European Court Rules in Favor of the Church of Greece in Property Dispute

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On January 21, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered a verdict in favor of the Church of Greece in its longstanding dispute with the Greek state over a 31.9-acre plot of land in Athens, as reported by Orthodoxia News Agency.

The land in question was transferred to the state in 1978 for the construction of a hospital, with the agreement that the project would be completed within ten years. However, the hospital was never built, and the Church sought to reclaim the property.

Greek courts rejected the Church’s claim, citing its failure to present an ENFIA certificate, which verifies payment of property taxes over a five-year period. The Church argued that such compliance was impossible, as the property had been officially listed as state-owned during the disputed period.

ECHR Ruling

The ECHR found that the requirement of an ENFIA certificate imposed a "disproportionate obstacle" to the Church's access to justice, thereby violating Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.

The court further criticized the excessive financial burden placed on the Church, noting that the outstanding tax obligations for the five-year period amounted to €500,000.

The ECHR ordered Greece to pay the Church €6,000 in moral damages but denied reimbursement of legal costs due to a lack of supporting documentation.

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