MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Public attack on the Ombudsman by the Greek government – E-000530/2025

Question for written answer  E-000530/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left)

Following the refusal of a disciplinary investigation by the Coast Guard[1], the Greek Ombudsman (a constitutionally guaranteed independent authority) issued a report on the multi-fatality Pylos[2] shipwreck, highlighting “a series of serious and reprehensible omissions in search and rescue duties on the part of senior officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard […] which constitute clear indications for documenting the fatal exposure, and to the risk of danger to the life, health and physical integrity of those on board the trawler, the Adriana”. Furthermore, he stated that “the transparency of administrative action and the attribution of responsibilities, where they exist, for the multi-fatality Pylos shipwreck is an elementary constitutional demand, inextricably linked to respect for the rule of law, as is the thorough investigation by the administration of any other incident related to a violation of the right to life, health and physical integrity[3]”.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, in its immediate announcement, strongly attacked the Ombudsman, stating for example: “objectively, he is attempting to shift the discussion away from the criminal trafficking networks onto officers of the Coast Guard”, “he systematically supports those claims that question the proper exercise of the powers of the Coast Guard, without any reliable documentation”, and “he comes to arbitrary conclusions that risk prejudicing the judicial assessment”.[4]

In view of this:

• 1.Does the Commission view the content of the Ministry’s announcement as being in line with EU constitutional principles?
• 2.Does the Commission consider that the assessment of an independent authority affects the impartiality of justice?

Submitted: 5.2.2025

• [1] https://www.synigoros.gr/el/category/e8nikos-mhxanismos-diereynhshs-peristatikwnay8airesias/post/deltio-typoy-or-o-synhgoros-toy-polith-ereyna-to-nayagio-ths-pyloy
• [2] https://www.synigoros.gr/el/category/default/post/deltio-typoy-or-porisma-toy-synhgoroy-toy-polith-gia-to-nayagio-ths-pyloy
• [3] see ECtHR SAFI and Others v. Greece, 07.07.2022 regarding the Farmakonisi shipwreck of 2014.
• [4] https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/government/563452327/nayagio-stin-pylo-i-apantisi-toy-ypoyrgeioy-naytilias-ston-synigoro-toy-politi/