ELIAMEP

Milestones

In 1988, a small team of academics and journalists, together with former members of the armed forces and diplomats, led by Thanos Veremis, Yannis Valinakis and Theodore Degiannis founded the Hellenic Foundation for Defence and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). The aim was to create an independent body that would promote research and dialogue on foreign policy and security issues, with a focus on Greece’s wider neighbourhood. 

A few years later, in 1993, ELIAMEP was renamed the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy but opted to retain its established acronym.
With this change of name, ELIAMEP acknowledged the enormous importance of European integration and made clear the distinction between European and traditional foreign policy, while also significantly expanding the scope of its activities. 

ELIAMEP is an independent, non-profit organization that produces and disseminates evidence-based knowledge. It offers a forum for dialogue and serves as a window to the world beyond Greece. It embraces pluralism and diversity, promotes gender equality, and rejects intolerance. The history of ELIAMEP is one of optimism and the promise that initiative, cooperation, volunteering, and hard work will ultimately bear fruit. 

Presidents : 

  • † Admiral Theodore Deyannis (1988-1992)  
  • † Professor Theodore Couloumbis (1993-1995)  
  • Professor Thanos Veremis (1996-2000)  
  • Professor Loukas Tsoukalis (2001–present)  

Directors-General:

  • Professor Thanos Veremis (1988-1993) 
  • Professor Yannis Valinakis (1993-1998) 
  • † Professor Theodore Couloumbis (1998-2006) 
  • Dr Thanos Dokos (2006-2019) 
  • Professor George Pagoulatos (2019-2023)
  • Professor Maria Gavouneli (2023-currently) 

With the invaluable contribution of researchers, advisers, associates and countless trainees, ELIAMEP over the last 30+ years has developed into a broadly recognized Greek and European think-tank and policy-oriented research organization. 

Major milestones in the history and evolution of ELIAMEP: 

2019: Gender equality policy. Ιn April 2019 ΕLIAMEP adopts a Gender Equality Plan approved by the Board of Directors. 

2018: ELIAMEP celebrates 30 years of operation
ELIAMEP celebrated 30 years since its foundation, completing the reconstruction of its conference room and proceeding with a digital upgrade and a major redesign of its website.

2018: Student simulations of EU institutions by ELIAMEP Europe Direct. Starting in 2018, ELIAMEP launches a series of student simulations of decision–making in EU institutions, with the participation of schools from all over Greece.  

2017: ELIAMEP is awarded a prize by the Academy of Athens for its overall contribution. 

2016: White Paper on Greek Foreign Policy, Defence and Security. In 2016, ELIAMEP publishes its White Paper on Greek Foreign Policy, Defence and Security, examining strategic choices with respect to major issues and proposing a new institutional framework for policy implementation. 

2015: establishment of the International Advisory Committee

2015: ELIAMEP European Seminar is selected as a success story of the Erasmus+ programs. To date, 15 European Seminars have been held, bringing together prominent figures from politics, academia and the media, from Europe and the world, to reflect on and discuss current European issues. 

2014: ELIAMEP becomes the first research institute in Greece funded by the European Research Council (ERC) in the field of social sciences, for the five-year Grassrootsmobilise research program. The program examines social processes in the field of religious pluralism in the context of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on religious freedom. 

2013: New Pact for Europe. ELIAMEP participates in the pan-European deliberation, initiated by eight European institutions and think tanks to shape a New Pact for Europe, leading to the publication of two Reports (2014 and 2017). ELIAMEP coordinated the Greek representation in national, international and pan-European public discussions and meetings. 

2013: Crisis Observatory. Established in 2013 with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and currently funded by the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Crisis Observatory publishes studies of primarily economic nature, maintains a website of its own covering a wide range of topics, and organizes conferences and public events. 

2012: ELIAMEP participates in the Dialogue on the Future of Europe

2011: Establishment of the South East Europe Program. The South–East Europe Program promotes dialogue and research on important issues in the Balkans, organizing and participating in high level events. Its members often lecture at conferences held in the Balkans and internationally. ELIAMEP publishes the academic journal Southern European and Black Sea Studies in collaboration with Taylor & Francis Publishing. 

2010: European Website on Integration: ELIAMEP is part of the website of the EU on migrant integration.

2010: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship with the support of the Bodossaki Foundation

2009: ELIAMEP Europe Direct Information Centre. It is one of the 17 centres in Greece chosen by the European Commission to inform citizens, offering multifaceted and documented information on European issues. 

2008: ELIAMEP Thesis. ELIAMEP launched a new publication series, ELIAMEP Thesis. This new series of short policy briefs is published several times a year and covers issues related to European integration, Europe’s role in the world and important developments in the field of international relations.

