I. Diplomatic Relations
Greece established diplomatic relations with Italy in 1861, immediately upon the latter's unification, and maintains an Embassy and a Consulate in Rome, and General Consulates in Milan and Naples, a Consulate in Venice, Honorary Consulates in Trieste (General), Turin (General), Ancona, Catania, Livorno, Bari, Bologna, Brindisi, Florence, Palermo, Perugia, and a Port Consulate in Genova. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also responsible for the Venice Hellenic Institute.
II. Contractual Framework
The most important bilateral agreements are as follows:
- Educational Agreement (1954)
- Economic Cooperation Agreement (1949)
- Cooperation towards the protection of the Ionian Sea marine environment (1979)
- Cooperation against terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking (1986)
- Agreement on the delimitation of continental shelf boundaries (1977)
- Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation (1964)
III. Political relations
After World War II, the two countries forged close relations as members of NATO and the E.U. There are regular ministerial contacts between the two countries, particularly in the context of their European obligations in Brussels.
The most important visits carried out from 2006 to 2008 include the following:
-24-28.1.2006 State visit of President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias to Rome
-4.12.06 Working visit of then Italias Prime Minister Mr. R. Prodi to Athens - 19.3.07 Official visit of Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis to Rome
-31.8.07 Visit of Foreign Minister Ms. D. Bakoyannis to Rome for talks with her counterpart Mr. M. D Alema.
-23-25 September 2008 State visit of President of the Italian Republic Mr. Giorgio Napolitano to Athens Meeting and talks with President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Mr. Kostas Karamanlis
IV. Cultural relations
Greeces cultural relations with Italy are governed by the Educational Agreement signed in Athens on 11.9.1954.. As the only Greek research foundation established abroad, the Venice Hellenic Institute is chiefly concerned with the study of Byzantine and post-Byzantine history in Italy, and particularly that of Venice and the Greek territories under Venetian rule. It operates at the seat of the Greek Orthodox Fraternity of Venice, which has ceded it to the Greek Government. There are numerous Greek-themed cultural activities throughout Italy.
Italys cultural presence in Greece is mainly ensured through the activities of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Atene.
Within the framework of the visit to Athens of the Italian President, Mr. Giorgio Napolitano, Italy returned a fragment of the Parthenon marbles kept in Palermos Archaeological Museum in the form of a long-term loan to Greece.
V. Greek community
The Greek diaspora consists of some 30,000 people, most of whom are to be found in Central Italy. There has also been an age-old presence of Italian nationals of Greek descent, who speak the Greco dialect peculiar to the Magna Graecia region. This dialect can be traced historically back to the era of Byzantine rule, but even as far back as classical antiquity.
VI. Embassy & Consular Missions Details