Athens:Greece has been ranked second to last among the European Union's 27 member states in terms of judicial performance. A new study reveals that first-instance civil proceedings in Greece take an estimated 737 days to conclude.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the Judicial Systems Performance Index (JUSPER), prepared by Greek research institute KEFiM with 2024 data, placed Greece 26th with a score of 34.8 out of 100, significantly below the EU average of 52.5. Only Cyprus fared worse, scoring 24.2.

The study assessed 31 indicators, including court efficiency, financial resources, and access to justice. Greece scored 26.1 points for efficiency, in contrast to the EU average of 56.4. Additionally, Greek courts settled about 81 cases for every 100 newly filed.

Despite having 37.3 judges per 100,000 inhabitants, nearly double the European median, Greece faces a shortage of administrative support staff per judge. Nevertheless, reforms introduced by the Justice Ministry in September 2024 have helped reduce the estimated first-instance decision times from 774 days to 357 days by March 2026.

The clearance rate of cases also rose from 86.2% to 105.1%, indicating progress in handling incoming cases. KEFiM President Nikos Rompapas emphasized the need for stronger court administration, additional support personnel, and broader adoption of technology.