On the occasion of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of its founding, the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus, in collaboration with the organization “WOMEN ACT,” organized the second conference titled Women and Diplomacy on May 26.

During the conference, the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Maira Myrogianni, delivered a speech entitled “Women in International Relations and in the Greek Diaspora”, in which, among other things, she stated:

“The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy embraces the idea of organizing a conference that brings together Women Diplomats and highlights the timeless role of women in international relations.

Highlighting the pivotal role of women in the Greek diaspora is a priority of the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. This government has implemented a series of national strategies, action plans, and legislative initiatives that incorporate participation in public policies with a view to promoting human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion. 

In 2024, under the guidance of our Minister Mr George Gerapetritis and our Deputy Minister Ms Alexandra Papadopoulou, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed an Equality Action Plan, which represents a crucial step in the collective effort to improve the conditions under which our workforce at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carries out its mission –namely the protection and promotion of our country’s interests.

In today’s global environment, the growing presence of women in leadership roles is the result of multiple interconnected factors. The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy implements a holistic approach that includes actions to encourage everyone to participate, including women, with the overall goal of strengthening the ties between the diaspora and the metropolitan center.

To this end, in our comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Greek Diaspora, which we implement together with our Deputy Minister Mr Yiannis Loverdos, one of our key objectives is to highlight the multifaceted role of women as guardians or Hellenism, responsible for the preservation of the Greek language, customs, traditions, and culture.

Additionally, under the “Women in Diaspora” initiative we plan to organize workshops, conferences and networking events to highlight the timeless role of Greek Diaspora Women in all facets of family, social and professional life.

Some of the initiatives we are currently undertaking, include the creation of Diaspora Women's Networks, an Annual Meeting of Greek Women in the Diaspora, scholarships for Greek Women Abroad, training, funding and mentoring programs, seminars, the use of Digital Platforms and Social Media as well as the creation of a Digital Library of Greek Women's Art and Creativity. We are also exploring ways to provide psychological Support and Social Integration Programs, as well as awards of Excellence.

Equally important is the role of women in our Public Diplomacy Strategic Plan, where the stories of excellence of Greek women are part of our country’s storytelling. They represent the modern, forward-thinking Greece, which invests in merit, equality and inclusion. Advancing gender equality in diplomacy is a prerequisite for building more effective and lasting global solutions.”

Within the framework of the conference, the Director General for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Katerina Koika, participated in a panel discussion entitled “Women in High-Level Diplomacy: Breaking the Glass Ceiling”, alongside PASOK Member of Parliament Nadia Giannakopoulou, diplomatic correspondent Alexia Tasouli, and Ino Afentouli, Special Advisor and Head of the Geopolitics and Diplomacy Observatory at ELIAMEP.

In her remarks, Ms. Koika addressed the longstanding challenges women continue to face in their pursuit of positions of high responsibility, while acknowledging the significant progress achieved in recent years both in Greece and internationally. She noted that the introduction of quotas in the past highlighted pre-existing inequalities, emphasizing, however, that genuine equality requires a broader shift in mindset, sustained investment in education, and the strengthening of institutions that promote equal opportunities and lifelong professional development. She further pointed to Scandinavian countries, with their deeply rooted culture of equality, as notable examples of strong female representation in senior governmental positions.

Turning specifically to Public Diplomacy, Ms. Koika underscored its growing importance as a strategic communication tool and a means of enhancing Greece’s international profile. She observed that Greece’s public diplomacy efforts are steadily expanding beyond the scope of traditional diplomacy into areas such as science, the environment, energy, and the economy. With regard to the role of women in the Greek diplomatic corps, she noted that although the situation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has improved, with women currently holding approximately 37% of leadership positions, further progress is still needed to achieve full equality. She also highlighted that the Ministry is already implementing a Strategic Equality Plan aimed at addressing existing challenges and further strengthening women’s representation in leadership roles.

Concluding her intervention, Ms. Koika expressed her conviction that women are fully capable of excelling and competing on equal terms for top positions on the international stage, not on the basis of gender, but through merit, competitiveness, and the quality of their work. She referred to prominent examples of women who have distinguished themselves in leading international institutions and organizations, stressing that genuine equality is ultimately secured through meritocracy, robust institutional safeguards, and sustained collective effort.

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The web portal Study in Greece is campaigning for the promotion and international visibility of Greek Universities and the comparative educational advantages of our country. In particular, the campaign focuses on the foreign language study programs that Greek Universities offer to Greek and international students. The initiative is supported by the General Secretariat of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In this context, a number of educational programs and actions are presented in detail on a regular basis, such as undergraduate and postgraduate programs, summer schools etc, to inform international students about the many foreign language options offered by Greek Universities.

Panayotis Glavinis is Dean of the Faculty of Law and Professor of International Economic Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He teaches International Trade Law, International Investment Law, International Business Transactions, Development Cooperation, and Energy Law at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Professor Glavinis has extensive experience in domestic and international arbitration, including proceedings under ICC, UNCITRAL, and ICSID rules. Since 2004, he has served as a member of the Commission on Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, and he was the first General Secretary of the Mediation Center of the Thessaloniki Bar Association. He also serves as Director of the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) program.

Study in Greece interviewed Professor Panayotis Glavinis on the International LL.B. of the Faculty of Law of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, its features and what it has to offer to international students.

Please provide us with an overview of the new Bachelor of Laws’ structure and main research areas.

The International LL.B. of the Faculty of Law of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is a full four-year, 240-ECTS Bachelor of Laws taught entirely in English. It has been designed as a rigorous European law degree with a genuinely global outlook: academically demanding, professionally relevant, and deeply attentive to the kind of legal world our students are preparing to enter.

What makes the programme distinctive is that it does not ask students to choose between legal tradition and legal innovation. It gives them both. The curriculum is firmly anchored in the civil law tradition and in the intellectual discipline of legal science, while opening the classroom to comparative law, common law reasoning, European Union law, international law, digital regulation and the realities of cross-border legal practice.

The structure is carefully sequenced across eight semesters. Students begin with the foundations that every serious lawyer needs: private law, public law, constitutional law, criminal law, legal methodology, contract, property, tort, administrative law, corporate law, tax law, civil procedure and criminal procedure. From there, they move into the wider architecture of modern legal practice: EU law, public and private international law, human rights, migration, refugee and asylum law, banking and finance, international economic law, international business transactions, international litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

A key strength of the programme is its future-facing dimension. Courses in Computer Law and GDPR, Digital Law, Intellectual Property, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Competition and Consumer Protection, and AI-related regulation ensure that students are not only trained in what law has been, but in what law is becoming. This is further supported by AI-enhanced learning tools, comparative legal analysis, negotiation training, moot court participation and ADR simulations, all of which help students develop the judgement, confidence and practical fluency expected of the next generation of lawyers.

In the final year, students personalise their academic pathway through elective courses drawn from three specialised clusters: Greek law and legal terminology, including Cypriot Law; Common Law, including Contract, Tort, Property, Equity and Trusts; and Maritime Studies, including International Law of the Sea, International Maritime Law, Shipping Law and Marine Insurance. This allows each student to shape a profile that reflects their ambitions, whether they are looking towards European or international legal practice, common law jurisdictions, the shipping and maritime sector, or professional qualification routes connected to Greece and Cyprus.

The programme is also embedded in a living research environment. The Faculty’s research activity gives students exposure to some of the most important questions facing law and society today: digital transformation and artificial intelligence, transparency and financial crime, medical law and bioethics, European legal culture, human rights, migration, international dispute resolution, private law, commercial law, maritime law and law and technology.

Research units such as the DTAIL Lab for Law, Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence, the Research Institute for Transparency, Corruption and Financial Crime, the Laboratory for the Research of Medical Law and Bioethics, and the Centre for European Legal Culture create an academic ecosystem in which students encounter law not as a static body of rules, but as a living discipline that responds to society, business, technology and human need.

