I. Diplomatic Relations

Greece is represented in Canada through its Embassy in Ottawa. There is also a Consulate-General in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Canada has an Embassy in Athens and an honorary Consulate in Thessaloniki.

II. Political relations

Greek-Canadian relations are based on a long tradition of friendship and cooperation and cover all sectors. The presence of a large number of diaspora Greeks has helped to build very strong ties.

Both countries cooperate within the framework of international organisations and initiatives, such as the United Nations, NATO, the OECD and the Human Security Network. The European Union also has an institutionalised cooperation network with Canada on a broad range of political, economic, trade and other subjects.

As to parliamentary cooperation, both Parliaments have a Greece-Canada Friendship Group.

There is good defense cooperation between Greece and Canada, promoted chiefly within the framework of NATO, EU, NATO relations, but also bilaterally. Greece and Canada have concluded an Agreement on the Exchange of Defense Information (1962) and a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Materials (1998). An Armaments Cooperation Agreement (April 1998) has also been signed and there was an exchange of visits between the Greek and Canadian Chiefs-of- Staff in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Bilateral consultations held from time to time explore the possibility of further enhancing and promoting cooperation in a number of fields such as education, peace missions, industry, armaments, research and technology.

Greece responded positively to the Canadian initiative to establish the informal Human Security Network with 13 countries participating from all continents. Greece held the HSN Chairmanship between May 2007 and May 2008.

Recent exchanges of visits

Recent official visits (during Greeces EU Presidency) to Athens for the EU-Canada Summit  by the then Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrtien, Foreign Minister Mr. Graham, and International Trade Minister Mr. Pettigrew significantly boosted bilateral relations where the current scope of cooperation is already exceptionally broad. This visit was a confirmation of the qualitatively speaking high level relations between the two countries. The Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Mr. Peter Milliken visited Athens (7-13 March 2007) and was received by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias. He also met with Prime Minister Mr. Kostas Karamanlis and his counterpart Ms. Psarouda-Benaki. As far as visits of Greek officials to Canada are concerned, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kassimis visited Canada (Toronto, Montreal) from 19 to 23 November 2006.

III. Contractual Framework

The economic relations of the two countries are governed by a series of contractual texts, including the Agreement on Taxation of Shipping companies (1929), the Agreement on Social Security (1981), the Agreement on Regular Air Transport (1987), and the Revised Agreement on Regular Air Transport.

In the shipping sector there is no bilateral Shipping Agreement but the Canadian authorities apply the principle of national treatment to Greek vessels. With regard to the avoidance of double taxation on shipping profits, the 1929 Ministerial Decree on Mutual Tax Relief on Net Profits Taxation of Greek and Canadian Shipping Enterprises is still in force, which takes the companys seat as a criterion. The Agreement on the Avoidance of double taxation between the two countries has been initialed at the level of Finance Ministry Authorities, and it is expected to be signed by representatives of the two countries political leaderships.

IV. Economic and Trade Relations

Greeces business community set up the Greek-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in 1996. The volume of bilateral trade is particularly limited, mainly because of the great distance. For a number of years, Greece has had a negative trade balance with Canada, and there have not been significant fluctuations in the volume of bilateral trade.

V. Cultural relations

In December 1997, an Agreement on Audiovisual Co-Productions was concluded between the two Ministries of Culture, and ratified by the Hellenic Parliament on 7 October 1999. In October 1999, a Memorandum of Understanding and an Implementing Protocol on cooperation in the sports sector were also signed. In July 1998 the Ministers of Education of Greece and Canada signed an Education Cooperation Memorandum.

Educational, scientific and cultural relations between the two countries are enhanced through the teaching of Greek Studies at the Universities of Simon Fraser in Vancouver, York in Toronto, Montreal in Montreal (the Frixos Papachristides Chair), as well as the Inter-University Centre for Greek Studies in Montreal and the Centre for Greek Studies in Manitoba. These activities also contribute to maintaining the cultural heritage of the Greek Diaspora in Canada.

VI. Greek community

There is a significant and varied presence of people of Greek origin in Canada. It is estimated that 300,000 people of Greek origin live in the country. Canadian citizens of Greek origin are active in all fields of social life (politics, academic circles, business, liberal professions, etc.). Following the elections of 14 October 2008, the Greek community is represented at the Parliament of Canada by Mr. John Cannis, Mr. Jim Karygiannis and Ms. Niki Ashton.

 
VII. Embassy and Consulate details

Last modified: November 2008