2008: Through its “An EU fit for purpose in a global age” initiative, ELIAMEP participated with the London Policy Network and the LSE European Institute in an ambitious program that included meetings in different European countries with the participation of politicians and academia. Aim was to develop proposals for European policy choices in the new globalized environment. Final proposals were presented at two major conferences in London and Brussels, with the participation of the heads of EU institutions. 

2007: Contributing to Proposals for the Future of Europe. ELIAMEP participated in the network of European international relations institutes, Think Global Act European, created by Notre Europe and the Fondation pour l’Innovation Politique (Fondapol) with the aim of contributing policy proposals to the next three presidencies of the European Union (France, Czech Republic and Sweden – July 2008 – December 2009). 

2007: International Recognition – Golden Star Award. Golden Star Award from the European Commission for ELIAMEP’s Program “Communicating EU values ​​across Greece”. The awards were granted under the ‘Europe for Citizens’ program. 

2007: Climate change and human security

In an effort to contribute to the management of the most important global challenge, ELIAMEP became active in the field of climate change and human security, collaborating in projects and activities with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage.

2007: Research Fellowship of Stavros Costopoulos Foundation

In the context of the effort to upgrade ELIAMEP’s research on contemporary foreign policy issues, a research position on European issues was established with the support of the Stavros Costopoulos Foundation. Within the framework of this research chair, studies are carried out and conferences and workshops are organized on the subject of European integration and the future of the United Europe.

2006: ELIAMEP published proposals for the protection of Orthodox religious and cultural monuments in Kosovo, as a result of careful analysis and evaluation by a group of ELIAMEP experts. Elements of ELIAMEP’s proposals were utilized by UN mediator Martti Ahtisaari’s team. 

2006: Participation in two European Networks of Excellence (EU Consent-Wider Europe, Deeper Integration?” and RECWOWE-Reconciling Work and Welfare”)

2006: Policy paper on higher education reforms

ELIAMEP published a comparative study on higher education reforms in Greece and selected European countries. The Policy Paper summarised the findings of empirical research on university education in Greece and the reforms needed in a changing European and international environment, concluding with specific recommendations.

2005: Contribution to the dialogue between European Think Tanks and the European Commission

In September 2005, ELIAMEP organised a meeting of Directors of 15 major European Institutes of International Relations to discuss the role of the EU in the changing international environment. This conference, which was attended by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, was organised in Belgium in cooperation with the Bureau of European Policy Advisors (BEPA) of the European Commission.

2005: Cooperation with Bilgi University

The two-year MA in International Relations with a concentration in Greek-Turkish relations (MA in International Relations with a concentration in Greek-Turkish relations) was aimed at diplomats, journalists, government officials and future academics who wished to study various aspects of Greek-Turkish relations.

2004: ERMIS – Institutional Cooperation Programme

2004: Arab Reform Initiative. ELIAMEP is a member of the Arab Reform Initiative (along with the: Council on Foreign Relations, EU Institute for Security Studies, Center for European Reform, FRIDE and research centers from ten Arab countries). ELIAMEP’s involvement in this network is part of its broader interest in issues related to the security sector reform and good governance in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean / Middle East. 

2004: Migration – Human Rights – Civil Society. ELIAMEP entered into the field of migration through implementation of a series of research programs funded by the European Commission and other institutions. In addition to migration, ELIAMEP would further expand its research interests in the fields of human rights, European integration, good governance, civil society and active participation in public life. 

2003: College of Europe, Bruges. Since 2003, ELIAMEP is responsible for the selection committee for Greek candidates for the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. 

2003: Launch of the “European Seminars”, initially in the framework of the International Halki Seminars. Their success led to the creation of a separate annual high-level meeting on European issues. Meetings are attended by experts, academics and policy makers from all over Europe and beyond.  

2003: Policy Papers

Given the emphasis on the production of policy ideas and proposals, rather than on theoretical research, ELIAMEP establishes the series “Policy Papers” which aim to produce realistic policy proposals on issues of Greek foreign and security policy, as well as on important issues of European policy.

2002: Aiming at the peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims in different regions of the world, especially after 9/11, but also at the smooth integration of Muslim communities into European societies, ELIAMEP conducted research on the diversity of Muslim communities in some European countries and the relationship between Christians and Muslims in 21st century Europe.

2001: Cooperation with the Onassis Foundation

Cooperation with the Alexander Onassis Foundation is established for the scientific support and hospitality of foreign scholars of the Alexander Onassis Foundation. Through this cooperation, the Onassis Foundation supported the renewal of the ELIAMEP library material.

2001: Training seminars in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence 

2001: Journal of Southeast European & Black Sea Studies, ELIAMEP’s official journal, is launched. Published quarterly, it is indexed in the ISI Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) and directly linked to ELIAMEP’s South East Europe Program. 