At its heart, this LL.B. is about forming lawyers who can think across systems, speak the language of Europe and the world, use technology responsibly, argue with precision, and understand the human stakes behind every legal question. It is a programme for students who want more than a degree: they want a legal education with depth, direction and purpose.

How does the program align with the general extroversion strategy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki?

The International LL.B. is a direct expression of Aristotle University’s strategic commitment to internationalisation. The programme is designed to attract a diverse international student body from across the world and to establish the Faculty of Law as a leading destination for English-taught legal education in Southeast Europe.

This vision is embedded within a broader institutional framework. The Faculty maintains academic partnerships with universities in more than 20 countries, including University of California, Berkeley, LMU Munich, University of Cologne, University of Belgrade, and Koç University. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is also a member of the EPICUR European Universities Alliance and participates in one of the largest Erasmus+ networks in Greece, with approximately 600 partner institutions worldwide. The programme also complements the Faculty’s established LL.M. in European Business and Economic Law, creating a seamless pathway from undergraduate to postgraduate studies and further strengthening the University’s international academic profile. Together with the growing number of English-taught programmes across the University, the International LL.B. positions Aristotle University as a dynamic centre of globally oriented higher education in the wider region.

Artificial Intelligence and modern technologies have brought a considerable shift in many aspects of legal methodology and practice. How does the program tackle these emerging challenges?

The programme approaches the intersection of law and technology on two complementary levels: as a field of legal study and as an innovative mode of teaching.

At the curricular level, students engage directly with the legal challenges of the digital age through mandatory courses such as Computer Law and GDPR, Digital Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Energy Law. Topics include AI regulation, cybersecurity, platform governance, data protection, and the evolving European framework shaped by the Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts. These subjects are integrated into the core curriculum, ensuring that every graduate develops a strong understanding of how technology is reshaping legal systems, markets, and society.

At the pedagogical level, the programme is among the first in Europe to integrate an AI-driven teaching assistant designed for real-time comparative legal analysis. Working alongside traditional lectures, the platform enhances interactivity, supports cross-jurisdictional learning, and enables students to engage more dynamically with legal sources and comparative reasoning.

This commitment is further reinforced by the Faculty’s Dtail Lab which explores the relationship between law, technology, and society, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence, data protection, cybersecurity, and algorithmic transparency. Through seminars, research activities, and coursework connected to the Lab’s work, students are exposed to some of the most important legal and regulatory developments shaping the future of the profession.

Does the program include legal training in both continental and common law?

Yes, and this is a deliberate feature of the programme’s design. The International LL.B. is firmly grounded in the continental civil law tradition, offering students a comprehensive education across the core fields of private and public law. At the same time, it recognises the growing importance of legal fluency across systems in an increasingly international profession.

For this reason, the programme includes a dedicated Common Law elective module in the final year, comprising four specialised courses: Contract Law, Restitution and Tort, Property Law, and Equity and the Law of Trusts. This allows students to develop a meaningful understanding of common law reasoning alongside their civil law training.

This dual orientation is particularly valuable for students from mixed jurisdictions such as Cyprus, where civil law and common law traditions coexist, as well as for those aspiring to careers in international law firms, cross-border transactions, arbitration, and global legal practice, where comparative legal understanding is a significant professional asset.

Beyond the elective module, the comparative perspective is embedded throughout the curriculum. Mandatory courses such as Comparative Law: Introduction to Major Legal Systems and European and Comparative Constitutional Law encourage students to think across jurisdictions from the very beginning of their studies and to approach legal problems with a genuinely international and comparative mindset.et.

In terms of international degree recognition, what are the options for graduates regarding legal practice and employability?

The LL.B. is a national degree awarded by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a public university of the Hellenic Republic. As such, it requires no separate recognition procedure by DOATAP or any other body in Greece and carries the same institutional standing as any degree awarded by a Greek public university.

For Cyprus, the competent authority for academic recognition is KYSATS. Greece and Cyprus maintain a bilateral agreement for the mutual recognition of academic qualifications, and KYSATS gives explicit priority to degrees from EU institutions, particularly from Greece. The Greek-taught law degree of the Faculty is already recognised in Cyprus, and the International LL.B. carries the same institutional standing. The programme's Common Law and Cypriot Law modules are specifically designed to support graduates aiming for professional qualification in Cyprus.

More broadly, graduates who have completed the relevant coursework and meet the requirements of their chosen jurisdiction may access the further procedures leading to professional qualification in civil law and common law jurisdictions alike. Access to professional practice in any jurisdiction is subject to the specific requirements of the relevant Bar Association.

In terms of employability, the programme opens pathways to EU institutions, international organisations (EU, Council of Europe, OSCE, UN and specialised agencies, ICC, World Bank), international law firms, multinational corporations, the maritime industry, and NGOs working in human rights. Meeting the Bologna benchmark for integrated legal studies, graduates can also progress directly into the Faculty's LL.M. in European Business and Economic Law, creating a combined five-year pathway of 315 ECTS.

If you could send a message to prospective students interested in studying law, what would you say to make them consider your program?

This is a law degree for students who refuse to compromise between academic excellence and a meaningful student experience. You study at one of Europe’s oldest and most distinguished law faculties, guided by more than 70 tenured professors who bring together Greek, European, and international legal perspectives. The programme offers the full intellectual depth of legal education, from constitutional and criminal law to maritime law, digital law, and international arbitration, while also becoming one of the first in Europe to integrate AI-driven learning into legal education.

But what truly shapes the experience is the environment in which you live and study. Thessaloniki is a city that combines energy with quality of life: vibrant, affordable, international, and deeply human. Within minutes, students move from lecture halls to the waterfront, from libraries to cafés, and from academic life to a city rich in culture, history, and creativity. It is a place where students can focus, belong, and grow.

And when you graduate, you leave with more than a degree. You hold a nationally recognised EU law qualification from a Faculty whose alumni have gone on to become Presidents of the Republic, Prime Ministers, senior judges, and leading practitioners. You join a Faculty with a strong international presence and a distinguished record in global moot court competitions, with award-winning performances in The Hague, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, and Washington.

This is more than an LL.B. It is the foundation for a legal career that is international in outlook, ambitious in scope, and without borders.

Applications are now open! For more, follow the link:

https://apply.studyingreece.edu.gr/en/programmes/bsc/1731/details/bachelor-of-laws-llb

The post International Program Stories / International LL.B. of the Faculty of Law of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

A Major Exhibition at the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation presents Jannis Psychopedis: Landscapes of Memory. The Ones I Chose to Keep, a major retrospective dedicated to one of the foremost figures in contemporary Greek art, Jannis Psychopedis.

On view from May 20 to October 4, 2026, the exhibition traces Psychopedis’ artistic journey from 1962 to the present through approximately 70 paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works. Of particular significance is the fact that these are works the artist himself chose to retain in his personal collection, offering a rare and deeply personal insight into both his artistic evolution and the choices that shaped it.

Jannis Psychopedis, a major figure of postwar Greek painting, develops a distinct visual language, exploring political tensions, social unrest, memory, exile, fragmented urban life and autobiographical elements. His practice is at the same time profoundly literary. Text, manuscripts, poetry and allusions to writers, philosophers, and historical documents frequently inhabit his compositions, transforming many of his works into visual meditations that unfold like diaries or fragments of remembrance. His paintings invite reading as much as viewing.

Psychopedis emerged on the Greek art scene during the liberal climate of the 1960s as a prominent member of Art Group “A”, the New Greek Realists, and the Centre for Visual Arts. From the outset of his career, his work reflected the international shift toward neo-figuration, a movement that found a distinctive resonance in Greece. The richness of his contribution to neo-realism was shaped by the dynamic coexistence of two artistic worlds: one deeply rooted in Greek culture and another formed through his Western artistic education. Rather than dissolving into a unified visual language, these parallel influences remained in productive tension, fostering fertile artistic exchanges while reinforcing the artist’s resistance to aggressive industrialization and rampant consumerism.

The exhibition unfolds across twenty thematic chapters shaped by the artist’s own narratives and reflections. It opens with works from 1962, marking the true beginning of Psychopedis’ artistic path, followed by works from 1967 that capture the political and social tensions of the era.

