Reporters Without Borders mission to conclude Greece visit

The human rights organization Reporters without Borders will conclude its visit to Greece today.

Reporters without Borders is visiting in order to collect further information on government espionage following the revelation that left-wing party leader Nikos Androulakis was bugged by state intelligence services. Poor press freedom and government surveillance are rampant issues in the country with Greece being ranked below Viktor Orban’s Hungary in press freedom. The visit is likely to draw more publicity to such issues in Greece and in the EU.

The case of Greece could attract the attention of the European Commission (EC) as the revelations draw parallels to an inquiry earlier this year into the use of Pegasus surveillance software by the governments of Hungary and Poland. As part of a clash between the EU and Hungary and Poland over the rule of law and national sovereignty, the EC has threatened to block EU funds for both countries. Should similar rule of law issues emerge in Greece, the EC may also take action against the country. Nevertheless, Greece is unlikely to side with Hungary and Poland in its dispute with the EU given its own dependence on EU funds.