A series of legislative interventions that reinforce the “already bold legislative framework” for Universities announced the prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakisstressing that these measures can reach up to the discount of Rector that do not meet their obligations.

At the meeting with the heads of the Higher Institutions, he noted that a Supreme Court’s deputy prosecutor, who will have their nationwide supervision, and as in the schools, will restore the damage caused will be borne at the urban level, not primarily.

“I want to be clear: there will be sanctions. They may even reach the deduction from their role for those rectors who will not meet their obligations. The minorities can no longer be the universities of the universities and where it is illegal, there can be no immunity anymore“, He added.

“It’s a battle. We know it’s not easy. A war that needs to be won. We have won several battles, we have lost some, but I think it is a one -way street if we really want the younger generation to claim a better future, to trust the public university and the public university, in turn producing responsible and mature citizens at the University of Knowledge.“, The prime minister stressed.

“I think we can no longer hide behind our finger and now it is an opportunity definitively and irrevocably to end with phenomena that have shaken the public university throughout the Transfiguration. This is what the citizens ask us and I believe that this is what students and the teachers serving the public Greek university ask you for themselves.“, Concluded Mr. Mitsotakis.

Government interventions provide:

  • Training of internal regulations from all HEIs to the end of the year and the preparation or update of security and protection plans by the end of July
  • Introducing a Disciplinary Board by Foundation and Immediate Conception
  • Establishment of self -sanctions for those who are illegitimate
  • Special framework for dealing with criminal hearing behaviors, which includes a student suspension of up to 24 months for students at the expense of which criminal prosecutions are exerted (depending on the evolution of the criminal case).
  • Acceleration of the administration of justice. In this context, a Supreme Court’s deputy prosecutor will be appointed nationwide supervision of offenses arising from incidents of university violence
  • Those who destroy university property will be obliged to pay for its restoration
  • Strengthening the media outlets of university sites, with the installation of access, identification and camera systems and addition of security personnel -a National Observatory for Violence, to systematically record and monitor all problems, but also to ensure accountability
  • Complete staffing of HEI Security Units
  • Stable cooperation between universities and the Greek Police, with clear terms and consultations
  • Plan of prevention of abusive behaviors, which will help cultivate a culture of zero tolerance for violence

“Non -negotiable prerequisite for everyone and everyone in their schools”

In his introductory position, the prime minister said: “First of all, good morning, good week and I am very pleased to welcome you to Maximos Palace. We also meet a few days after the start of the Pan -Hellenic exams, which is a period in which tens of thousands of young people and young people claim a place in the schools of their choices, full of dreams for the future.

And of course, in the autumn the successful candidates of this cruel and particularly demanding process will cross the gates of the institutions where you are in charge. And I think it is first and foremost the first impressions and the overall experience of their academic path to justify their hard work, expectations of their own and of course their families.

And I think it is a non -negotiable prerequisite for, of course, that everyone feels safe in their schools. Knowledge, after all, implies freedom and in turn the legitimacy. An environment in which no one will hesitate to formulate his positions, his views, to open a discussion with some who may not agree with his views. This, moreover, implies freedom of expression by nature.

But I believe that we all agree that we cannot tolerate an environment in which anyone, a student, a professor, may feel hostage to trampus and violence. Academic spirit, academic freedom means first and foremost a spirit of dialogue, documented confrontation, disagreement, and creative composition.

And I think that with this logic and since 2019 we have restored true academic asylum, giving an end to a peculiar regime, the meaning of which I believe has been forfered for many years during the transition.

Since then, you know it well, and with your own help, 48 occupations have been evacuated, which have been returned to the academic community. There have been 500 arrests of people who had transformed the institutions either into hoodlum yachts or into criminal law’s offenses.

And obviously, you know, we are talking about an effort that is dynamic, trying to quickly overthrow a situation that has been “built” for many decades and charged, I would say, with decades of minds.

It is clear, however, that the perception that “nothing has changed” is true and I think it is also wrong with the effort we have made and the effort you have made.

