Heinrich Böll Stiftung - Thessaloniki Office

Out of sight, out of mind? Frontex and Human Rights at the EU Borders

Key takeaways from the recent event of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung EU Office

White and green syringe on white surface photo

Divided we fail - Vaccine diplomacy and its implications

No country is safe from COVID-19 until all countries are safe from COVID-19. To state the obvious: To overcome a pandemic of this magnitude, vaccines must be made available quickly, cheaply, and fairly.

By Barbara Unmüßig and Alexandra Sitenko

Wind turbine and high-voltage lines in the background

Online dialogue: 6 viewpoints on 4 questions regarding the deployment of renewables

INTERVIEWS

What is the role of renewables in the attainment of climate targets? What are the challenges and what are the impacts of their deployment? Why are local reactions often negative? The Green Tank in cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Greece records 6 different opinions regarding the deployment of renewables, aiming to approach in a holistic way this critical issue of the development of renewables in Greece and the related challenges.

Τhe Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung is the German political foundation, affiliated with the German Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen). With headquarters in Berlin and offices all around the world, our international network acts as think tank and a catalyst for green visions, strategies and for policy reforms towards a democratic, socio-ecological transition of society and economy.
The foundation's office in Greece is based in Thessaloniki since 2012. Our program intends to advance democracy and democratic governance, the protection of human rights, promote political dialogue, develop new concepts and practices towards a socio-ecological transformation of the economy focusing on energy transition and social solidarity economy We also place particular emphasis on gender democracy and intercultural inclusion aiming at the emancipation and the granting of equal rights to all social groups facing discriminations and the risk of social exclusion. We also place particular emphasis on gender democracy and intercultural inclusion aiming at the emancipation and the granting of equal rights to all social groups facing discriminations and the risk of social exclusion.

Social Media & Newsletter

VIDCASTS PODCASTS EVENTS

Green Room #1 | Greek-Turkish relations and the restart of exploratory talks

An interview by Michalis Goudis, Head of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Office Thessaloniki, with the Political Scientist and International Relations Expert, Theodoros Tsikas. Green Room #1

Gender will tear us apart again - Gender-based inequality and employment in Greece

The recent publication of the Gender Equality Index 2020 Report by the European Institute of Gender Equality-EIGE) has placed Greece in the last position in the EU with regard to gender equality based on the composite index constructed and followed up on a yearly basis.

Ecology

The work of Heinrich Böll Foundation Greece in the field of Ecology revolves around just energy transition and environmental sustainability. Our goal is to encourage decision makers and public administrations at local, regional and national levels to establish policies and implement measures in cooperation with our partners, and to empower civil society actors to advocate and engage in activities for a democratic, ecological transformation of Greek society and economy towards social justice and gender equality.

People powered message formed with neon letters on the side of the road

Energy Communities and just transition to post-lignite era

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Energy Transition

Delignitisation and Just Transition: Causes, threats and challenges

ARTICLE

On 23 September 2019, from the UN platform, the Prime Minister announced the landmark decision for Greece's complete decoupling from lignite by 2028 at the latest. Many parameters led to this decision. What could jeopardise the success of the energy transition of lignite areas to the post-lignite era, and what should be the characteristics of this transition?

By Nikos Mantzaris

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Sustainability

The European Green Deal and the restart of Greek economy

ARTICLE

Wind Renewal and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Greece are starting a constructive debate with researchers, body representatives, business units and experts about “Green Deal” and its significance for Greece. The article focuses on the restart of Greek economy, based on the Green Deal.

By Margarita Karavasili

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Social Solidarity Economy

The contribution of Social Solidarity Economy to the mitigation of the Climate Crisis

This video presents the innovative idea of a group from Kilkis/Greece to replace the environmentally destructuve plastic straw with a straw made of wheat. This group has created a social collective enterprise for locals and persons with migrant/refugee background. Director: Gabriel Psaltakis (keyframe) Research-Production: Heinrich Boell Foundation Thessaloniki Office and Transdisciplinary Institute of Environmental and Social Studies.

Social Solidarity Economy, defined as the set of different economic practices addressing social needs based on free collaboration and mutual support, is one of the main intervention fields of Heinrich Böll Stiftung in Greece. We want to contribute to the development of SSE practices in Greece on solid ground and proper principles, considering SSE a decisive force for the democratic and ecological transformation of economy and society.

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Democracy

With Europe and the EU facing a time of political and financial crisis, the threats of rising Euroscepticism and populism are increasing. Against this backdrop our work in Greece aims at combating the ideologies of inequality by fostering civil society initiatives towards human rights protection and social inclusion policies as well as at deepening democratic governance through substantial citizens´ participation in political processes at all levels.

Aegean chronicles: A reporter’s confrontation with Europe’s failures and moral imperative

A 6-year-old boy from Afghanistan drowned in November 2020 off the coast of Samos. Ηe was with his father and other asylum seekers onboard a dinghy that was shipwrecked. The tragic loss of a child’s life hardly made an impression on the international media or public discourse in Greece.

By Giorgos Christides

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Human Rights

Select Respect Festival 2020

FESTIVAL

Online this year, the Select Respect Festival is running on 19-22 November, with over 3.000 participations at the competition, from which 46 short films were selected, along with special screenings such as the "Nimic" movie of Yorgos Lanthimos

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Deepening Democracy

The incoming Biden Administration ushers in a new era for Greece-Turkey relations

ARTICLE

When it appeared certain that the scales of the US presidential election of November 3rd, 2020, were tipping in favor of Joe Biden, there began to appear a wave of news stories, particularly in the Greek daily and weekly press

By Ioannis Papadopoulos

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Publications

Anti-Semitism in Greece Today - Cover 2019

Anti-Semitism in Greece Today (Second Edition)

PUBLICATION

Examining the anti-Semitism phenomenon in Greece in the 21st century is based on the observation that post-Auschwitz anti-Semitism has not been eradicated neither in Greece nor in the rest of Europe, but is instead rising as evidence from recent studies show.

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Cover of Energy Poverty 2.0 policy paper in English

Energy poverty in Greece 2.0

PUBLICATION

Millions of households in EU countries live in energy poverty. This phenomenon has adverse effects on both their health and their well-being, while also affecting social cohesion and the environment. The current publication is an update of the Heinrich Boell Foundation study published in 2017, it includes the impact of the latest political developments in Greece and the rest of Europe, as well as the results of an opinion poll on Greek citizens' awareness of the issue.

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Building Energy Communities

PUBLICATION

Law 4513/2018 aspires to combine Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and the energy sector and introduces a new type of civil cooperative of exclusive purpose, the Energy Community (EC). ECs constitute an important tool for achieving fair energy transition in the country. This guide clarifies the framework in which ECs operate, their role in a fair energy transition while providing both theoretical and practical information for their development.

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