In Delphi, where the Plenary Session of the Presidents of the Greek Bar Associations is taking place, the Minister of Justice, Giorgos Florides, said that there will be investment stability in Greece regarding the operation and speed of the administration of justice, while he pledged that changes to the Code of Lawyers will only be made if there is absolute agreement of the Bar.
Mr. Florides, in his address to the plenary session, said that a draft law will be announced in the next period of time which will radically change a 1929 law (Law 3741/1929) on the ownership of private property, a law which “recognises the divided ownership of the same building in two floors or parts thereof”. In other words, the bill reformed the contractual relations in horizontal and vertical properties.
Mr. Florides first of all, referred to the fundamental, as he described them, legislative changes (judicial charter, inheritance law, electronic case file, etc.) that have changed and are changing the landscape in the field of justice and law. The changes to the Code of Civil Procedure, the Justice Minister said, “eliminated the vicious cycle of delays.”
Referring to the upcoming changes to the Lawyers’ Code, Mr. Florides, stressed that only with the absolute agreement of 100% of the Bar will the changes be made, adding that “if we do not agree to the changes, it will not go to Parliament.”
Furthermore, the Minister of Justice pointed out that although the digital transition in the justice system and especially in the courts of Athens has been completed, only 5 to 10% of lawsuits are filed electronically.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of Justice Ioannis Bougas, during his address, pointed out that “the need for change and the dramatic backwardness of our country in the administration of justice indicators prompted us to dare to take measures that we have been discussing for decades”, he added:
“All legislative initiatives are guided by the that justice is the foundation of the stateand a basic prerequisite for social cohesion, security anddemocratic stability. In this great mission, the role of the bar is crucial. A lawyer is not just a legal professional. He is a collaborator of justice, a defender of the rights and freedoms of the citizen, a guarantor of equal access to judicial protection for all.”
Concluding his address, Mr. Boogas, stressed: “The Government has demonstrated that it honours the role of the lawyer asa co-operator of justice not rhetorically, but practically, primarily by assigning quasi-judicial work and makingthe bar our institutional interlocutor and co-creator of the draft laws we introduce.”
The President of the Plenary and President of the Athens Bar Association, Andreas Koutsolambros, then referred to “the primary issue, the Tempi trial — the trial that deeply concerns the entire Greek society” and continued: “The tragedy of Tempe requires us to face up to our historical responsibility. The Bar, through the Bar Associations, has declared a stand in support of the prosecution. This is an act of institutional responsibility. Our only concern is to find the truth and bring justice. We owe it to the victims, their families, our society and our history.”
<span style="white-space: Koutsolambros pointed out: "The legitimacy of the Bar Associations as attendees in support of the prosecution in such a trial of major national importance is a milestone in the history of the Bar: it underlines in the most resounding way that the Bar Associations do not remain silent in the face of major legal stakes, but take a stand and intervene in a procedurally appropriate manner before the judiciary.
The Athens Bar Association has persistently intervened to create appropriate conditions for the trial, demanding that the courtroom be reconfigured in a way that respects the dignity of all parties involved in the trial. Our effort was vindicated by the addition of one hundred new court seats and the provision of adequate means to carry out our function (addition of chairs, etc.) — another indication that our interventions are yielding tangible results” and “from now on, the trial must proceed unhindered and with respect for the rights of the parties and the rule of law. Attempts to instrumentalize the trial for purposes alien to the administration of justice must be repelled as they are inimical to our legal culture. The Bar Associations will not succumb to expediency and will not be instrumentalised. Truth is not served by procedural disorder and attempts to obstruct the process; it is served by the smooth progress of the trial in harmony with the existing procedural framework.”
<span style="text-decoration-thickness: "One of the most pressing issues of concern to the legal profession — and to Greek society as a whole — is the abusive behaviour of both banks and Claims Management Companies. The Plenary has expressed its unequivocal opposition to the unfair practices of banks and management companies, particularly in relation to their attempt to appoint lawyers of their own choosing to represent the borrower in pre-payment proceedings — which raises serious issues of conflict of interest and undermines the independence of the lawyer and the freedom of choice of lawyer by citizens.
The Plenary also condemns the abusive behaviour of debt management companies, which undermine the rights of borrowers, jeopardise their property rights and display discriminatory attitudes towards lawyers and debtors. The inaction of the Bank of Greece in the face of such phenomena is unacceptable. We have asked the Ministry of Finance to create the necessary institutional framework and to impose sanctions for any violation.”
In connection with the reform of the Lawyers’ Code, Mr. Koutsolambros, said: “The reform of the Code is one of the major undertakings of the previous and the present Plenary. The relevant committee operating in the Ministry of Justice, with the participation of representatives of the Plenary, undertook the historic task of drafting a modern institutional framework — covering issues from the practice and acquisition of the status of lawyer, to incompatibilities, fees and disciplinary law.
We want to contribute to the formulation of a Code that will ensure the self-regulation of the profession – a principle enshrined in national, European and international law, including the recently signed International Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer of 13 May 2025 – and will create the necessary conditions for the practice of law in the future. Young colleagues expect a lot from us and we must live up to their expectations.”
The President of the Amfissa Bar Association and host, Stavroula Pitta, said that the presence of her colleagues in the capital of Fokida “validates the deep connection of the place with the concepts of freedom and a structured state, while solemnly recalling the decisive role of the lawyer as a defender of the rights of the citizen, as a guardian of justice, but also as a factor of social cohesion” and continued “through this constant contact with the region, the unity of the Bar is strengthened and it is confirmed that Justice is not limited to the large urban centers, but concerns every citizen equally, in every corner of our country”.
Addressing her colleagues, Pitta said: “We often follow completely different paths in our thinking, we often have conflicting approaches to each other in relation to the issues of the body. But for all of us the destination and the goal is one and has always been common over time…decent living for lawyers, decent conditions for the exercise of the function, unimpeded administration of justice.”
This is why, at this time when this plenary session is taking place and when the institution of justice, and the balance in the relations between its co-operators, is being challenged and questioned, we must once again stand united in the moral weight of our status and seek first and foremost to restore any dysfunction and challenge, for the benefit of citizens and social peace.
