Greece–Sweden relations

The first contact between Greece and Sweden can be traced back to the 11th century. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1852.[1] Both countries are members of the Council of Europe, of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and of the European Union. Greece is a full member of NATO. Sweden is not a full member. Greece has given full support to Sweden's membership of the European Union. Greece supports Sweden's NATO membership.

Greece–Sweden relations
Map indicating locations of Greece and Sweden

Greece
Sweden
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Greece, StockholmEmbassy of Sweden, Athens

History

Diplomatic relations between Sweden and Greece were established in 1833, a few years after the Greek War of Independence. The first trade agreement between Sweden and Greece was signed in 1852.[2]

In September 1934, the Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and Crown Princess Margaret and Princess Ingrid visited Greece with the Svenska Orient Linien's motor ship Vasaland. They stopped at Patras, visited the paper mill in Aegion. On 20 September, they arrived in Piraeus, where they traveled by train to Athens, where they were received by president Alexandros Zaimis and representatives of government agencies. They also visited Delphi, Nafplio and Delos with the cruiser Hellas. On 28 September, Vasaland departed for Thessaloniki and then on to Istanbul on 2 October.[3]

The Swedish Institute at Athens (SIA) was founded in 1946 with archeology as its main purpose.[2] A double taxation agreement was signed in 1963.[2]

In 1967, Sweden and three other countries brought the Greek Case against the Greek junta regime for human rights violations.[4] Stockholm was since 1968 the base of the Panhellenic Liberation Movement resistance organization.

Since 1991, there has been a Swedish-Greek Chamber of Commerce in Athens. Business Sweden monitors Greece from Milan. There are about 40 Swedish-affiliated companies operating in Greece - most in the Athens area.[2] In September 2022, Greece fully approved Sweden's application for NATO membership.[5]

List of bilateral treaties and agreements[1]
Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt
  • Treaty on Trade and Shipping (1852)
  • Agreements or Memoranda have been signed since 1929
  • Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income or capital (1961)
  • Social Security (1984)
  • Defense Cooperation (1999)

List of recent bilateral visits[1][2]

To Sweden

To Greece

European Union

Greece joined the EU in 1981. Sweden joined the EU in 1995.

NATO

While Greece became a member of NATO in 1952, Sweden has never been a member of NATO.

Resident diplomatic missions

Greece has an embassy in Stockholm, and Sweden has an embassy in Athens.

  • Embassy of Greece in Stockholm
    Embassy of Greece in Stockholm
  • Embassy of Sweden in Athens
    Embassy of Sweden in Athens

See also

References
  1. "Bilateral Relations Between Greece and Sweden". Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2008-04-08. Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Sweden
  2. "Sveriges förbindelser med Grekland" [Sweden's relations with Greece] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Athens. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. Kjellberg, H.E., ed. (1934). Svenska Dagbladets årsbok (Händelserna 1934) [Svenska Dagbladet's yearbook (Events of 1934)] (in Swedish). Vol. 12. Stockholm: Svenska Dagbladet. pp. 73–74. SELIBR 283647.
  4. Bates, Ed (2010). "The 'Greek' Case, 1967–1969". The Evolution of the European Convention on Human Rights: From Its Inception to the Creation of a Permanent Court of Human Rights. Oxford University Press. pp. 264–270. ISBN 978-0-19-920799-2.
  5. "Greek Parliament ratifies Sweden and Finland NATO bid". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
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