Theodossis Georgiou

Theodossis Georgiou is the Chairman of the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation. He is an honorary Lawyer after 40 years of practice at his own firm. Furthermore, he is the President of the euro defense – Greece, a Member of the Governing Council of AWEPA (The Netherlands), and its contact person in Greece.

Additionally, he is a Member of the Board of Regents of the Fund for American Studies (Washington D.C.) and Co-Chairman of the International Institute for Political and Economic Studies ( IIPES) since 1996. From 2003 to 2012 he served as a member of the Board of the International Foundation for Election Systems, (UK Limited) Washington D.C.and London.

Having been involved in various networks of the Euro-Atlantic cooperation for more than 8 years, in 1991 Mr. Georgiou established the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation to revive the principles of transatlantic links in Greece within the framework of the Atlantic Treaty Association. GAAEC experienced a dynamic development and rapidly took a leading role among other NGOs in Greece and Europe, focusing on transatlantic cooperation, security, and education. GAAEC works in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense of Greece, as well as with NATO Public Diplomacy Division.

On October 7, 1997, Mr. Georgiou was unanimously elected the President of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA; Paris; Brussels), an international organization (confederation) of the National Atlantic Councils and Committees of 42 States (all NATO and PfP countries) and remained in office until November 2000.

Moreover, he was a Director of the Office for the Minister of Interior Affairs Mr. Kostis Stephanopoulos (1974-1976), a Member of the Greek Delegation to the European Communities in Brussels (1976-1979 during the negotiations period of Greece integration), Secretary General of the Council of Economic and Social Policy (ECOSOC), and a Special Advisor of Prime Minister Mr. Georgios Rallis. He was also a Member of the Economic and Social Assembly (Committee) of the European Communities. Member of the “Nea Demokratia” party and a Founding Member of the “Democratic Renewal Party” until its cessation at the election of Kostis Stephanopoulos as the President of the Hellenic Republic. He has run in national elections in Athens and Patras electoral districts, as well as in elections for the European Parliament.

He has been a guest lecturer in various academic institutions and universities in Europe, Caucasus, Canada, the US, and Africa and still continues his activities.

His academic interests and research focus primarily, from the political point of view, on transatlantic security and cooperation, Euro – Atlantic integration, the role of NGOs in the 21st century, dialogue between the North and the South, resolution of conflicts, and conflict prevention.

During the last 25 years, Mr. Georgiou has been organizing and has chaired hundreds of symposiums, conferences, and round table discussions both in Greece and around the globe and he has delivered a vast number of speeches. Additionally, he has led and participated in countless international meetings, representing governmental and non – governmental sectors.

Having a strong involvement in the field of interdisciplinary education, in 2012 Mr. Georgiou, together with other distinguished personalities, founded The International Center for Leading Studies (TICLS), a new platform compounding various educational programs.

On June 4, 2003, he was awarded the “Chevalier dans l’ Ordre de la Legion D’ Honneur” by President Jacques Chirac, and on November 26, 2004, he received the “Golden Laurel Branch Award” from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. He also has several other decorations and distinctions given in the recognition of his support for the integration of South-Eastern European countries into NATO and the EU.

In July 2019 he has been elected Co-Chair representing all European Countries- Members of the Atlantic Treaty Association to elaborate and present, along with the US Co-Chair “The new Strategic Reform “of the Atlantic Treaty Association for the 21 Century

Mr. Georgiou studied Law at the University of Athens, European Law at the “Université Libre de Bruxelles” in Belgium, and International Law at the Academy for International Law in The Hague, Netherlands. He is married to Aliki Mitsakos and has one son.