The section Anatomy Lesson reveals the artist’s enduring engagement with anatomy, dating back to his student years. This preoccupation recurs throughout the exhibition in figures that seem to bear invisible wounds; even the nude bodies, initially suggestive of eroticism, appear fragile and vulnerable. In The Letter that Never Arrived, elements of everyday life intertwine with autobiographical references through the use of heterogeneous materials. Night in Brussels, created after the artist settled in Brussels in 1986, explores the relationship between interior and exterior space, between the intimacy of the private room and the urban landscape beyond the window.

The 1999 cycle Report to Goya functions as a powerful anti-war statement, linking traumatic images of the past with contemporary realities. Equally emblematic is Oracle, one of the artist’s most significant works, distinguished by its multilayered structure and its dialogue between ancient and contemporary civilization. References to classical antiquity also permeate the series inspired by the devastating fires of 2007 in Ancient Olympia, where the artist reflects on the relationship between lived experience and the enduring legacy of the classical world.

The exhibition is curated by Kyriakos Koutsomallis, General Director of the B&E Goulandris Foundation.

An extensive bilingual catalogue in Greek and English accompanies the exhibition, alongside a three-episode podcast series produced as part of B&E Goulandris Podcasts: An Audio Dive into the Enchanting World of Art, available on major streaming platforms.

Born in Athens in 1945, Jannis Psychopedis studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts before continuing his education at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Munich on a DAAD scholarship. During the years of the Greek dictatorship, he co-founded the group “Young Greek Realists,” whose socially engaged figurative painting became associated with anti-dictatorial resistance. Following extended periods in Munich, West Berlin, and Brussels, he returned permanently to Greece in the early 1990s and later taught painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts until 2012.

Over the course of his career, Psychopedis has presented numerous solo exhibitions internationally and participated in major collective exhibitions and retrospectives. His work occupies a singular position within contemporary European painting, distinguished by its fusion of political consciousness, historical depth, and intensely personal expression.

Featured Photo: “Broken Horizon” [part of a quadriptych], 1981. Coloured pencils on paper, 58.5 × 56 cm

Photo credits © Chris Doulgeris

The post Jannis Psychopedis: Landscapes of Memory appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Revisiting the Legacy of Alexander Karatheodori

The Franco-Hellenic Applied Dialogues held their sixth conference on Monday, 11 and Tuesday, 12 May in Nea Orestiada, Greece. The conference sought to contribute to the timely public debate on geopolitical uncertainty, the crisis of International Law, and the role of diplomacy in the contemporary world.

The event stood out for its originality. The dialogue between Greek-speaking and French-speaking experts offered a distinctive perspective on the current international landscape, at a time when Greek and French positions are significantly converging. The conference also succeeded in connecting historical reflection with broader considerations regarding the present and the future.

The conference opened with a tribute to Alexander Karatheodori, head of the Ottoman delegation at the Congress of Berlin (1878). Discussions explored whether, and to what extent, knowledge of the distant past can illuminate today’s geopolitical dilemmas. Particular emphasis was placed on how the diplomatic acumen of the Phanariot statesman Alexander Karatheodori contributed to addressing geopolitical threats in the nineteenth century. Professor Stefanos Geroulanos, a descendant of the family, spoke extensively about Karatheodori’s legacy and intellectual contribution, as a source of inspiration and optimism amid today’s profound international turbulence.

The event brought together distinguished figures from politics, diplomacy, and academia. The keynote speaker was Herman Van Rompuy, who served as President of the European Council during the Greek financial crisis. He delivered a comprehensive assessment of the European project in the current international context, underscoring the need for unity, courageous leadership, and the revival of the spiritual and intellectual dimension of European integration. He was introduced by former Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos.

The Conference was also sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the framework of public diplomacy initiatives.

Director General for Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Katerina Koika, addressed the audience, highlighting the symbolism of the border town of Orestiada as Thrace has historically been a crossroads of civilizations and significant geopolitical and historical developments.

Ms Koika stated that in an era of profound geopolitical shifts, initiatives such as this conference, contribute to a deeper understanding of contemporary challenges and the promotion of dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding. She also referred to global challenges, such as energy security, migratory pressures, rapid technological advancement, Artificial Intelligence, and increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaigns undermining the integrity of information. 

Ms Koika particularly focused on public diplomacy, not merely as a tool for crisis management but also a force of prevention, a bridge of understanding, and a mechanism for building trust and stability within the framework of a modern and multidimensional foreign policy.

Among the speakers were former President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Angelos Syrigos, Stelios Perrakis, and Anastasios-Ioannis Metaxas, alongside other distinguished academics and researchers. Former French Minister of Labour Muriel Pénicaud, former Director of the OECD Development Centre Mario Pezzini, demographer Gérard-François Dumont, geographer André Louchet, and other scholars further reinforced the international dimension of the discussions.

The first part of the conference focused on geopolitical developments. Participants examined the evolving relationship between maritime and continental powers and the implications of technological change, which increasingly complicate the safeguarding of freedom of navigation. Particular attention was devoted to major demographic transformations, the crisis of the West, and the rise of countries of the Global South.

The second part highlighted the reforms and adaptations required to strengthen the role of international organizations and diplomacy. Speakers denounced the excessive pessimism that often leads to inertia and aggravates adverse developments. It was emphasized that the international community and diplomacy are rooted in deep historical traditions and, despite current challenges and uncertainties, are unlikely to disappear.

Nea Orestiada, birthplace of Alexander Karatheodori, provided a distinctive setting for the conference. The “Karatheodori Family Heritage Association” played a decisive role in welcoming participants and guiding them through the region, with particular emphasis on the Karatheodori Museum. Emeritus Professor of the Sorbonne Georges Prevelakis, in coordination with Professor Stefanos Geroulanos and in collaboration with Mr Panagis Kalantzis, Director of In Session Events, conceived the thematic framework of the conference and contributed significantly to the organization and smooth conduct of the discussions.

The Ethnological Museum of Thrace, together with its director Mrs Angela Giannakidou, as well as Mrs Katerina Xyla, President of the Hellenic Cultural Centre, also made an important contribution to the successful organization and implementation of the conference.

Through this initiative, the Franco-Hellenic Applied Dialogues highlighted the importance of historical and geographical knowledge, international cooperation, and diplomacy as essential tools for understanding and addressing today’s global challenges.

The post Diplomacy in an Era of Geopolitical Transformation appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

With the participation of 70 scientists from 35 countries, the Annual Meeting of the Global Geoparks Network was held at the University of the Aegean on the island of Lesvos, hosted by Professor Nikolaos Zouros, Secretary General of the Global Geoparks Network and Head of the UNESCO Chair on Geoparks and the Sustainable Development of Island and Coastal Areas at the University of the Aegean. The meeting was attended, among others, by President Professor Artur Sá and members of the 15-member Executive Committee of the Global Geoparks Network, as well as President Professor Setsuya Nakada and members of the 12-member Council of UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Programme.

(Cover Photo: https://www.lesvosgeopark.gr/en/lesvos-geopark/)

The Global Geoparks Network is an international organization based in France and an official partner of UNESCO for the implementation of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Programme. It currently includes 241 geoparks in 51 countries as members.

During the meeting, important issues concerning international networking and cooperation among geoparks were discussed, including the sustainable management and conservation of geological heritage sites; funding opportunities and jointly funded projects; actions for the protection of geoheritage monuments from climate change and natural hazards; collaborative initiatives to promote geoparks as sustainable tourism destinations and participation in international tourism exhibitions; strategic cooperation with the European Union; and initiatives to support the development of geoparks in Africa and in regions not yet represented within the Global Geoparks Network. Moreover, the organization of an International Training Course for Geopark Managers in Lesvos will contribute to promoting the island internationally, while also creating opportunities for these issues to become the focus of scientific activity in the Aegean region, with significant development prospects.

