Effective Justice, Mediation, and Transparency as Key Issues in Entrepreneurship
Effective justice and mediation as institutions that accelerate dispute resolution processes in political, social and business life, were the three pillars of the event organized by ACT's Entrepreneurship Hub at the Bissell Library on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.
The event was opened by Dr. Stamos Karamouzis, ACT Rector and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Anatolia College, who emphasized the role of education in linking the academic community to entrepreneurship and the institutions that facilitate and promote it. The event was coordinated by George Kokkas, Director of ACT's Entrepreneurship Hub, who stressed that "transparency and quick justice are important factors for an investor who wants to decide in which country he will make his investment."
Yannis Ragoussis, former interior minister, spoke about "diavgeia", the law that was applied on his days for the publication on a central website (https://diavgeia.gov.gr/) of the decisions of government bodies and administration, introducing "social preventive control”. "Diavgeia" continues to be implemented from 2010 to date, to 4.661 government and wider public sector organizations. Up to now, 27.600.000 decisions have been posted on “Diavgeia”.
Anna Damascu, president of Transparency International-Greece, announced that according to TI Greece has climbed 10 positions, from 69th to 59th, in the global ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2017. The rise reflects the "efforts of the relevant state bodies and civil society". Damascu pointed out that more efforts are needed to make our country among the best of Europe and to create a more fertile environment for businesses to grow.
Zoe Giannopoulou, lawyer-mediator, presented the institution of Mediation, as a factor that will speed up the administration of justice and will contribute to the settlement of disputes. With to the new legislation voted recently on the Parliament, Mediation is introduced as a mandatory precondition for specific disputes. According to a study conducted in 2014 by the Euro Chambers, resolving civil and commercial disputes with the Mediation process would save up to 40 billion euros per year, and equivalent time up to 8 million years annually, at the European level.
