Category: DJF

Article 48 of the Istanbul Convention requires Parties to prohibit mandatory alternative dispute resolution processes. In the referred GREVIO Baseline evaluation Report, GREVIO notes that criminal mediation is not mandatory in criminal justice procedures in Greece[1].

Pursuant to Article 12 of the Victims’ Rights Directive[2] (VRD), in Member States where restorative justice services are provided, safeguards shall be in place to ensure the victim is not further victimised and the participation of the victim shall be voluntary.

Other factors such as power imbalances should also be taken into consideration in conducting a restorative justice process. The Commission has analysed whether Member States have completely transposed into national legislation all normative provisions of the VRD.

In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission continues to monitor the correct enforcement of these provisions in all Member States, including in Greece, and will take appropriate action, if necessary.

In the referred GREVIO Baseline evaluation Report, GREVIO also recommend that all relevant actors in the criminal justice sector receive training on the gendered dynamics of domestic violence.

In this regard, Article 36 of the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence Directive[3] requires Member States to provide general and specialist training and information for professionals meeting victims of violence against women and domestic violence.

Member States, including Greece, will need to implement this directive by June 2027. During this period, the Commission will hold implementation workshops to steer the timely and complete transposition of the directive.

• [1] GREVIO Baseline Evaluation Report,, p. 57, para 242-248.
• [2] Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA. OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57.
• [3] Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence, OJ of 24.5.202, L p. 1.

The Commission attaches great importance to the timely and correct transposition of EU law.

Greece has not transposed the provisions of: (i)  Council Directive (EU) 2020/285 of 18 February 2020[1] which exempts small enterprises from value-added tax (VAT), alleviates their VAT compliance obligations and makes it easier to trade within the internal market, and (ii) Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of 5 April 2022[2] which allows for a wider use of reduced rates, including the use of zero rates for essential products such as food, pharmaceuticals and products intended for medical use . Both directives had to be transposed into national law by 31 December 2024.

Therefore, the Commission opened infringement procedures[3] against Greece by sending letters of formal notice on 31 January 2025. Greece had to respond, complete its transposition and notify the measures to the Commission by 31 March 2025.

Greece did not reply to the letters of formal notice or notify transposition measures for the directives. The Commission is currently envisaging the next step in the infringement procedures.

• [1] Council Directive (EU) 2020/285 of 18 February 2020 amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax as regards the special scheme for small enterprises.
• [2] Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of 5 April 2022 amending Directives 2006/112/EC and 2020/285 as regards rates of value added tax.
• [3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/el/inf_25_273.