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Germany–Greece relations

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Germany–Greece relations
Map indicating locations of Germany and Greece

Germany
Greece
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Germany, AthensEmbassy of Greece, Berlin

Greece has an embassy in Berlin and five General Consulates in Hamburg, Munich, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Germany has an embassy in Athens and a General Consulate in Thessaloniki. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, European Union, NATO, and the Eurozone.

Germany was quite popular in Greece before the Greek government-debt crisis; 78.5% of Greeks had a positive opinion of Germany in 2005. By 2010, 29% shared that opinion.[1]

Today, Germany’s image in Greece has rebounded and significantly improved. In 2012, 49% of Greeks had a very unfavorable opinion of Germany, but by 2021 this number decreased to 29%. German chancellor Angela Merkel was viewed in a very negative light by 76% of Greeks in 2012. By 2021, it was 45%.[2]

History

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Amalia of Oldenburg wearing the Amalia dress
Angela Merkel and Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a meeting of the EPP, 2019

The first King of independent Greece, Otto I, was of German descent, and many Bavarians came and settled in the new state, while his father, Ludwig I of Bavaria, had aided financially and politically the Greeks during their War of Independence and after the enthronement of his son.

Greece and Prussia established diplomatic relations in 1834, the same year both countries exchanged embassies.[3]

The two countries were enemies during both World Wars, with Germany taking part in the Axis Occupation of Greece during World War II. The issue of reparations for German war crimes and the forced loan during the occupation continues to be unsettled.

The two nations enjoyed excellent relations from 1950 to 2010, with Germany being the nation with the most tourists visiting Greece during the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s[4] and the European country which received the most Greek immigrants, mainly in the 1950s and 1960s. Moreover, Greece supported German reunification during the 1980s and the two countries cooperated in many sectors (cultural, technological, military etc.) under the EU spectrum.

In 1999, the Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos caused a diplomatic crisis when he stated that "Germany is politically a dwarf"[5] and later apologized.

However, relations were severely strained during the European sovereign-debt crisis between the nations.[6] Although many media outlets in both countries tried to damage relations through polemical reporting, there was an initiative to counteract this. The most known is the founding of the German-Greek Youth organisation (Deutsch-griechisches Jugendwerk).

In general, German-Greek relations are considered to be balanced, and at European level the countries work well together. Germany has supported Greece in their dispute with Turkey, but not as much as other countries like France. The German minister Heiko Maas has said : "[...]Germany and the whole European Union stand by Greece in firm solidarity".[7] Germany limited the arm sales to Turkey, but they excluded maritime equipment.[8] Germany was also hesitant when the EU wanted to impose sanctions on Turkey, but have said that sanctions are an option and that the provocation of Turkey is unacceptable.[9] It should be mentioned that Germany has already provided Greece with 4 U-214 submarines that Greece desired not to be sold, also to Turkey.[citation needed]

Diaspora

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There is a 300,000 people Greek community living in Germany, most of them came during the 1960s and 1970s.[citation needed]

German community of Greece

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Main article: Greeks in Germany

The German Archaeological Institute at Athens opened in 1874, the German School of Athens in 1896.

List of bilateral agreements

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Source:[10]

  • Bilateral cultural agreement, 17 May 1956
  • Treaty of residence and shipping, 2 September 1961, which also addresses military conscription matters for persons with dual nationality
  • Agreement for the avoidance of double taxation, 18 April 1966

After 1981, most agreements were made through the European Union.

List of recent bilateral visits

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Diplomatic missions

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  • Embassy of Greece in Berlin
    Embassy of Greece in Berlin

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Survey on Greece-US relations 2016". kaparesearch.com. 2016-11-12. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  2. ^ "Germany and Merkel Receive High Marks Internationally in Chancellor's Last Year in Office" (PDF). pewresearch.org. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  3. ^ "Bilateral Relations Between Greece and Germany". Archived from the original on 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2009-01-18. Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Germany
  4. ^ http://sete.gr/_fileuploads/entries/Statistics/Greece/International%20Tourist%20Arrivals%20(Non-Residents)/catID51/EN/140422_Eiserxomeni%20taksidiotiki%20kinisi%20mi%20katoikon%20stin%20Ellada%20ana%20xora%20proelefsis%202005-2013.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ Θ.Πάγκαλος tovima.gr
  6. ^ German Patience With Greece on the Euro Wears Thin 8 May 2012.
  7. ^ G
  8. ^ "Limit on arms export to Turkey excludes maritime equipment, German FM says". Daily Sabah. 27 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Germany, Austria say sanctions among options for Turkey's Cyprus drilling". Reuters. 15 July 2019.
  10. ^ http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Policy/Geographic+Regions/Europe/Relationships+with+EU+Member+States/Germany/Greek[permanent dead link‍] Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Germany
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