Greece’s 10 recognized UNESCO Global Geoparks are: Lesvos Island, Psiloritis, Vikos–Aoos National Park, Helmos–Vouraikos National Park, Sitia, Grevena–Kozani, Lavreotiki, Meteora–Pyli, and Kefalonia–Ithaca, Nisyros Island. (https://www.visitgreece.gr/inspirations/geoparks-in-greece/)

Parallel to the meeting, the Global Geoparks Network and UNESCO are organizing the International Training Course for UNESCO Global Geoparks Managers, in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Geoparks and Sustainable Development of Island and Coastal Areas at the Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean and the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.

The 2026 International Training Course for UNESCO Global Geoparks Managers, entitled “UNESCO Global Geoparks: Geoconservation, Sustainable Tourism and Local Development,” takes place from 16 to 25 May 2026 at the University of the Aegean and includes field visits to significant geological heritage sites on Lesvos.

The International Training Course for UNESCO Global Geoparks Managers is the flagship capacity-building activity of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Programme and is held this year for the 14^th consecutive time in Lesvos with in-person participation.

More than 80 participants are taking part in the course, including geopark managers, tourism officials, local government representatives, university professors, doctoral candidates, and representatives of scientific organizations collaborating with geoparks and developing or implementing innovative actions for the protection, management, and promotion of geological heritage. Participants come from 27 countries: Belgium, Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Japan, Indonesia, Ireland, Iran, Spain, Italy, China, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Romania, the Czech Republic, Thailand, Türkiye, and Greece.

In parallel with the lectures, educational field visits will be organized across Lesvos, aiming to familiarize participants with the island’s natural environment, geological monuments, habitats, archaeological sites, museums, monasteries, traditional settlements, women’s agritourism cooperatives, and local products.

Lesvos has an impressive hydrographic network due to the climatic conditions, rainfall, geological formations and active tectonics. Thus Lesvos hosts impressive gorges, valleys and waterfalls which are scattered throughout the island. They are sites of aesthetic value but also important ecological hot spots. Along the riverbeds appear steep waterfalls which are usually associated with the presence of active faults.  Impressive waterfalls appear such as: the Man’ katsa formed in the ignimbrite rocks close to Mandamados. (https://welcometolesvos.com/lesvos-geopark/)

The Petrified Forest of Lesvos is a rare petrified forest ecosystem made up of large concentrations of fossilized trees and animals which were covered by volcanic material and petrified in place 18 million years ago. The area of the Petrified Forest is characterized by impressive volcanic geosites, witnesses of the intense volcanic activity during Miocene. Lesvos island for this reason could be characterized as a window on the geohistoric development of the Aegean over the last 20 million years and is considered one of the most beautiful and rare monuments of geological heritage in the world. (https://welcometolesvos.com/lesvos-geopark/)

Not far beneath the surface of Lesvos there are still large concentrations of hot magma, which act as vast heaters, warming water which penetrate the crust to a considerable depth. When it approaches the magma chamber, the meteoric water is heated and comes up through the surface of the Earth via thermal springs. The most important thermal springs on Lesvos are at Polichnitos, Lisvori, Thermi, Therma at Geras gulf, Eftalou and Argenos. (https://welcometolesvos.com/lesvos-geopark/)

(Source: https://www.ertnews.gr/perifereiakoi-stathmoi/voreio_aigaio/i-lesvos-sto-epikentro-tou-pagkosmiou-diktyou-geoparkon-tis-ounesko/)

Read more:

Greece’s UNESCO Global Geoparks

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The Greek Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia has officially opened to the international public with Escape Room, a large-scale installation by internationally acclaimed artist and architect Andreas Angelidakis. Curated by George Bekirakis and commissioned by the Metropolitan Organization of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (MOMUS), the project was inaugurated on Thursday, May 7, 2026, and will remain on view through November 22, 2026.

Transforming the Greek Pavilion into a present-day Platonic Cave, Andreas Angelidakis reimagines Plato’s seminal text as an immersive, inhabitable environment, situated within the current era of post-truth and rising nationalist populism. The Platonic allegory becomes a malleable instrument for probing the present, in which the world of images is saturated with digital illusions and cultural replicas. Shifting the focus to the history of the Greek Pavilion itself, the installation assembles elements presented as contested, constructed truths, illuminating both the complex nature of historical knowledge and its entanglement with nationalism and propaganda.

With a long-standing and distinguished presence on both the Greek and international art scenes, Athens-based Andreas Angelidakis has forged a hybrid, research-driven practice that brings architecture into vivid dialogue with the visual arts and digital media. His work touches upon the notions of ruin and historicity, articulated through narratives that resist linearity and challenge entrenched binaries such as the imaginary and the real, the physical and the virtual, the authentic and the copy. His installations approach history through the strategies of displacement, distortion, inversion, and humor, staging alternative frameworks for reading reality, identity, and cultural memory anew. Fiction lies at the core of his methodology as a primary narrative tool, while through processes of queering and the destabilization of the mechanisms that underpin truth and authenticity, his work probes the architecture of perception, culture in the making, and the construction of selfhood.

“The national pavilion is divided in two: the National and the Pavilion. Both function as mechanisms similar to those described by Plato in the Symposium,” Andreas Angelidakis explains. Transforming the pavilion into a labyrinth of images, objects, architectural fragments, videos, and “souvenirs” drawn from Greek history and identity, the artist creates a contemporary Platonic cave; a space where history, ideology, and national narratives are simultaneously produced, repeated, and dismantled.

At the heart of the installation, an imprisoned surveillance camera continuously films itself. Scattered objects and references operate as fragmented lectures or traces of collective memory: the year of the Greek Civil War, when Greece did not participate in the Biennale and Peggy Guggenheim rented the Greek Pavilion to exhibit Cubist and Surrealist works then perceived as anti-fascist art; a small monument dedicated to Vasso Katraki at the pavilion entrance; and references to Yannis Tsarouchis, Zak Kostopoulos, and Maria Beikou.

Speaking at the opening, Deputy Minister of Culture for Contemporary Culture Iason Fotilas emphasized the collaborative effort behind the presentation:

“I will not speak about the artistic work itself, as others are far more qualified to do so. Besides, this project is so compelling and powerfully structured that it speaks for itself and speaks to everyone. What I would like to highlight instead is the invisible work behind the scenes; the extensive effort undertaken by our national commissioner, MOMUS. The interventions, the security systems, the infrastructure, and the overall preparation made it possible for this work to be presented in its complete form and without limitation. Successful organizational work is invisible: it allows the artwork and the artist to speak freely.

The Ministry of Culture, Minister Lina Mendoni, and I have always stood, and continue to stand, by the commissioner, the artist, and his team to present an important proposal that I am certain will spark meaningful dialogue. I would also like to thank the strategic supporter of the Greek participation, the Onassis Foundation, as well as all those who have supported Greece’s presence at the Biennale.”

The President of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (MOMus), Epameinondas Christofilopoulos, stated:

“A few months ago, we undertook the role of national commissioner with enthusiasm and a great sense of responsibility. This assignment allowed us to serve a particularly ambitious endeavor and to contribute meaningfully to the national presence in Venice through Andreas Angelidakis’s Escape Room. With the unwavering support of the Ministry of Culture, we completed an extensive and demanding project in an exceptionally short period. Today, we stand before the result with the conviction that visitors to the Greek Pavilion will experience something truly meaningful.”

A special publication accompanying the installation includes a text by curator George Bekirakis, who describes Escape Room as an allegory of life under contemporary capitalism:

“Escape Room presents the viewer with an analogy of life under the shadow of capitalism. Traces are everywhere. The game we must escape from is not a room, but a deep, dark cave, shielded by the buzzing of millions of images circulating across our screens. Real and surreal realities collide on platforms that drain our attention while simultaneously serving national agendas and commercial interests. In this work, Andreas Angelidakis reverses spatial hierarchies, creating the paradox of a habitable ruin within the digital panopticon. Ultimately, he discreetly offers the audience clues that they may either sift through or simply overlook. Essentially, the viewer is invited to decide how to exercise their capacity to act and where to direct their attention. After all, it is just a game.”

