While justice stalls in Greece, EPPO pushes forward in the Tempi railway tragedy probe

Over two years after the deadliest railway accident in Greek history, the judicial and political handling of the tragedy remains slow and mired in controversy. As public confidence in national institutions continues to erode, many Greeks now look to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) as their only hope for justice.

On Wednesday, 28 May, EPPO announced additional criminal charges against 16 suspects – including 13 public officials – over the mismanagement of EU-funded contracts meant to modernize Greece’s railway signalling and remote traffic control systems. The investigation centers around “Contract 717,” which was meant to secure safety along the Athens-Thessaloniki rail corridor, including the section near Tempi where the fatal collision occurred on 28 February 2023, killing 57 people, most of them students.

EPPO’s extended probe has revealed that between 2019 and 2020, consortium members requested and received €2.7 million in compensation for alleged machinery damage, despite incomplete works attributed to their own fault. That payment was granted by the then Minister of Transport, based on a favorable opinion from public officials at ERGOSE – the contracting authority responsible for the project’s execution. The new charges allege misappropriation of EU and state funds, and potential falsification of documentation.

Victims’ families escalate legal pressure on Greek leadership

Meanwhile, in Greece, the political implications of the tragedy continue to ripple. On 14 May 2025, a new criminal complaint was submitted to the Greek Parliament, requesting criminal prosecution of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and three former cabinet members in connection with the Tempi disaster. The case was brought by 370 family members of victims, citing negligence and political interference in the investigation.

A parallel controversy emerged from a report by the Greek authority for rail and aviation accidents. It claimed that a fireball seen after the collision may have been caused by flammable silicone-based lubricants. However, foreign experts from the universities of Ghent and Pisa, cited in the report, later disputed the way their findings had been used. This prompted Supreme Court Prosecutor Georgia Adeilini to order an urgent judicial inquiry into possible manipulation of evidence and obstruction of justice.

In a separate development, the chair of the national rail accident authority, Christos Papadimitriou, announced the controversial section about the fireball would be removed from the official report – a move that sparked demands for his resignation from opposition parties. The same week, Parliament was due to hear former Deputy Minister Christos Triantopoulos, who had been accused of authorizing bulldozers to clear the crash site prematurely, possibly destroying vital evidence. He denies wrongdoing and says he oversaw only rescue efforts.

Political tensions have only escalated. In March 2025, 85 MPs from PASOK, SYRIZA, the New Left and other opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against the government, citing its role in obstructing the investigation, manipulating public perception, and engaging in undemocratic practices. The document accuses the government of protecting political allies, attacking independent authorities, and undermining the rule of law. It describes the government as “delegitimized” and calls for the restoration of trust in democratic institutions.

The public outcry over Tempi remains loud and sustained. On 28 February 2025, the second anniversary of the disaster, thousands of people demonstrated under the slogan “I have no oxygen” – the last words of one of the victims trapped in the blaze. Explosions targeting railway company offices and continued strikes have reflected the ongoing public anger.

Despite these developments, the judicial process has yet to begin. Over 40 individuals are facing charges, including local station managers. One junior minister has been referred to trial, but opposition parties argue that the ruling New Democracy party is rushing the parliamentary inquiry to avoid calling Prime Minister Mitsotakis and other officials to testify.

Government pledges reform as critics question credibility

In a recent cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister pledged to accelerate railway safety reforms, announcing a 15-month plan to implement train protection systems across the main Athens–Thessaloniki line. The plan, he said, would be completed by September 2025. Yet critics argue this promise is too little, too late.

As Greek institutions struggle to deliver justice, the EPPO’s independent legal actions now stand as the most tangible progress toward accountability. For many, that reflects a deeper truth: where national systems fail, European mechanisms must step in – not only to protect financial interests, but to uphold justice and restore trust.

Sources: BGNES, IBNA, Reuters

Caption: Protesters hold a banner reading ‘In the system of profit it’s luck if you survive – We have to give value to our own lives’, during a protest march from the central square to the Railway Station in memory to the 57 victims of the Tempi 2023 train crash, as they participate at a nationwide 24-hour general strike in Larissa, Greece, 09 April 2025. EPA/APOSTOLOS DOMALIS