I would say, on the contrary, with prudence and determination, legitimacy is now established in schools. Students, teachers, administrations gradually take their daily lives in their hands, and I think society asks all of us obviously: to apply the law. A request that for the government is now a non -negotiable mandate.

Today, then, we will then have the opportunity, through the Minister, to announce a series of 10+1 legislative interventions that complement, reinforce the already bold legislative framework we have adopted and implemented since 2019 and then by 2021.

In addition, the experience and the constant evaluation of the performance of both the government and the judicial and police authorities and the university administrations requires this to do this constant evaluation of the measures implemented and to fill them where they are found.

So we want to close any hole that does not connect rights with obligations and sanctions. Everyone and each one must do our job properly and responsibly. And when this is not the case, we have similar sanctions after we have first been held accountable.

And given, then, that smoothness in university life is a condition, a prerequisite for its evolution, I think this today’s encounter gains a special meaning. We have said it many times, nothing can be done without your own cooperation, since a significant part of the responsibility for the future of higher education belongs to you.

What I want to hear, then, on your part, is your clear planning for training or updating, for those who have not done so, of your institutions’ security plans, within the next two months, to draw up the internal regulations within 2025, to establish a discipline.

I will say it again, a student who is prosecuted by justice, should lose his student status for up to 24 months. Indeed, in order to accelerate the cases of violence in higher education institutions, a Supreme Court’s deputy prosecutor who will have their nationwide supervision will be appointed.

While, as already in the schools, the repair of the damage caused will be borne at the urban level primarily the leaders and not the university budget, namely the Greek taxpayer.

It is also necessary to enhance the protection and control control of university facilities, something we have done a lot of discussion, according to the model of foreign schools -we are not called here, I think, to discover the gunpowder -where special security units are required, and with the police, and with the police.

Record every incident at a National Violence Observatory of the Ministry so that there is a clear picture and to launch a similar judicial treatment of offenses.

And finally, no design can be effective unless it starts with the establishment of a prevention culture. Yes, with student information actions to embark on a culture of zero tolerance.

And because good accounts make good friends, I want to be clear here: there will be penalties, they may even reach the discount of their role for them, the administrations that will not meet their obligations.

The minorities can no longer be the “bars” of universities. And where illegality is marked, there can be no immunity anymore.

It is a battle that we know is not easy, a war that needs to be won. We have won several battles, we have lost some, but I think it is a one -way street, if we really want the younger generation to claim a better future, to trust the public university and the public university in turn producing responsible and mature citizens. The University of Knowledge is at the same time the University of Life itself.

The role, in this effort, yours is decisive. I look forward to your views very interesting. I believe that we are allies in this endeavor, but I will reiterate that everyone should take on the role they refer to.

I think we can no longer hide behind our finger and now it is a definitive and irrevocable opportunity to end with phenomena that have shaken the public university throughout the transition.

This is what the citizens ask us for and I believe that this is what students and teachers serving the public Greek university ask for this in turn. “

For her part, the Minister of Education, Religions and Sports Sofia Zacharakis said: “Certainly very important steps have been taken and we see it in practice with the” emptiness “of the squatters, with the application of Law 4777/2021, first of all with what had been done with what had been done with her Public University.

But there are still a lot to be done. I think today and with what we announce – and we have discussed I have to say bravely or even in detail at the Rector’s Summit – we are still taking one step so that this sense of security can allow teachers, employees, but mainly to students and students.

The chairman of the Rector’s Synod, Rector of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Christina Koulouris, noted: “I have heard with great pleasure the Prime Minister to say that we have been found to be improved by universities and we are confirmed. There is indeed. We have, I think, a very important and successful course, which is also recognized by society.

And here we have to say that the Greek Public University is an institution that enjoys the state’s confidence. So, we welcome your intention to support it and we will support you in this endeavor. “

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of Education, Religions and Sports Sofia Zacharakis, Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, Minister of State Akis Skredis and Akis Skredis