2000: Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program. Since 2000, ELIAMEP has been coordinating the Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program in Greece. The German Marshall Fund awards over 100 fellowships each year to young European and American journalists, representatives of the business and political world, as well as non-governmental organizations. 

2000: International Hydra Meetings. Launch of International Meetings in cooperation with the British Embassy and the British Council, these seminars were been repeated for several years. ELIAMEP has also held bilateral “Strategic Dialogue” meetings with institutes from Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, India, Russia and Israel, with the aim of exchanging views and facilitating research cooperation. 

1998: Publication of the Study “Kosovo Avoiding Another Balkan War”

Publication of the first international publication with proposals for a peaceful settlement of the Kosovo crisis (Kosovo: Avoiding Another Balkan war). In 1999, ELIAMEP presented new proposals for the future of Kosovo.

1997: EuroMeSCo. Participation of ELIAMEP in the EuroMeSCo (Euro-Mediterranean Study Commission) network, which deals with issues of Mediterranean security and Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. In 2004-06 ELIAMEP assumed the co–chairmanship of EuroMeSCo, and since 2006 it is a member of the network’s Executive Committee. ELIAMEP’s main priority is to ensure the Greek presence and active participation in European and regional non-governmental initiatives and processes. 

1996: Proposals for the peaceful settlement of the Kosovo crisis

1995: Publication of ‘Turkey Today’ collaborative volume.

1995: Conflict Resolution Seminars. ELIAMEP launches a long-term partnership with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) by organizing a series of conflict resolution seminars for high-level officials from Southeast Europe and the Black Sea, thereby contributing to a peaceful settlement of disputes in the abovementioned areas. Areas of interest in conflict resolution will be expanded to the Mediterranean / Middle East, with Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue as a top priority.  

1993: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Programme

1993: Chairmanship of the International Network of the Directors of Institutes of International Relations 

1993: ELIAMEP changes its name 

The Hellenic Foundation for Defence and Foreign Policy is renamed the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, retaining the acronym ELIAMEP. The new name of the Foundation contained a clear message: in the context of the European Union and the emerging collective sovereignty of its member states, European policy must be separated from the rest of Greece’s foreign policy. In the coming years, ELIAMEP will significantly broaden its research interests by implementing a good number of projects, funded by the European Commission and other agencies, on European integration, migration, human rights, good governance and security sector reform, and energy.

1991: Seminar on Japanese Studies. First Seminar on Japanese Studies (in collaboration with the Japan Foundation and with the support of the Japan External Trade Organization). A Research Center for Japanese Studies also operated within ELIAMEP. The training seminars ran until 1995. 

1990: Halki International Seminars. These landmark seminars began in 1990 on the island of Halki, designated by UNESCO as the “Island of Peace and Friendship of International Youth”. They quickly became one of the key “summer schools for young leaders” from the broader region of Southeast Europe, the Middle East and the Black Sea.  

1989: Annual Lecture. ELIAMEP’s Annual Lecture is inaugurated by Sir Michael Howard, Professor at Oxford and President of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). National and global leaders, such as former Prime Ministers Carl Bildt and Mario Monti, former leader of Germany’s Green Party Joschka Fischer, Richard Holbrooke, Pascal Lamy, and Lord Patten, have honored the ELIAMEP Annual Lecture with their presence. 

1989: Southeast European Yearbook. Publication of ELIAMEP’s first annual English-language edition. For the next 12 years, the Yearbook would become a reference publication on developments in South East Europe on security, foreign policy and democratization. The Greek-language Foreign and Defense Policy Yearbook was also published annually from 1990. 

1998: Volunteering
From the very beginning ELIAMEP has relied very much on the voluntary contribution of young people, students and researchers. Particular emphasis was placed on the training of young researchers. The contribution of the trainee associates to the establishment and operation of the Foundation’s Documentation and Information Centre was very important.

1988: In April 1988 the Hellenic Foundation for Defense and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) was established. 

 

Achievements & distinctions: 

  • ELIAMEP was awarded a prize by the Academy of Athens for its overall contribution (2017).  
  • The first institution in Greece with a research program funded by the European Research Council (ERC) in the field of social sciences.  
  • The European Seminar of 2015 was selected as a “success story” by the European Commission.  
  • ELIAMEP is among the 5 top institutions in Greece awarded the highest number of projects and funding in Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities from the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission (2007-2013).  
  • ELIAMEP ranked No.1 think tank in Greece in the University of Pennsylvania’s 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Ranking and among the top 50 “Best Think Tank Network” in the world. 
  • Golden Star Award from the European Commission to ELIAMEP’s Program “Communicating EU Values across Greece”.