Republication
Joint Press Release from the Ministry of Justice, Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence
Key projects that are driving forward the Digital Transformation of the Justice System, such as the strengthening and expansion of the National Criminal Records Information System, the upgrade and expansion of the Integrated System of Civil and Criminal Justice Case Management (OSDDY-PP) – Phase B, as well as the implementation of the Electronic Case File, were presented at a joint review event organised by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence.
Attended by the Minister of Justice, Mr Giorgos Floridis, and the Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Mr Dimitris Papastergiou, as well as representatives of the judiciary and legal authorities, a video was played featuring highlights from the 24 events held across Greece’s 13 regions, relating to digital transformation projects. The regional events were attended by local authorities, judicial officers, bar associations, court staff and members of the public, who highlighted the improvements in the quality and speed of the justice system brought about by the ongoing digital .
At the event, the Minister of Justice, Mr Giorgos Floridis, emphasised: “Today, following a major and coordinated effort, the digital infrastructure of the justice system is being finalised to a very satisfactory degree. However, what we all realise is that, for this infrastructure to function as effectively as we would like, commitment and training is required. We are therefore faced with the next challenge, the next big step, so that this infrastructure can be used effectively. That is why there needs to be systematic and multifaceted training for everyone involved in the administration of justice, namely judges, lawyers and court staff. Once these systems are fully operational, the current state of the justice system will have changed radically, and the Greek justice system will be able to respond to the challenges of the 21st century.”
Next, the Minister of Digital Governance, Mr Dimitris Papastergiou, said: “At the Ministry of Digital Governance, we are currently implementing projects with a total budget of close to 3 billion euros, with the most critical initiatives being those relating to the justice system and healthcare. In the justice sector, the digital transition is a change that is already underway. We have completed the digitisation of approximately 300 million pages of court documents. To give you an understanding of the scale of the project, if we were to lay these pages out side by side, they would stretch for around 90,000 kilometres; that is, twice the circumference of the Earth. At the same time, with the new electronic case file and the digital version of the Criminal Record – where 60% of cases are already being processed without delay – we are substantially improving the service provided to members of the public and professionals alike. With modern digital infrastructure and new technologies, we are creating a justice system that is faster, safer and more effective for everyone. And it is the duty of us all to stand alongside the Ministry and every court, so that we may continue the work that has already been done, because the projects that have been carried out have indeed been very successful. That is why I must thank everyone who has worked on this, including those involved in the relevant information systems, Information Society, our contractors and our partners.”
The welcome address at the event held at the Ministry of Justice was delivered by Mr Stavros Asthenidis, CEO of Information Society, Mr Christos Linos, Presiding Judge of the Three-Member Management Board of the Athens Court of First Instance, Mr Andreas Koutsolampros, President of the Athens Bar Association and President of the General Assembly of Greek Bar Associations, and Mr Dimitris Liatsos, member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of the Judicial Clerks of Greece.
