Today, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Revision will hold a key session focused on New Democracy’s (ND) proposals concerning Article 16 of the Greek Constitution and university education.
ND’s Constitutional Proposals
The proposals under discussion include provisions for state responsibility in protecting and promoting the Greek language; safeguarding the Greek national flag as a symbol of the nation; and enabling higher education to be delivered by legal entities of university education—whether public or private—as long as they operate with full autonomy, under state supervision, and guarantee high academic standards.
Expanding Opportunity and Mobility
According to ND, revising Article 16 would broaden educational choice for young Greeks, ensure equal opportunity—especially for those unable to study abroad or who missed out on higher education earlier due to personal hardship—and strengthen social mobility. The party also aims to transform Greece from an ‘island of educational isolation’ into an international education hub.
Economic and Strategic Vision
ND argues that repatriating even part of the estimated 53,000 Greek students and researchers currently studying or working abroad—and attracting international students and academics—would generate new GDP growth, create jobs, and draw domestic and foreign investment into education and culture. This, the party says, would integrate the Greek economy into the global education market, where it has historically been absent.
Broader Legal and Institutional Questions
A central theme of today’s debate is expected to be the current status of Greece’s public universities, alongside broader legal considerations—including case law, judicial interpretation, and European Union law. Several critical questions are anticipated, such as whether revising Article 16 remains practically relevant following the Council of State’s plenary decision on foreign universities; whether constitutions effectively evolve without formal revision; and how EU and international law have increasingly shaped constitutional jurisprudence—particularly in light of Article 28 of the Constitution, which governs Greece’s integration into supranational frameworks.