Andreas Angelidakis (b. 1968, Athens) is an architect and artist based in Athens. He studied architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles and subsequently at Columbia University in New York. His artistic practice is informed by a vibrant interdisciplinary engagement spanning architecture, publications, writing, design, and exhibition-making. His work materialises at the threshold between the real and the virtual, historical memory and fiction, sincerity and humour, constructing new narrative environments that propose new modes of experiencing and inhabiting the contemporary cultural and digital condition. In his conceptual cosmos, architecture operates more broadly as a vehicle for exploring identity, while Athens and the notion of the ruin – ancient, modern, or digital – recur as constant and critical motifs throughout his artistic output. From installation to essays, each work distils his ongoing inquiry into the relationship between viewer and artwork, foregrounding the interplay of power, space, and infrastructure through idiosyncratic visual systems that privilege embodied experiences within digital states.

As a testament to the international recognition of his work in architecture, art, and curating, Angelidakis has lectured widely at various universities and art institutions around the globe, and his work has been featured in leading international art publications and media, including Artforum, Frieze, e-flux, RIBA Journal, Nowness, Financial Times, Art Pulse, Archinect, Architectural Record, The New Yorker, Art in America, ArtReview, NERO Editions, La Repubblica, Flash Art, Dezeen, Designboom, Wallpaper, ARTnews, and The Art Newspaper, among others.

His work has been presented in Greece and internationally at prominent institutions and exhibitions, including: the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (ΕΜΣΤ), Athens; Onassis Foundation, Athens; documenta 14, Athens and Kassel; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; Galeria Municipal do Porto; Espace Niemeyer, Paris; Hayward Gallery, London; ETH, Zurich; and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk. His works are held in prominent public and private collections worldwide.

“Escape Room” is funded by Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Onassis Culture is strategic supporter. Additional supporters include ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ (Hellenic Centre for Audiovisual Media and Creation), Qualco Group, Qualco Foundation, the National Bank of Greece, Ioannis and Maya Martinou, and Ioanna Martinou. The work is also supported by the Organization for Culture and Development NEON, the Irene Y. Panagopoulos Collection, the Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA), Anastasia Tsoureka-Sarakaki, Perianth Hotel, Aliki Martinou, Giorgos Petrocheilos and Diamantis Xilas, Eirini Laimou, the Thessaloniki Film Festival, the company “The Art of Living”, ARCH, Polygreen Culture & Art Initiative (PCAI), Eleni Martinou and Andreas Melas.

The official air transport sponsor is AEGEAN.

Photo Credits: Vladimiros Nikolouzos

The post Inside “Escape Room”: Greece’s Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

A five-year action plan, “Greece On Screen,” launched by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (E.K.K.O.ME.D.), aims to develop the audiovisual creative economy with a total budget of €750 million for the 2026–2030 period. The Action Plan, approved by the Cabinet, constitutes a comprehensive national strategy that invests in production, knowledge, innovation, and people. It will be implemented by the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (E.K.K.O.ME.D.) and establishes a coherent policy framework covering the entire ecosystem of creative production, from cinema and television to animation, video games, and music festivals.

The Cabinet also approved the draft law establishing the School of Film Technicians and Audiovisual Creation (Level 5), which addresses a critical gap in the education and training of specialized human resources, supporting the growth potential of the audiovisual creative sector in the years ahead.

The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center S.A. (H.F.A.C.) was established in 2024 with the merger of the Greek Film Centre and the National Centre for Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME). H.F.A.C. is the main body responsible for Greece’s film and audiovisual policy. Its mission is to support, develop, protect, and internationally promote the Greek film, audiovisual, and wider creative sectors; encourage domestic and foreign investment; foster innovation and the use of digital technologies; operate key initiatives such as the National Digital Repository of Audiovisual Works and Creative Hub GR; combat piracy in cooperation with relevant authorities; design education and training programs for the audiovisual industry; and support the Government in shaping and promoting national policy for the country’s film, audiovisual, and creative industries in Greece and abroad.

The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center-Creative Greece, in the framework of its mission, designs and implements investment incentives aimed at supporting domestic investments and attracting foreign investments, in the film/audiovisual sector, as well as in the wider cultural and creative sector

The European Film Awards will be held in the Greek capital of Athens in January 2027

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated:

“With the five-year action plan ‘Greece On Screen,’ the Government — with the decisive support of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis — is proceeding, for the first time, with the formulation of a coherent, long-term, and fully funded national plan for the entire audiovisual creation sector. This is a deliberate strategic choice: to invest in culture as a driver of growth, social cohesion, and the country’s international presence.

With total resources amounting to €750 million for the period 2026–2030, we are creating a stable, reliable, and competitive environment for cinema, television, animation, video games, and every field of the modern creative economy. We are actively supporting Greek creators, strengthening businesses in the sector, and attracting international productions and investments, while creating new, high-quality jobs.

Reliable studies already demonstrate that every €1 of public investment in audiovisual creation generates €4.20 for the real economy. At the same time, with the establishment of the new School of Film Technicians and Audiovisual Creation, we are addressing a long-standing gap in specialized education and investing in the human capital that will shape the future of the Greek audiovisual sector.

Greece possesses the talent, expertise, and creative potential to play a leading role internationally. We are not merely following developments; we are shaping the conditions that will allow our country to assume a leading position in the global creative economy. Culture is Development.”

The CEO of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (E.K.K.O.ME.D.), Leonidas Christopoulos, stated:

“The approval of the five-year Action Plan «Greece on Screen» by the Cabinet marks a critical milestone for audiovisual creation in the country. This is the first time that the Greek State has addressed the film and audiovisual industry in such a systematic and comprehensive manner, recognizing it simultaneously as a cultural and developmental pillar.

Within just 20 months, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (E.K.K.O.ME.D.), in close and excellent cooperation with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, succeeded in implementing critical reforms, significantly increasing available resources, and shaping a stable and reliable policy framework with a medium-term perspective. This achievement is the result of coordinated effort and collaboration. We sincerely thank the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of National Economy and Finance for their support and close cooperation throughout this period.”

The «Greece On Screen» Action Plan aims to stabilize and strengthen financial incentives over the medium term and is expected to mobilize significant additional capital within the Greek economy, boosting employment, improving the country’s international competitiveness, and highlighting culture and creativity as key pillars of sustainable development. It is the largest support program for audiovisual creation ever designed in Greece to date.

Allocation of Resources

The allocation of resources establishes a robust, multi-layered funding framework:

• €412 million for investment programs aimed at supporting domestic film and audiovisual projects and attracting international productions in cinema, television, and animation, as well as for selective development and production programs and initiatives for the promotion and distribution of Greek cinema.
• €210 million for a loan guarantee program in cooperation with the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB), aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector.
• €20 million for the support of audiovisual digital games (digital game development) and music festivals utilizing audiovisual technology.
• €20 million for the promotion of extroversion and cultural diplomacy initiatives in the audiovisual sector.
• €52 million for the establishment and operation of the School of Film Technicians and Audiovisual Media, for education and training initiatives, for the promotion of technological innovation in the audiovisual sector, and for the preservation and digitization of cinematic and audiovisual heritage.
• €36 million for the administrative, institutional, and technical support of the program, including the repayment of previous selective funding programs, the conduct of external evaluations, the creation of a registry of experts, the development of digital tools to simplify procedures, infrastructure upgrades, the creation of networking spaces for creators, and other critical supporting interventions.

Key Interventions

Within the framework of the Action Plan, flagship initiatives are being implemented to strengthen the structure and sustainability of the sector:

• The establishment of the School of Film Technicians and Audiovisual Media at the facilities of Finos Film, whose expropriation or acquisition is being advanced by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

• The strengthening of the Thessaloniki Market (Thessaloniki International Film Festival) as an international hub, while also reinforcing Athens through targeted institutional initiatives.

• The development of an innovation center for video game development, which will operate as a hub for research and entrepreneurship.

• The utilization of the Kokovikos Residence in Plaka as a space dedicated to audiovisual heritage.

