The Greek parliament adopted on July 31 a bill introducing formal legal safeguards against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPS). The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) join their Greek affiliates, in welcoming “a significant step forward for press freedom.”

Following key interventions by EFJ-IFJ affiliate, the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN), during both the public consultation and the parliamentary committee process, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr Bougas, accepted and incorporated, through an amendment, a provision allowing courts to examine – on the basis of the principle of equality before the law – whether a pending case constitutes a SLAPP, even if it is already before a first-instance or appellate court.

The law – which transposes EU Directive 2024/1069 on SLAPPS into national law – covers domestic lawsuits within Greece as well as cross-border disputes. In addition, it establishes a special preliminary procedure allowing courts to determine, within a short timeframe, whether a lawsuit should be dismissed. Courts are also empowered to assess whether a lawsuit is abusive.

The new law will also grant Greek journalists’ unions the right to intervene in court proceedings brought against their colleagues, where cases are deemed to be SLAPPs. Another significant achievement is that the law clearly defines what constitutes a matter of public interest, consolidating principles developed in European case law.

The law also provides for the training of judges, who will need to be familiarized with the new legal framework and recent developments.

“The law represents a truly significant reform for our country, as hundreds of colleagues have been targeted by SLAPP lawsuits seeking substantial damages,” stated JUADN in an official statement, while reminding that “Press freedom is not a professional privilege reserved for journalists but a fundamental right that belongs to society as a whole.”

“The new legislative framework protecting Greek journalists against SLAPPs constitutes a significant step forward for press freedom, investigative journalism and the public’s right to information. We applaud our Greek affiliates, JUADN, Journalists’ Union of Macedonia and Thrace (ESIEMTH), Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Union (PFJU) and Periodical and Electronic Press Union (PEPU – ESPIT) for their extensive work and this significant win for press freedom in Greece,” stated EFJ and IFJ.