The Secretary of State for Justice has highlighted the importance of technological upgrades through SYZEYXIS II”, focusing on enhancing transparency and speed in the administration of justice.
The key role of digital infrastructure and the use of data for the modernisation of the state and in particular of the justice system was underlined by the deputy minister of justice Ioannis Bougas, in his speech at a conference organised by the Information Society on “The Data Economy in SYZEXIS II: Transparency, Accountability and Development”.
“Data is now a critical national resource. When exploited with security, institutional consistency and transparency, they can improve public services, enhance economic activity and restore the relationship of trust between the citizen and the administration,” Bougas stressed.
He described the SYZEXIS II project as a key pillar of the digital transition of the public sector, noting that it creates the necessary infrastructure for a modern, secure and interoperable state, with faster procedures and more efficient movement of information. He placed particular emphasis on the digital transformation of justice, stressing that it is a prerequisite for a faster, more accessible and more effective justice for the citizen. He said that the major institutional changes promoted by the Ministry of Justice are directly linked to the use of modern digital tools and information systems.
What he said about the new Judicial Charter
Referring to the new Judicial Charter enacted by Nov. 5108/2024, the Deputy Minister noted that for the first time the country has obtained a coherent framework for the organisation of the judicial function, based on interoperability, digital infrastructure and faster information management. Presenting the first results of the reform, Bougas pointed out that, according to data from the JustStat system, the clearance rate in the country’s courts of first instance now stands at 106.6%, while the number of pending cases decreased significantly in 2025. At the same time, the estimated time to judgment was reduced to 316 days, a performance that is among the best in the last decade.
Special mention was made of the Athens Primary Court where the results are impressive. “The clearance rate has increased from 86% to 104%. In addition, the time to judgment decreased to 535 days, compared to 1,448 days during the same period before the implementation of the Judicial Charter. This significant reduction of 913 days represents a percentage change of -63.05%,” Bugas said.
The changes to the CCP
The Deputy Minister of Justice also referred to the changes brought by the new Code of Civil Procedure from 1 January 2026, underlining that the aim is to significantly speed up the administration of justice and converge with European averages.
He said that at the Athens Court of First Instance, cases in the ordinary procedure will now be determined for hearing within eight months from the filing of the lawsuit. The electronic case file, which he described as “one of the most important reforms of the digital transformation of the judiciary”, also had a special place in his speech.
Closing his speech, Mr. Bougas underlined that technology does not replace institutions but strengthens them, noting emphatically that “data acquires real value when it is transformed into better policies, higher quality public services and greater trust of citizens in the state.”