• The “Autism and Creativity” program, which promotes access to and participation in culture.

The post Hellenic Ministry of Culture – Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center: A New Era for Audiovisual Creation appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The web portal Study in Greece is campaigning for the promotion and international visibility of Greek Universities and the comparative educational advantages of our country. In particular, the campaign focuses on the foreign language study programs that Greek Universities offer to Greek and international students. The initiative is supported by the General Secretariat of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In this context, a number of educational programs and actions are presented in detail on a regular basis, such as undergraduate and postgraduate programs, summer schools etc, to inform international students about the many foreign language options offered by Greek Universities.

George L. Adonakis  (upper left) is a Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics and serves as Chair of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Patras. George C. Kagadis  (lower left) is a Professor of Medical Physics and Medical Informatics at the University of Patras, with expertise in biomedical imaging, data analysis, and healthcare technologies. He also serves as Director of the English-taught Medical Degree Program.

Study in Greece interviewed Professors George L. Adonakis and George C. Kagadis about the newly established English-taught medical degree at the University of Patras, focusing on its key features and the opportunities it offers to international students, including its modern curriculum, strong clinical training, global orientation, and support for students coming from abroad.

Please provide us with an overview of the new international Medical Degree of the University of Patras, its program structure and main research areas.

The English Medical Program (EMP) of the University of Patras is a six-year, 360-ECTS undergraduate medical degree delivered entirely in English, admitting fifty students per academic year. The curriculum is organized around three integrated modules: a preclinical foundation in the first two years, a clinical phase from the third through the fifth year, and a dedicated clinical practice module in the fifth and sixth years at the University General Hospital of Patras (PGNP) — one of the largest teaching hospitals in Greece — and at the University Health Centre. We have deliberately moved away from a purely lecture-based model, weaving in case-based discussions, small-group teaching, laboratory work, simulation-based clinical skills training from the very first semesters, and hybrid digital learning, so that each topic is taught by the most specialized faculty member and in the format best suited to it.

The School of Medicine's research strengths — which directly inform the teaching — span molecular biology and genetics, neurosciences, oncology, cardiovascular and pulmonary medicine, medical physics and biomedical imaging, public health, and translational clinical research, supported by fully equipped laboratories, core research infrastructures, and a broad network of international collaborations. A defining feature of the EMP is that during the first six semesters students also follow Greek-language courses, so that by the time they enter intensive clinical rotations they can communicate meaningfully with patients and colleagues. Tuition is €12,000 per year, and few merit- and need-based scholarships are awarded annually.

How does the establishment of the program align with the University of Patras strategy for internationalization and extroversion?

The EMP is a concrete expression of a strategy the University of Patras has been advancing for some years now — moving from being a distinguished national institution to being a genuinely international one. An English-taught medical degree is, frankly, one of the most demanding undertakings a university can launch: it requires mature research infrastructure, a critical mass of English-proficient faculty, a major university hospital, and the administrative capacity to support international students end-to-end. The fact that the University of Patras can deliver all of this is, in itself, a statement about where the institution stands today. Beyond the program itself, the EMP deepens our collaborations with international academic centres, attracts faculty and researchers from abroad, and — importantly — brings to our campus a diverse student community that enriches the experience of every student at Patras, Greek and international alike.

Your program is the first international program of the University of Patras to begin at an undergraduate level. Would you say that it is only the first of many?

I would say so, yes — and I think that is the right ambition for the University. Launching an undergraduate program in English, particularly one as demanding as medicine, builds institutional capability that extends well beyond a single department: standardised international admissions, student support for non-EU applicants, academic advising in English, quality assurance aligned with international expectations. Once that infrastructure exists, other schools can build on it far more readily than if each were starting from zero. Medicine is a natural first step because of the sustained international demand for high-quality, English-taught medical education in Europe, but I fully expect the University of Patras to offer further English-taught undergraduate programs in the years ahead.

What kind of student life should applicants expect in your program?

Patras is one of the friendliest student cities in Greece — a coastal city of roughly 200,000 people, large enough to feel cosmopolitan and small enough that students quickly feel at home. Our campus sits on the Gulf of Patras with views across to the mountains of mainland Greece, and students move easily between lecture halls, laboratories, the university hospital, cafés, and the sea. The EMP admits fifty students a year from around the world, which creates a close-knit, multicultural cohort in which friendships form quickly and cross every border.

Beyond the classroom, students have access to the full range of University of Patras facilities — libraries, sports and athletic clubs, cultural societies, and student associations — and to the Erasmus+ mobility network for exchanges across Europe and beyond. Because we teach Greek during the first three years, our international students integrate into local life in a way that is genuinely unusual for English-taught programs: they can chat with the baker, understand the news, travel independently around the country. Greece itself is, of course, part of the experience — the history, the islands, the food, and a pace of life that students tell us they come to love.

Advanced Light Microscopy

Could you say a few words on clinical training provisions for students in your program?

Clinical training is the heart of this program, and we have structured it deliberately. From the very first semesters, students acquire essential clinical skills in a simulation environment under the supervision of clinical faculty — so that by the time they step onto a ward, the fundamentals of patient examination, communication, and basic procedures are already familiar. From the third year onwards, clinical teaching is integrated: foundational science is taught alongside the corresponding clinical discipline, so students build basic and clinical knowledge in parallel rather than in sequence. Every student maintains a clinical logbook documenting the competencies they must demonstrate, and completion of that logbook is a prerequisite for final clinical examinations.

The bulk of clinical training takes place at the University General Hospital of Patras, a major tertiary referral center covering the full range of medical and surgical specialties, complemented by the University Health Centre for primary care exposure. The fifth and sixth years are devoted entirely to clinical practice — effectively two full years of supervised, hands-on rotations — which is where students consolidate everything they have learned and step into the role of a junior doctor in training.

What degree of recognition will students have upon graduation and what kind of gateways for residencies or specializations should be expected?

Graduates of the EMP receive the Medical Degree of the University of Patras — the same degree awarded to graduates of our Greek-language program, with no distinction whatsoever on the diploma. Because the degree is issued by a Greek public university accredited by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education, it is automatically recognized across the European Union under the EU's Directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications (2005/36/EC), meaning graduates can pursue residency training and medical practice in any EU/EEA member state after fulfilling local registration requirements.

Beyond the EU, our graduates will be well positioned to sit the licensing examinations that open most major medical systems — the USMLE in the United States, the PLAB/UKMLA in the United Kingdom, the MCCQE in Canada, and equivalent pathways in Australia, the Gulf, and elsewhere. Our curriculum is deliberately benchmarked against international standards so that students are prepared for these examinations as a natural extension of their studies, not as a separate undertaking. Within Greece, graduates can enter the national residency system across the full range of specialties. In short: a degree from the EMP is a globally portable qualification, and a graduate's choice of where to specialize is just that — a choice.

Applications are now open! For more, follow the link:

https://apply.studyingreece.edu.gr/en/programmes/bsc/1732/details/medical-degree-by-university-of-patras.

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The 22^nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair (TBF) takes place from Thursday, May 7, to Sunday, May 10, 2026, at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Center (TIF-HELEXPO), featuring the theme “Generation of Readers / Book Generators” (GeneReaders_BookGenerators), with Bulgaria as the Guest of Honour. This is the second year the event is organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture (ELIVIP), in collaboration with TIF–HELEXPO, Greek publishers, and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Central Macedonia. The fair is one of the key pillars in a broader range of initiatives and programs run by ELIVIP throughout the year, both within Greece and internationally.

Unique in its category in the Greek region, TBF was inaugurated in May 2004 with the aim of putting Greece on the map of international book fairs. It soon became a major hub for cultural and commercial exchanges between Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Today, it is one of the country’s most important cultural institutions, enjoying international recognition. The Fair is a landmark not only for the city of Thessaloniki, but also internationally. Every year it is enriched and expanded in terms of themes, venues, programmes and guests from all over the world, responding to challenges and new trends. In addition to hosting events in the publishing world, TBF collaborates with institutions, organizations, embassies, educational institutes, co-organizing festivals, competitions, awards, thematic tributes, round tables, etc. within the framework of the Fair. Among them are the Festival of Young Writers, the Translation Festival or the Young Book Designers Award. It also provides a platform to networks, such as the Reading Club Network, which was created and coordinated by the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture, to develop synergies and present their work within the framework of the Fair.

