GREECE Law and Practice Contributed by: Dimitris Babiniotis, Danae Papadatou and Emmanouil Mavrantonakis, Zepos & Yannopoulos
3.3 Categories of Foreign Judgments Not Enforced Only foreign performance judgments (see 2.1 Types of Domestic Judgments (Relief Sought and Granted)) may be declared enforceable in Greece. 3.4 Process of Enforcing Foreign Judgments Non-EU foreign judgments are declared enforceable in Greece in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 905 (1) of the GrCCP. • A standalone application is filed with the locally competent single-member court of first instance. This is either the court of the place where the debtor holds assets or – should the allocation of such court not be feasible – the Athens Single- Member Court of First Instance. The application is adjudicated in accordance with the provisions of the GrCCP on non-contentious proceedings (Arti - cles 740–781 of the GrCCP). • The application for a declaration of enforceability may be submitted by any party entitled to initiate enforcement based on the foreign judgment. Nei - ther addressing the application against the debtor nor serving it upon the latter is required. Summon - ing the debtor to participate in the proceedings is not required, unless ordered by the court (Article 748 (3) of the GrCCP). • A certified copy of the foreign title accompanied by an official translation into Greek must be submit - ted, along with the foreign authority’s certificate confirming its enforceability in the place of origin (also officially translated into Greek). • The court may of its own motion order that further evidence be provided, as well as consider even inadmissible or invalid evidence (Article 759 of the GrCCP). • There will be no revisiting of the merits of the case. The party against whom a declaration of enforce - ability is sought is precluded from raising any objections to the claim. As soon as a foreign court judgment is declared enforceable in Greece, enforcement proceedings in accordance with Articles 904 et seq of the GrCCP may be initiated.
3.5 Costs and Time Taken to Enforce Foreign Judgments The costs incurred in the proceedings for the decla - ration of enforceability of foreign judgments are rela - tively limited. They extend to the following: • statutory fees to be paid for the filing of the appli - cation by a lawyer; • expenses for the official translation of the foreign judgment and any relevant documents into Greek; • expenses for the service of the application along with the summons upon the party against whom the application is filed, if ordered by the court; • statutory fees to be paid for the applicant’s repre - sentation before court by a lawyer. No fees apply to the issuance of the writ of enforce - ment. 3.6 Challenging Enforcement of Foreign Judgments As mentioned in 3.4 Process of Enforcing Foreign Judgments , once declared enforceable, foreign judg - ments are enforced in Greece in accordance with the provisions of the GrCCP that apply to domestic judg - ments. In light thereof, as regards the challenging of enforcement, please refer to 2.5 Challenging Enforce- ment of Domestic Judgments . 4. Arbitral Awards 4.1 Legal Issues Concerning Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Greece is a signatory to the New York Convention, ratified by virtue of Legislative Decree No 4220/1961, which entered into force on 16 July 1962. Greece has adopted a dualist model, distinguishing between domestic and international arbitration, subjecting them to different legal regimes presenting notable dif - ferences. Domestic arbitration is regulated by Articles 867–903 of the GrCCP, whereas international arbitra - tion is regulated by Law 5016/2023. Domestic and International Arbitral Awards Arbitrations seated in Greece concerning disputes not presenting any international element are considered
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