The bill on equality in civil marriage, the new judicial map of the country, the strategic plan for Greek diaspora and the bill on the Single Market for digital services were presented and approved today in the cabinet, which met under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Specifically:

THE Minister of State Mr. Christos – Georgios Skertsos presented to the Council of Ministers the Civil Marriage Equality Bill.

The bill introduces equality in civil marriage for all Greek citizens, without discrimination, and regardless of sexual orientation and protects the interests of children, regulating family law issues in families of same-sex couples.

It is the implementation of the National Strategy for the Equality of LGBTI+, which was included in the pre-election program of the ND. New Democracy is the party of legal order, rights and obligations. Equality of citizens before the law is a constituent element of any liberal democracy.

Marriage equality has been legislated in 36 countries in the world on all 5 continents, 20 of which are in Europe. The enactment of marriage equality automatically implies the application of the entire legislative framework of kinship relations, including adoption, which has been established and is in force in 39 countries in the world, of which 23 states are in Europe and 16 are EU member states. E., where adoption by same-sex couples is allowed.

The bill does not extend the right to Medically Assisted Reproduction to male couples and to couples outside of marriage or in a cohabitation agreement, there is no mention of the concepts: Parent 1/ Parent 2 and the legislative framework for the Cohabitation Agreement is not amended at all

THE Minister of Justice Mr. Georgios Floridis and Deputy Minister of Justice Mr. Ioannis Bougas presented to the Council of Ministers New Judicial Map of the country.

With the Ministry of Justice Bill:

– The first level of jurisdiction of the Greek courts, i.e. the Magistrates’ Courts and the Courts of First Instance, is unified, so that all judges can hear all first level cases (civil and criminal) resulting in the faster issuance of court decisions.

– The judicial formations of the country are rationally redesigned. In the regional unit (former prefecture) courts of first instance will operate, namely the Court of First Instance as well as regional Courts of First Instance, while special care is taken for island and border areas.

– Finally, with the bill, the responsibilities of the Heads of the Courts are focused on their judicial and jurisdictional duties.

THE The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Georgios Gerapetritis and the Deputy Minister, Mr. Georgios Kotsiras, presented the Strategic Plan for Hellenism Abroad 2024-2027.

The preparation of the Strategic Plan reflects the importance that the Government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis attaches to the Greek Diaspora and to the further strengthening of the ties of the metropolitan center with the Greek diaspora.

Therefore, a holistic and coordinated government policy for expatriate Hellenism is primarily formed through the Strategic Plan, which is structured into six strategic objectives:

1. Support and development of networks and structures of the Community – Emphasis on new ways of organizing it.

2. Utilization of the presence of the expatriate element to promote issues of Greek interest

3. Preservation of the elements of Greekness by strengthening the Greek language, tradition and culture with an emphasis on the new generation.

4. Maintaining and strengthening ties with the ecclesiastical institutions of Orthodoxy as a cohesive factor of the metropolitan center – Homogenia.

5. Strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of Diaspora.

6. Upgrading the services provided by the Consular Authorities/improving everyday life.

End o Minister of Digital Governance Mr. Dimitrios Papastergiou presented to the Council of Ministers the draft law on measures to implement Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on the single market for digital services.

The bill includes the necessary additional regulations in order to fully and effectively implement in the Greek legal order Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on the single market for digital services and the amendment of Directive 2000/ 31/EC (“Digital Services Act”).

The provisions of the Bill define a Digital Services Coordinator and the competent authorities, which are given the power to supervise intermediate service providers and regulate their individual responsibilities. In addition, it ensures that the orders to take action against illegal content and the orders to provide information issued by the competent judicial or administrative authorities meet in their content the requirements of the “Digital Services Act”. At the same time, the establishment of an Advisory Committee for Digital Services and its responsibilities is foreseen, the procedure for imposing proportionate and effective sanctions imposed on intermediate service providers for violations of the Act and its internal implementation measures is determined, and issues of legal protection against its decisions are regulated Coordinator and other competent authorities. Finally, a Register of intermediate service providers established in Greece is created and the procedure and manner of its compliance are determined.