GENEREADERS – A GENERATION OF READERS: Reading culture in the spotlight!

This year’s fair hosts 318 exhibitors (publishers and organizations), including 30 publishing houses participating for the first time. A total of 330 events for adults will take place, starting from the morning of Thursday, May 7. There will be 25 international authors traveling to Thessaloniki, while 40 distinguished professionals from major publishing houses around the world will take part in the fellowship programme. Additionally, 8 prominent representatives of international organizations and ministries will participate in the professional programme, along with 3 authors connected to the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL). For younger audiences, 104 events for children and teenagers will be organized by 40 publishing houses and 17 educational and cultural institutions. The Fair will also welcome more than 60 organized school groups—from kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, and special education schools in the Thessaloniki region and surrounding areas—with around 2,500 students participating in coordinated activities. At the same time, additional student groups are expected to visit the fair independently for tours outside the scheduled events.

At the opening ceremony, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “At a time of sweeping change and technological challenges, such as the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence, the Thessaloniki International Book Fair serves as an ideal forum for reflection on the future of reading. The success of this institution is founded on the fortunate convergence of state support and the growing interest of civil society, which has consistently upheld the book as an irreplaceable cultural good. Through a rich programme of talks and discussions, the Fair offers a true panorama of ideas, seeking convincing answers to the challenges surrounding reading culture. At the same time, this year’s event highlights its dual nature, combining high aesthetics with excellent preparation, while serving as a faithful reflection of national publishing production. The Fair has demonstrated its resilience, overcoming the difficulties of the economic crisis and now achieving a strong sense of confidence and stability. The institution is entering a phase of full maturity, strengthening its international reach and its collaboration with Thessaloniki’s dynamic cultural organizations. I would like to thank the President of ELIVIP, Nikos Bakounakis, for the excellent organization, as well as Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Victor Stoyanov, whose presence demonstrates that the vibrant literature of the neighbouring country continues to gain ever wider audiences across Europe.”

The International Professional Programme - The biggest names from the book world meet in Thessaloniki!

This is the fourth year of the international professional programme held within the framework of the Thessaloniki International Book Fair, where publishers, authors, literary agents, translators, and publishing professionals from all over the world gather at TBF to exchange ideas, create partnerships, and explore new opportunities in the global publishing landscape. This year’s expanded professional programme takes place at the DIALOGOS Rights Center (Pavilion 15, HELEXPO Exhibition Center).  This year, the 40 participants from around the world will contribute their ideas and knowledge in the fields of rights sales and acquisitions, Artificial Intelligence, the development of reading habits, and translation funding models. The “Spanish Phenomenon’’ will be explored as a best practice, as well as the parallel lives of books and media, especially in the era of social media.

TBF Fellowship Programme

Now in its fourth year, the popular fellowship program at the Dialogos Center for Rights received 191 applications from 61 countries. Twenty professionals from 15 countries (Armenia, Romania, Poland, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US) were selected by ELIVIP and the publishers’ associations. An additional ten professionals will represent the honored country, while another ten book professionals have independently registered to participate in the program. In total, more than 20 events will take place.

Authors from all over the world at the 22nd TBF. Thessaloniki is becoming the meeting point for Greek and foreign authors, playwrights, illustrators, translators, and screenwriters. TBF becomes the platform for all voices to be heard from everywhere, in a fascinating dialogue of cultures that promotes peaceful coexistence, freedom of expression, mutual respect, and pluralism.  

Bulgaria: Guest of Honor at the 22^nd TBF. With “Literature Beyond Borders’’ as its motto, Bulgaria, the Guest of Honour at the 22nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair, has designed a diverse programme in dialogue with Greece, in collaboration with HFBC. This programme reflects the contemporary literary landscape of our neighbouring country, spanning writing, translation, and illustration, as well as the professional sector and the book market.

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Culture Victor Stoyanov at the opening ceremony

Children’s & young adults corner at the 22nd TBF. The TBF programme for children and young adults sets the tone with activities and events spreading across every corner of the fair and even beyond. The exhibition is taken over by children of all ages, turning the central theme of Reading Culture into reality, rather than just a motto! Young visitors can look forward to meeting great authors and illustrators from Greece and abroad, embarking on adventures, treasure hunts, and mystery games, or enjoying book parties, crafts, and creative workshops, as well as theatrical and music-movement performances. A total of 104 events for children and teenagers are organized by 40 publishing houses and 17 educational and cultural institutions, 40 of which are specifically designed for organized student groups.

Thessaloniki Book Fair Events Programme. Find out about the scheduled events of the 22nd TBF. The programme brings together a wide range of events covering contemporary publishing and intellectual production. Book presentations, discussions, tributes and activities for different audiences compose a complete picture of the exhibition. Explore the sections and discover the events that interest you.

The post Thessaloniki International Book Fair 2026 Welcomes the Global Book Community appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The Hellenic Parliament presents the exhibition “Alpha Beta: Learning Greek in the West: Byzantium–Italy–Europe”, a narrative through the universal radiance of the Greek language. The Exhibition highlights the enduring journey, dissemination, and profound influence of the Greek language and literature on the formation of European culture.

Supported by the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Athens this Εxhibition continues the cultural legacy of the Italian exhibition Alpha Beta: Apprendere il Greco in Italia (1360-1860) / Learning Greek in Italy, presented at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense in Milan in 2023. In its Greek version, the narrative expands to trace the course of the Greek language from Byzantium to Italy and from there to all of Europe, extending its scope to the present day. The content is drawn from the rich collections of the Library of the Parliament, enriched with rare editions and artworks from leading cultural institutions in Greece -the National Gallery, the National Historical Museum, the National Library of Greece, the Historical Library of the “Aikaterini Laskaridis” Foundation, the “Korais” Central Public Historical Library of Chios, the Onassis Library-, as well as from Italy, including the Biblioteca Ambrosiana and the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan.

The Latin adage “Graeca sunt, sed tamen leguntur” (It’s Greek, yet readable) is wryly juxtaposed with the Shakespearean “it’s Greek to me”, highlighting the dual position of Greek in the West: while Greek signified the “incomprehensible” for many, it was also the object of systematic study as the quintessential language of learning, prestige and intellectual reference.

Byzantine scholars and Italian humanists. A cosmogonic encounter

At the turn of the 14th to the 15th century, Byzantine scholars, bearers of an uninterrupted literary tradition spanning centuries, encountered Italian humanists in a transformative intellectual collaboration. The Greek language became the key to accessing Homer, Plato, Aristotle, and the Church Fathers; it emerged as a vehicle for education, rhetoric, political and scientific thought, as well as theological reflection.

During the Middle Ages in the West, Greek as a spoken language survived only in certain Byzantine or formerly Byzantine regions of Southern Italy and Sicily. Although references to Greek learning up to the fourteenth century are sparse, from the ninth century on ward a limited but gradual awakening of interest can be observed, manifested in Latin translations of works by Aristotle, Galen, and the Church Fathers. From the thirteenth century, engagement with Greek texts became more systematic, while a pivotal development was the decision of the Council of Vienne (1311-1312) to introduce the teaching of Greek -aimed at the study of Christian literature- at the universities of Rome, Paris, Bologna, Oxford, and Salamanca. This was also the period when pioneering figures of humanism, such as Petrarch and Boccaccio, expressed an ardent desire to read Homer in the original. In order to learn Greek, some sought out scholars of Byzantine origin living in the West, while others traveled eastward, to Byzantium and to Venetian-ruled Crete, to study the language at its source, as did Guarino Veronese, who followed his teacher Manuel Chrysoloras to Constantinople.

