Very proud here to post the press release from the Greek CB Association about updated rules and guidance

PRESS RELEASE  

Press Release 

Athens 26/01/2026

Dear colleagues,

Since 2023, when I was elected President of the Association’s Board of Directors, I publicly committed that the Association would continue its efforts toward the development and modernization of the Citizens’ Band in Greece, in accordance with the rights arising from the European Union and the national legislation of other European countries.

Chronology of Actions and Meetings

31 January 2024
Our first meeting took place with the legal advisors of the Ministry of Digital Governance. We discussed the procedure required to amend Government Gazette FEK 262B, which defines the operation of the Citizens’ Band in Greece.

Based on the guidance provided by the competent authorities, we began our own research into how the Citizens’ Band operates within the European Union, including regulations, EU directives, and technical standards. We studied the national legislation of other European countries, how they have harmonized with EU directives, and we made contact with colleagues from those countries.

26 April 2024
We held a follow-up meeting and submitted a first draft of our views for evaluation. Discussions continued in order to further refine our proposals.

28 November 2024 & 22 January 2025
Two teleconferences were held. For the first time, we were asked to respond to specific questions regarding the requests we had submitted.

11 April 2025
With the full draft completed, we formally requested a meeting with the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Digital Governance.

9 May 2025
This meeting took place in the presence of the Secretary General and other officials. During the discussion, we presented our proposals and explained the purpose and activities of the Association. Another very important discussion also took place, which I will mention below.

22 May 2025
Together with other CB associations in the country, we received draft documents that were in the possession of the Directorate of Technological Equipment and Installations of the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Posts, prior to submitting our own proposals. We were asked to provide our views as an association.

Regarding these drafts—whose origin is unknown and for which certain details are important—we responded, as expected, thoroughly and with full documentation.

11 November 2025
We requested a teleconference to be informed about the progress of the draft law and the approximate timeline for its publication.

21 January 2026
We were informed by the General Directorate of Telecommunications and Posts that the draft Ministerial Decision titled:
“Regulation on the Operation of Citizens’ Band (CB) Radio Stations”
had been posted for public electronic consultation.
Documentation and Transparency

Thus, our effort for the first amendment lasted two years minus ten days.

Because we knew this moment would come, all proposals we submitted, all responses we provided, and all meeting dates are recorded in electronic correspondence. These records are available to anyone who wishes to review them in person, in order to verify where each proposal originated, when it was submitted, how it was documented, and whether it is included in the current consultation.

Let us also remind everyone that emails have long been considered legal evidence.

European Legal Framework

Many may not be aware—and we ourselves were not initially—that Greece’s membership in the European Union means that Greek legislation is bound to a very high degree by EU law, both in terms of rules and interpretation, under the principle of the supremacy of EU law.

The binding instruments include Regulations, Directives, and Decisions.

Specifically for radio equipment, the governing EU directive is RED 2014/53/EU.
Of particular importance to the Citizens’ Band is ECC/DEC 11 (03).
The technical standard of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) that defines the technical characteristics of CB transceivers is ETSI EN 300 433.
If one reads FEK 262B, which defines the Greek legal framework for the Citizens’ Band, it becomes clear that these standards—and others—were taken into account.

What is essential to understand, even without legal expertise, is that Citizens’ Band radio is recognized as a right for EU citizens, and both its operation and equipment parameters are clearly defined at the European level. National legislation must harmonize with these frameworks and cannot independently redefine them at a national level.

This exists to ensure the free circulation of goods, harmonized rules under EU directives, and the proper functioning of the internal market. In simple terms, a consumer or user in Greece must enjoy the same rights as one in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Portugal, or any other EU country.

Anyone can verify the accuracy of the above through basic internet searches or AI models. Those wishing to delve deeper should study ETSI EN 300 433, which is effectively the “Bible” for CB radio equipment.

## Data Transmission on CB

Some questions concerned data transmission on CB and claims that it is prohibited. The European regulations state otherwise:

ECC/DEC 11 (03), page 3, paragraph i):

> *EN 300 433 describes CB radio as a voice service, but some administrations allow it to be used also for data transmissions.*

ETSI EN 300 433 V2.1.1 (2016-05), page 7:

> *…intended for analogue speech and/or data transmission.*

ETSI EN 300 433, page 11, paragraph 4.3.4:

> *…other than those required for either a separate or a built-in microphone, or for selective calling or data transmission devices.*

If data transmission were not allowed, it could not have been incorporated into national legislation in countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and recently Portugal.

Additional questions certainly exist, and they will be addressed via the Association’s Zoom platform.

The Association will continue to act for the improvement of the Citizens’ Band in Greece, in accordance with European directives and the legislation of other EU countries. Our technical committee is now fully equipped, and all procedures are supported by solid legal and technical documentation.

Thursday 29/1 at 20:30
A teleconference will be held via the Association’s Zoom platform to analyze the draft under public consultation and present further proposals. All remaining questions will be addressed.

I would like to thank Simon The Wizard for the support he provided us in our communications.
I thank all our members for their continued support and for the trust they have placed in the Board.
I would also like to thank our fellow European CB operators, who assisted us in analyzing local legislation and supported our effort to bring the Citizens’ Band in Greece into alignment with the rest of the European countries.
Our country is often considered a lagging member of the European Union; however, the response we received from the Ministry gave us the strength to complete a legislative proposal aimed at modernizing our hobby and making it fully compliant with European standards.
A special note of thanks goes to the technicians, legal experts, and communications engineers who supported us in Greece and in other European countries, generously offering their time and expertise pro bono.

**Antonios Chiotis
18SV1542
President,
ΠΑ.ΣΥ.ΧΕ.ΡΑ. CB – Πανελλήνιος Σύλλογος Χειριστών Ραδιοτηλεφώνων C.B.
PASIXERA – PAN-HELLENIC CLUB OF CB RADIO USERS