Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says Greece has entered a new "era of reforms," citing a massive overhaul of the justice system that he said is already delivering faster verdicts and unlocking economic growth.
Speaking at the "Greek Justice in Acceleration" conference organized by the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mitsotakis argued that the government has successfully "unblocked" the judiciary from decades of inertia.
"A country with slow justice is a country with a slow economy," Mr. Mitsotakis told an audience that included President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas.
The prime minister warned that chronic delays—where postponements were once more common than rulings—had exacted a hidden tax on businesses and eroded public trust.
He framed the recent changes as "foundational for societal progress," moving the nation away from a rigid, outdated model.
Central to the transformation is the new "judicial map" implemented over 2024–25.
The reforms reorganized the country's court network, merging magistrate courts with first-instance courts and integrating approximately 1,000 judges to balance caseloads.
Mr. Mitsotakis highlighted early data suggesting the restructuring has sharply reduced backlogs. The national average time for issuing decisions in first-instance courts has reportedly dropped from more than 700 days to roughly 330–364 days.
In Athens, the country’s largest court, decision times have plummeted from 1,422 days to approximately 513, according to government figures.
Beyond structural changes, the overhaul includes expanded use of virtual hearings and digital case-management systems.
Infrastructure projects are also advancing, with a new courthouse in Piraeus—financed by the Recovery and Resilience Fund—scheduled to open by late 2026.
Mr. Mitsotakis also pointed to the modernization of inheritance law, which had remained largely frozen for 80 years, and upgrades to the National School of Judges as evidence of a comprehensive strategy.
The reforms address a longstanding grievance for both citizens and foreign investors, who have frequently cited Greece's slow judicial proceedings as a major barrier to doing business.
While early indicators show decision times converging with European averages, legal experts caution that speed must not compromise due process.
For the government, however, the data marks a pivotal victory.
"Protecting justice is protecting democracy," Mr. Mitsotakis concluded