwavering stance of Greece in support of the Court, the rule of law, and international law is considered extremely significant.”

For his part, the Minister of Justice assured the President of the European Court of Human Rights that “Greece, despite the challenges it faces in a particularly complex and demanding geopolitical environment, will continue steadfastly to act based on international law, supporting the independence and integrity of the Court. This is the firm position of the Prime Minister.”

Additionally, Mr. Floridis and Mr. Guyomar discussed further supportive measures and initiatives that the Ministry of Justice intends to undertake in the context of implementing the Court’s decisions, including providing national judges with more comprehensive information on ECHR case law.

Present at the meeting, according to a Ministry of Justice announcement, were Greece’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Nikolas Sigalas; the Deputy Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Gerasimos Dontas; the Director General for Special Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, Eftyhia Katsigaraki; and the Director to the Minister of Justice, Ioanna Karyofylli.