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. Framework of Treaties  

The most important bilateral agreements are as follows:

- Cultural 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 demarcation of continental shelf boundaries (1977)

- Agreement for 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. Nowadays there is close bilateral cooperation between Greece and Italy on matters of security, combating terrorism, and border protection. There is also regular ministerial contact between the two, particularly in the context of their European obligations in Brussels.

Regarding official visits between the two countries, an official visit was made to Italy by the then President of the Hellenic Republic, K. Stephanopoulos (January 2001) and a return visit by the President of the Italian Republic, C.A.Ciampi to Greece (July 2003).

Visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias (24-28 January, 2006).

IV. Economic and Trade relations

Italy has traditionally been Greeces second most important trading partner after Germany, absorbing 9.6% of Greek exports and representing 12.7% of Greeces total imports. Greek Italian trade (amounting to a total of some 7billion euros) represents 12.3% of Greeces total foreign trade. The trade balance shows a deficit for Greece (-4.1billion euros). Greeces imports from Italy mainly include industrial products, such as machinery, motor vehicles, and clothing, whilst her exports include basic agricultural produce such as olive oil, olives, and fish.

Italian investments account for some 6.6% of foreign capital invested in Greece, amounting to 500m euros annually, and still growing. Investment initiatives to be flagged up involve TELECOM, WIND (TELLAS, in collaboration with the Greek Public Power Corporation-PPC), ITALGAS, ENEL (in collaboration with the PPC, for the submarine energy link between the two countries).

Greek investment interest has been increasing recently, with investments in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and shipping industries.

In the tourist sector, it is estimated that some 800 thousand Italian tourists visit Greece each year, of whom 90% visit in July and August. The majority of them head for the Ionian Islands and the Peloponnese.

V. Cultural relations

There are numerous Greek-themed cultural activities throughout Italy.

They include art shows, film retrospectives, and Ancient Greek drama productions. The decisive influence of Greek Literature on Italian culture is generally acknowledged by Italian intellectuals.

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.

VI. The 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 to the era of Byzantine rule, but even as far back as classical antiquity. 

VII. Embassy Details

Head of Mission:  Anastassios Mitsialis, Minister Plenipotentiary (Grade A)

Address: Viale G. Rossini 4, 00198, Roma

Tel.: 0039-068537551    

Fax.: 0039-068415927
E-mail : gremroma@tin.it