Drastic Changes to the Code of Civil Procedure to Halve Decision-Making Time

Significant changes to the Code of Civil Procedure aim to halve the time it takes to issue final court decisions. The goal is to reduce the average decision-making time from approximately 1,500 days to 630 days, aligning with the European average. The bill introducing these changes was presented today (25/6/25) by Justice Minister George Floridis and Deputy Justice Minister Ioannis Bougas. Mr. Floridis described the current 1,500-day decision-making process as a ‘tragic event.’ Notably, in the First Instance Court of Athens, cases are debated around three years after filing, with decisions issued another 6-7 months later. On average, it takes 3-4 years for a final decision to be made, which does not meet citizens’ demands for swift and effective justice. Under the new provisions, routine procedure decisions will be issued within six months, expedited procedure decisions within four months, and insurance measure decisions within one month. A pre-trial review system has also been introduced, where judges can assess case files for deficiencies or omissions, issuing orders requiring parties to correct or complete filings within specified deadlines. Failure to comply results in case dismissal. Other key reforms include: appeals on first-instance decisions being filed directly at the Court of Appeal rather than the issuing court, reducing processing times; faster probate processes handled by notaries within one week instead of 300 days; and the launch of a digital docket platform in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Governance. This platform will store all judicial decisions, evidence, and witness statements permanently. Future legislative initiatives will also address significant updates to the Lawyers’ Code.