On the occasion of the Council of Ferrara-Florence (1438-39), the last attempt at the union of the Churches, Byzantine scholars arrived in Italy and contributed decisively to the intellectual osmosis between East and West. Central figures included Georgios Gemistos Plethon, who helped rekindle interest in Platonic philosophy, and the bishop of Nicaea -later cardinal- Bessarion, who assembled an exceptionally rich collection of 752 manuscripts of classical texts, which he then donated to Venetian Senate. In the shadow of the Ottoman advance, and especially after the Fall of Constantinople, many Byzantine scholars migrated to the West. Settling primarily in the cities of Northern Italy, they taught their native language, copied manuscripts, founded schools, com posed linguistic manuals, and edited the first printed editions of Greek works. Through the Greek language, Renaissance Europe was thus provided with the means to reconnect with its own intellectual roots.

Manuel Chrysoloras. The first teacher

A leading representative of Byzantine erudition and diplomatic envoy of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos to the West in search of assistance against the Ottomans, Manuel Chrysoloras (c.1350-1415) inaugurated the teaching Greek letters in Italy -and more broadly in Western Europe- in 1397. At the invitation of the Chancellor of the Florentine Republic, Coluccio Salutati, he taught for three years grammaticam et litteras grecas at the city’sStudium. His success rested on his clear and accessible method of teaching the demanding Greek language, as well as on his advocacy of sense-for-sense rather than word-for-word translation. Around him he gathered enthusiastic students, Italian humanists, and representatives of the ruling circles, among whom he ignited both the desire to approach texts in the original through the study of Greek, and an interest in the collection, systematic study, and translation of Greek works into Latin.

Aldus’s printing house

From the late fifteenth century onward, Italy (Florence, Milan, Venice, Padua, Rome) became the principal centre of Greek learning in Europe. Leading scholars taught there, among them Manuel Chrysoloras, Ioannis Argyropoulos, Demetrios Chalkokondyles, Janus and Constantine Lascaris, Marcus Musurus, and others. With the advent of printing in Venice and the typographical achievement of Aldus Manutius, Greek books were disseminated on an unprecedented scale, laying the foundations for humanistic studies and modern European education. Aldus Manutius (c. 1450-1515) was the first Renaissance printer to devote himself systematically -and at considerable personal financial risk- to the publication of Greek texts. With the establishment of his press in Venice and drawing primarily on manuscripts gathered by humanists across Europe, as well as the manuscript collection of his close collaborator, the Cretan scholar Marcus Musurus, he produced, from 1494 until his death in 1515, reliable editions of works of ancient Greek literature (Homer, Aristotle, Plato, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, among others). Seeking moreover to support the teaching of the Greek language, he published pedagogical works such as grammars and lexica (by Manuel Chrysoloras, Constantine Lascaris, Theodorus Gaza, Giovanni Crastone, and others), and he himself com posed a grammar, being an accomplished Hellenist and a meticulous philologist.

From Italy to the rest of Europe

In Western Europe, the spread of Protestantism further encouraged the study of Greek as an essential tool for direct access to the original text of the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Church Fathers. At the same time, autonomous traditions of Greek learning developed in various regions (Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands) even without the direct presence of first-generation Byzantine teachers.

The Greek language occupies a special position within European education, as it is experienced both as a medium for understanding the roots of European civilization and as the living language of a modern nation that carries a long-standing intellectual tradition. Italy remains one of the few European countries in which secondary-school students are systematically taught Ancient Greek language and literature, as a legacy of the historical emphasis on classical education that originated in the Renaissance and has continued to the present day. Chairs of Modern Greek Studies in Italy, the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, as well as the presence of historic Greek communities in Southern Italy, have kept the intellectual relationship between the two countries alive and have encouraged, alongside the study of ancient literature, the exploration of Byzantine and modern Greek literature, history, and culture.

A similar situation can be observed in other European countries, such as France, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Spain, Benelux, the Balkan and the Scandinavian states, as well as around the world, where universities and research institutes offer structured programs in Classical and Modern Greek studies or courses in Modern Greek, often in collabo ration with cultural institutions and Greek communities.

The vernaculars in the foreground

However, Greek letters in the West were not confined to the world of classical authors. Dictionaries, grammars, and multilingual manuals documented the living vernaculars -the language of merchants, sailors, diplomats, and travelers-, highlighting the continuity, adaptability, and dynamism of Greek across the centuries. These were essential both for the education of Greek communities in Western and Central Europe, and for the practical communication needs of everyday users of the language in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the territories of the Ottoman Empire. This development forms part of the broader emergence of the vernaculars as languages of literacy in Europe, a process that began in the thirteenth century, accelerated during the fifteenth, and became institutionally established in the sixteenth.

Both ancient and vernacular Greek have been, and continue to be, cornerstones of European intellectual identity- a language that is still read, taught, and continues to inspire today.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the President of the Parliament, Mr. Nikitas M. Kaklamanis on February 9th 2026, on the occasion of the International Greek Language Day established by UNESCO.  It will run until the end of June 2026.

The Hellenic Parliament offers guided tours for the public.

👉 Information and tour bookings here

EXHIBITION CONTRIBUTORS

GENERAL CURATION    Dr Maria Kamilaki

Αcting Director General, D.G. of Electronic Administration, Library & Publications

SCIENTIFIC CURATION   Dr Maria Vlassopoulou

Head of the Benakeios Library & Political Figures Department, Hellenic Parliament Library

ORGANIZATION-CURATION     Sophia Hiniadou Cambanis

Attorney at Law-Cultural Management Advisor, D.G. of Electronic Administration, Library & Publications

RESEARCH-TEXTS-ANNOTATIONS

Dr Maria Vlassopoulou

Natassa Papakonstantinou

Philologist, D.G. of Electronic Administration, Library & Publications

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS

Agamemnon Tselikas

Philologist-Paleographer, Honorary PhD, Democritus University of Thrace

Dr Ioannis Kassidis

Philologist-Byzantinist, D.G. of Electronic Administration, Library & Publications

EXHIBITION DESIGN

Maria Papadopoulou

Architect-Set & Costume Designer, Hellenic Parliament Library

GRAPHIC DESIGN OF DISPLAY MATERIAL - PRODUCTION OF AUDIOVISUAL & DIGITAL APPLICATIONS
Thymios Presvytis – PEAK DESIGN This exhibition was based on the creative and curatorial concept of the first edition (2023) ALPHA BETA. APRENDERE IL GRECO IN ITALIA / LEARNING GREEK IN ITALY (1360-1860), Biblioteca Braidense, Milan, curated by Geri De la Rocca de Candal, Paolo Sachet, Marina Zetti.

Exhibition Highlights at a Glance

• Manuel Chrysoloras’ Erotemata (1475–1476): The first manual for teaching the Greek language in Renaissance Italy, marking the beginning of the systematic study of Greek in the West
• Etymologicum Magnum (1499): The monumental edition by Z. Kalliergis, M. Musurus, and N. Vlastos; the starting point of independent Greek printing activity
• Incunabula and Early Editions from the Aldine Press: The first printed editions of classical literature: Aristotle (1497), Aristophanes (1498), Plato (1513)
• Corona Preciosa (1527): The first printed dictionary to feature the vernacular Greek language
• Henri Estienne, Thesaurus Graecae Linguae (1572–1573): The most significant lexicographical work of the Renaissance

• Nikolaos Loukanis, Homer’s Iliad (1640, 1st ed. 1526): The first verse translation of the Iliad into vernacular Greek, adorned with exceptional woodcuts
• Alessio da Somavera, Tesoro della lingua greca volgare ed italiana (1709): The Greek-Italian dictionary by the missionary Alessio da Somavera, featuring handwritten notes by Adamantios Korais

Browse Digitally

• The oldest incunabulum in the Library of the Hellenic Parliament: Manuel Chrysoloras’ Erotemata (1476)
• The first printed Greek Grammar, written entirely in Greek, by Constantine Lascaris (1476), from the collections of the National Library of Greece
• The autograph manuscript of Aldus Manutius’ Grammar (1515), from the treasures of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan

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