Athens, December 4 – The high-profile “Athens Policy Dialogues – The Eastern Mediterranean in flux” conference began on Thursday at the King George Hotel in central Athens. This two-day event, co-hosted by To Vima, the Council on International Relations, and the Delphi Economic Forum, has brought together a distinguished roster of political leaders, analysts, and global figures to deliberate on the critical geopolitical shifts occurring in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East.
Key Discussions on Day One
The conference was inaugurated with a keynote address delivered by Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas. Following his opening remarks, the agenda for the first day included in-depth discussions on several pressing regional issues, suchując as the Gaza peace plan and the subsequent challenges of post-conflict reconstruction, the future trajectory of the Abraham Accords, and the intricate dynamics of regional security.
Prominent Greek and international participants engaged in rigorous debates and presentations covering a wide array of topics. These ranged from the critical sectors of energy and infrastructure development to the intricate economic developments shaping the region and the strategic significance of maritime trade routes. Among the notable speakers who contributed to the day’s discourse were former Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and former Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. They were joined by a cohort of experts from the European Union and specialists in regional security, offering diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the area.
Agenda Highlights from Thursday, December 4, 2025:
- 12:00 – Arrival of guests
- 13:00 – Welcome addresses by Simeon Tsomokos (Delphi Economic Forum), Giannis Pretenteris (TO BHMA International), and Athanasios Platias (Council on International Relations).
- 13:25 – Keynote Opening Speech by Konstantinos Tasoulas, President of Greece.
- 13:45 – Session on the Gaza Peace Plan: Challenges of the Next Day, featuring Dora Bakoyannis, Amre Moussa, Thanos Dokos, Volker Perthes, Yoel Guzansky, and Konstantina Botsiou, moderated by Tania Bozaninou.
- 15:15 – Break.
- 15:45 – Discussion on Resolving the Cyprus Issue as a Prerequisite for Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, with Prokopios Pavlopoulos, moderated by Dimitra Kroustalli.
- 16:15 – Session on the Middle East: Seeking a New Security Architecture Post-Peace Agreement, with Emile Hokayem, Maria Damanaki, Galip Dalay, Konstantinos Filis, and Spyros N. Litsas, moderated by Stratis Aggelis.
- 17:15 – The New Era for the Abraham Accords after the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, with Gregoire Roos, Faisal Abbas, Mustafa Aydın, and Sotiris Roussos, moderated by Odin Linardatos.
- 18:10 – Discussion with Nikos Androulakis, moderated by Simeon Tsomokos and Grigoris Tziovaras.
- 18:40 – Geopolitical Competition in the Eastern Mediterranean: EU – Russia – China – US, with Dimitris Avramopoulos, Giannis Valinakis, Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos, Giannis Maniatis, Elena Lazarou, and Sean Mathews, moderated by Marilia Papathanasiou.
- 19:45 – End of First Day.
Anticipation for Day Two
The second day of the conference is slated to continue these vital discussions, culminating in a closing address by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. This high-profile gathering underscores the escalating international focus on the geopolitical landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean, the imperative of energy security, and the broader quest for regional stability amidst profound global strategic realignments.
Source: https://www.tovima.com/politics/major-mediterranean-conference-opens-in-athens/
