All Public Universities in Greece Have Been Liberated from Occupations: Mitsotakis to Meet with Rectors

With more than 470 arrests made over the past six years, an end has been put to occupations of public universities across Greece. In Attica alone, since 2019, 26 squats or self-managed spaces have been cleared. In 2024, 10 university spaces were reclaimed and returned to administrative control. In Thessaloniki, a total of 11 occupations have been cleared, including the “Biochemical Squat,” which was occupied for over 30 years and now houses the unified library of the Faculty of Sciences at Aristotle University. Currently, there are no active occupations, according to government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis. Police interventions have led to 188 prosecutions, while preventive tactics have been established by the Ministry of Citizen Protection to deter future incidents. The embedding of security within universities is a clear goal for the government, as noted by governmental sources. On Monday (June 2, 2025), Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet with rectors at Maximos Mansion, as the government pushes universities to draft and update their security plans—only one-third have complied so far. Immediate actions are expected regarding disciplinary measures against students who attack members of the academic community or damage facilities. During last month’s rector meeting, Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki outlined key government positions, including the requirement for each university to have a single disciplinary council handling incidents promptly within two months. Proposals include automatic two-year suspension of student status for those facing criminal charges for violence or major damages, with conviction resulting in permanent expulsion. Entry into university premises will require mandatory ID checks, and students proven to destroy property will be held accountable for restoration costs.