Follow-up to the letter from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs regarding Greece’s NGO registration law (JMD 10616/2020)
16.10.2020
Priority question for written answer P-005656/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE)
- 1.What position does the Commission take regarding the Greek Government’s Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) 10616/2020, which has imposed stricter rules on registration for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and their members, against the background of the opinion from the Council of Europe’s Expert Council on NGO Law of 2 July 2020[1] on Greece’s JMD 3063/2020?
- 2.What is its opinion on the compatibility of JMD 10616/2020 with EU law, in particular with regard to: the free movement of capital, workers and services, and the freedom of movement (as guaranteed by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union); the registration requirements for NGOs, such as the publication of their donors, the provision of permanent residence in Greece for staff and partners, and the provision of services only after approved registration; the Charter of Fundamental Rights (in particular, Articles 7, 8 and 12) in light of the recent judgment from the Court of Justice of the European Union[2]; and the General Data Protection Regulation?
- 3.What action does the Commission, as guardian of the treaties, intend to take towards the Greek Government following JMD 10616/2020, in light of the Commission’s 2020 Rule of law report Country Chapter, Greece (SWD(2020)0307)[3].
Last updated: 21 October 2020