I. Diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations between Greece and the United Kingdom (UK) date back to 1834.

Greece maintains an Embassy and a General Consulate in London, along with seven honorary consular authorities on British territory (Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gibraltar, Glasgow, Leeds, and Southampton).

For her part, Britain maintains an Embassy (and Consular Section) in Athens, as well as consular authorities  and Honorary Consulates in Greek cities. 

II. Framework of Treaties

These include long standing bilateral agreements with Great Britain, which cover practically every possible area of cooperation between nations. The institutional framework of the EU, of which both countries are members, has in fact superseded several of the older treaties, especially those of a predominantly economic nature. Other substantial treaties, such as the Cultural Agreement (1953), or the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (1987), to mention but a few, still remain in force and serve as a springboard for the promotion of bilateral relations.

III. Political relations

Relations between the two countries go far back in history. England played a crucial role in the Greek struggle for independence (1821-1829) and in the creation of the modern Greek state (1830), and the two fought as allies in both world wars.

Nowadays, Greece and the U.K. enjoy close cooperation in the E.U. and in NATO.

Special areas of cooperation pertain to the Cyprus issue (by dint of the special interest that both countries have and the role they fulfil as guarantor powers), the Balkans, and the fight against international terrorism. Bilateral cooperation and the British contribution towards the organization of the 2004 Olympic Games, particularly in the area of security, were especially constructive.

Further impetus to bilateral relations is provided by frequent exchanges of high-level visits. During the past year, the Greek Prime Minister visited the U.K. (December 2003, while the British Prime Minister attended the opening of the Athens Olympic Games in August 2004), as did the Greek Foreign Minister (January 2004-July 2004-December 2004) and the Minister of National Defence (November 2004), and there have also been several other important ministerial visits. There are also frequent consultations between government officials.

IV. Economic and Trade relations

Economic and trade relations between the two countries are particularly close in every field. A major contributing factor is the significant number of Greek shipping firms which maintain their headquarters in London.

Trade relations: In 2003 the UK ranked 3rd as a purchaser of Greek products and 5th as a supplier to the Greek market. In that same year, Greece ranked 41st amongst UK suppliers (pharmaceuticals, textile products, grapes, currants and sultanas, cables, foods, aluminium products) and 31st as a purchaser of British goods (motorcars, pharmaceuticals, beverages, machines and machine parts, audiovisual recording and playback equipment). During the past five years, there has been a steady increase of Greek exports to the UK, with UK exports to Greece remaining stationary, which has led to a certain containment of Greeces trade deficit  (exports to imports ratio of 1:1.96 in 2003 compared with 1:2.05 in 2002). The trade imbalance is mainly due to the differing structure of imports and exports, given that Greece imports heavy industry and high technology products from the UK, whilst she exports foods and light industrial goods which are subject to fierce competition from other countries with a similar output.

Investments: British investment in Greece amounted to 2,134.9m euros at the end of 2003, representing 12.5% of total foreign investment in Greece. The prime areas included transport and communications (particularly mobile telephony), heavy industry (mainly cement production), the construction sector, and trade. Greek investments in the UK amounted to 457.7m euros by the end of 2003, representing 5.1% of total Greek investments abroad, and directed mainly towards financial and banking services, manufacturing, and real estate transactions.

Tourism: The United Kingdom ranks second in respect of the number of tourists visiting Greece in 2004 (2.6 million).

V. Cultural relations

Cultural relations between Greece and Britain have been - historically and traditionally - especially close. The philhellene movement during the Greek struggle for independence, which inspired generations of Britons, has left palpable traces even today, and Hellenism continues to be a topic of major interest for British academics and literature.

Apart from the chairs of Hellenic studies (classical, Byzantine and contemporary) to be found in several British universities, there is also the Hellenic Centre in London that encompasses over 20 cultural associations, foundations and agencies that have the shared objective of promoting Hellenic culture (for more information look up www.Helleniccentre.org).
 

British Universities are attended by some 35,000 Greek undergraduate and graduate students.

Since 1998 the Embassy, in cooperation with the London branch of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, has presented an annual series of events entitled Greece in Britain, which address the entire spectrum of Greek civilization: classical, medieval and contemporary (www.GreeceInBritain.org.uk for more information).

VI. The Greek Community

There are 10-15,000 Greeks permanently residing in the UK, the majority of who live and work in London. Shipping companies, banks and multinational corporations are attracting ever greater numbers of young people who, after obtaining their university degree, embark on their careers in the UK, whilst there is also a significant number of Greek academics and doctors. There is also a strong presence of the Greek Orthodox Church, centred in the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.

VII. Embassy Details