The first day of the major Mediterranean conference, “Athens Policy Dialogues – The Eastern Mediterranean in flux”, kicked off on Thursday at the King George Hotel in central Athens. The two-day event, co-hosted by To Vima, the Council on International Relations, and the Delphi Economic Forum, brings together political leaders, analysts, and global figures to discuss the shifting geopolitical landscape in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
The conference opened with a keynote speech by Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas, followed by discussions on the Gaza peace plan and post-conflict challenges, the future of the Abraham Accords, and regional security dynamics.
Prominent Greek and international participants addressed topics ranging from energy and infrastructure to economic developments and maritime trade routes. Among the speakers were former Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and former Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, alongside European Union and regional security experts.
The second day is set to continue these discussions, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis scheduled to deliver the closing address. This high-profile gathering reflects growing international attention on Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics, energy security, and regional stability amid global strategic shifts.
Full Schedule – Thursday, December 4, 2025:
- 12:00 – Arrival of guests
- 13:00 – Welcome
- Simeon Tsomokos, Delphi Economic Forum
- Giannis Pretenteris, Publisher, TO BHMA International
- Athanasios Platias, President, Council on International Relations
- 13:25 – Keynote Opening Speech
- Konstantinos Tasoulas, President of Greece
- 13:45 – Gaza Peace Plan: Challenges of the Next Day
- Dora Bakoyannis, Member of Greek Parliament; Former Foreign Minister
- Amre Moussa, Former Arab League Secretary-General and Egyptian Foreign Minister
- Thanos Dokos, Secretary General of National Security, Greece
- Volker Perthes, Senior Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (Germany)
- Yoel Guzansky, Institute for National Security Studies, Israel
- Konstantina Botsiou, Council on International Relations, Greece
- Moderator: Tania Bozaninou, International Affairs Editor, To Vima
- 15:15 – Break
- 15:45 – Resolving the Cyprus Issue as a Prerequisite for Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean
- Prokopios Pavlopoulos, Former President of Greece
- Moderator: Dimitra Kroustalli, Editor-in-Chief, To Vima
- 16:15 – Middle East: Seeking a New Security Architecture Post-Peace Agreement
- Emile Hokayem, INSS
- Maria Damanaki, Former EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans & Fisheries
- Galip Dalay, Chatham House, Middle East & North Africa Program
- Konstantinos Filis, Director, ACG Institute of Global Affairs
- Spyros N. Litsas, Professor, University of Macedonia
- Moderator: Stratis Aggelis, International Affairs, To Vima
- 17:15 – The New Era for the Abraham Accords after the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit
- Gregoire Roos, Chatham House
- Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Arab News
- Mustafa Aydın, President, International Relations Council, Turkey
- Sotiris Roussos, Professor, University of Peloponnese
- Moderator: Odin Linardatos, Head of English Edition, To Vima
- 18:10 – Discussion
- Nikos Androulakis, Opposition Leader, PASOK-KINAL
- Moderators: Simeon Tsomokos, Delphi Economic Forum & Grigoris Tziovaras, Political Editor, To Vima
- 18:40 – Geopolitical Competition in the Eastern Mediterranean: EU – Russia – China – US
- Dimitris Avramopoulos, Former EU Commissioner
- Giannis Valinakis, Former Deputy Foreign Minister
- Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos, Former Education Minister
- Giannis Maniatis, MEP; Former Environment & Energy Minister
- Elena Lazarou, General Director, ELIAMEP
- Sean Mathews, Journalist, Middle East Eye
- Moderator: Marilia Papathanasiou, International Affairs, To Vima
- 19:45 – End of First Day
