On 12-13 November 2025 the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) organised in Thessaloniki and Athens respectively two technical workshops bringing together around 20 participants each among which the presidents, court staff and IT specialists from both pilot courts. Participants examined concrete action plans elaborated by a team of CEPEJ experts in view of the reduction of civil cases backlog.
Participants explored proposed recommendations and options to improve case flow management, optimise the use of court staff and digital tools, and prevent the build-up of new backlogs.
Both presidents reinstated their commitment to tackle the priorities set out in the action plans. Mr. Konstantinos Koussoulis, Vice-President of the Hellenic Council of State and member of the CEPEJ recalled that the CEPEJ Project offers an opportunity to support the efficient and smooth application of the New Civil Code Procedure and upcoming reforms in the justice sector.
In both Thessaloniki and Athens, an item-by-item discussion of the proposed measures allowed Court teams to refine objectives and timelines for each measure, thereby ensuring that action plans remain realistic, sustainable and grounded in the data and operational realities of both Courts.
This activity was organised within the framework of the joint EU/CoE project “Supporting the reduction of backlog in the First Instance Courts of Athens and Thessaloniki (pilot courts) ”. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument and implemented by the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the European Commission.