As part of its Chairmanship, Greece is offering a series of online discussions, which aims to bring the Council of Europe closer to civil society. The meetings involve prestigious personalities from Greece and abroad, and are in line with the central theme of the Greek Chairmanship: “Protection of human life and public health in the context of a pandemic – Effectively responding to a sanitary crisis in full respect for human rights and the principles of democracy and the rule of law”.

Among the personalities who have already participated in these meetings are Sotiris Tsiodras, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases (1 June), the French philosopher Bernard Henri-Lévy (23 June), Frank M. Snowden, American Professor of Medical History and writer (29 July), Josiah Ober Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis, Professor of Political Science in Stanford University (16 September), Benjamin Haddad, director of the Future Europe Initiative at the Atlantic Council (23 September) and Professor Effy Vayena, ETH Zurich, moderated by the journalist Nefeli Lygerou (20 October). Each meeting is introduced by Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs /European Affairs of Greece.

The discussions can be found on the Chairmanship’s YouTube channel and on its own website. The same platforms will broadcast the forthcoming meetings live.