“Opera of the Summer” / “Opera Lata” (15th September 2012) – Participation of the Press Office with the film “Diolkos”

September 15th, 2012,
From 15.30  to 01.00
Park around the Ujazdowski Castle

Open-air music and film evening

Summer Opera is an interdisciplinary outdoor event, entirely devoted to ‘the joy of music’ in a broad perspective: to create music, to listen to it, to understand it, to appreciate it and to dance on it.
Summer Opera is the follow-up of last year’s “Awakening of the summer” which was organized by the network of national institutes for culture and embassies in Warsaw: “EUNIC Warszawa” and CCA Zamek Ujazdowski and which brought 3000 persons to the castle on a warm midsummer night.
This year, once again, the gracious environment of the Castle will transform into a lively European boulevard and the keyword is ‘Opera’. Opera’ in the sense of a spectacular synthesis of arts; combining various elements, often surprising and sometimes disturbing, but always fascinating. The main role in the Summer Opera will be played by cinematography. 3 screens will show documentaries devoted to musicians, music and instruments. There will be animation- and feature films as well as music videos from several European countries and even a silent film. Feel like doing it? There will be a voice-workshop, lessons in Irish dancing, you can make music on what needs to be recycled and – of course – the opera brings also a music workshop for children and parents. Workshops are dedicated to everyone: those talented and those who cannot sing or play.
An Opera is not an Opera without a choir and an orchestra! Therefore on stage: Małe Instrumenty (Poland), Alfredo Costa Monteiro (Portugal) and Anthony Chorale (The Netherlands) and in the late hours: DJ Disco DJ Partizanti (Poland) and DJ PM Misha (Portugal).
For the hungry and thirsty the opera will serve Hungarian, Portuguese and Czech delights and more, more, more!
The opera brings thunder and lightning, but in case the weather is not in harmony with the opera, we will go inside. 
Workshops are open for everyone. No registration needed.
Detailed information on the websites of the organizers and on facebook.

Organizers:

EUNIC Warszawa (European Union National Institutes for Culture): Embassy of Greece – Press Office, Delegation Wallonie-Brussels (Embassy of Belgium), Embassy of Ireland, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Austrian Cultural Forum, Czech Center, Danish Cultural Institute, Instituto Camões, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Goethe Institute, Bulgarian Cultural Institute, Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, Romanian Cultural Institute, the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Warsaw
and:
Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle / KINO.LAB
Admission Free

The Press Office of the Greek Embassy invites you to the screening of the film “Diolkos”, at 18.30 in KINO.LAB.

A movie for the Diolkos of Corinth

1.500 years since the construction and use of the Corinthian Diolkos, the Technical Chamber of Greece in collaboration with the Society for the Study of Ancient Greek Technology, created a movie presenting one of the greatest innovations of technical civilization of Ancient Greece.
The 22 min. film, created with the use of 3D animations, represents one of the most important technological monuments of Greek civilization, Diolkos: an overland route for the transfer of ships between the Saronic and Corinthian gulfs along the Isthmus (Corinth), when there was no strait. The film offers many other technical details, but also extensive scenes of marine life in antiquity: gaming, visit at the Temple of Poseidon, fun time in a pub, the construction of Hydraulis (hydraulic, water music instrument) and an emotional confrontation.

World Poetry Day – 2011 Elytis Year

Odysseas Elytis and his work will be the focus of this year’s World Poetry Day, which is celebrated each year on March 21.
The National Book Centre of Greece (EKEBI) launches a poetry campaign including several events.
One of the day’s highlights is an event jointly organized by EKEBI and the Hellenic Authors’ Society which brings together well-known poets and writers such as Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke, Vassilis Vasilikos, Kiki Dimoula and Evgenia Fakinou to recite poems by Odysseas Elytis.
Athenians and citizens of Thessaloniki, Mytillini, Rhodes and Zakynthos will have the opportunity to come across illustrated verses by Elytis as public transport means will feature some of the Nobel laureate’s most beloved and renowned poems. Poetry reading nights, with young poets will also be held in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Moreover in Athens, poet Nanos Valaoritis will present a new theory regarding Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey at the Hellenic American Union, while at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, World Poetry Day will be celebrated through poetry, music and stand-up poetry.
The year 2011 has been designated as an Elytis Year by Culture and Tourism Ministry, in order to mark the 100th anniversary since the birth of the Nobel laureate poet.
Nobel Prize Organisation: Excerpt from Worthy It Is, Poetry International Web- Odysseas Elytis: I Lived the Beloved Name, Drinking the Sun of Corinth, Marina of the Rocks, The Wind That Loiters.
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Συνέντευξη του πολωνού ποιητή Άνταμ Ζαγκαγιέβσκι στην “Ελευθεροτυπία”

Ανταμ Ζαγκαγιέβσκι «Οι πολιτικοί ας αφήσουν την Ιστορία στους ποιητές»
Ο Ανταμ Ζαγκαγιέβσκι είναι ο κορυφαίος Πολωνός ποιητής των ημερών μας και ένας από τους -πολλούς και ενδιαφέροντες- προσκεκλημένους στο Πρώτο Διεθνές Λογοτεχνικό Φεστιβάλ Τήνου ( 29, 30 και 31 Ιουλίου ). Στη συνέντευξή του στην «Ε», ο Ανταμ Ζαγκαγιέβσκι μιλά για την ποίηση, τη μνήμη, την Ιστορία, την πολιτική και τη διαδικασία της σύνθεσης απόψεων που πάντοτε οδηγεί σε καλύτερα αποτελέσματα από τον τυφλό φανατισμό.
Προ τριμήνου ένα μεγάλο μέρος της πολωνικής ηγεσίας χάθηκε σε αεροπορικό δυστύχημα ενώ προ εικοσαημέρου εξελέγη νέος Πολωνός προέδρος, ο Κομορόφσκι. Πώς είναι τώρα τα πράγματα στην Πολωνία; Είχε προηγηθεί η διακυβέρνηση της χώρας από τους αδελφούς Κατζίνσκι, οι οποίοι ήταν φιλοαμερικανοί και εχθρικοί τόσο προς τη Ρωσία όσο και προς τη Γερμανία και την Ευρώπη.

“You in Greece” campaign – Facts about Greece

  Facts about Greece

· Greece is a safe country

Supportive data: According to Legatum Prosperity Index, Greece faces comparatively few security challenges. Domestic security is favorable. Moreover, according to Eurostat, Greece is a country with a relatively low rate of criminality. The feeling of security is well established in society.
· Greece is an attractive destination.
This comes not only due to its physical beauty but mostly due to the “value for money” relationship in the provided services.
Supportive data: According to a poll, conducted in a population of 1200 people,52% of the sample believes that the quality of travel services offered in Greece are of very good standard and 42% believes that the travel services offered in Greece rival those offered in other touristdeveloped tourist markets.

· Greece is a western democracy and the majority of Greek society supports government policy.
Supportive data: A recent research conducted by Kapa Focus research company on behalf of the weekly Newspaper ‘To Vima’, shows that 55,2% of Greeks support the austerity measures imposed by the Greek Government.
·  Demonstrations are strictly local and limited events/occurrences. They take place mostly in the center of Athens, in a specific and controlled area. The mainland regions and the islands of the Greek Archipelago, where the vast majority of tourists go, are not affected at all.
Supportive data: According to Eurostat, Greece is a favourite destination. Especially, in South Aegean and Ionian Islands, it appears that 48.168 stays and 33.304 per 1000 citizens took place, a proof of satisfaction for the Greek touristic product.
· Greece is a tourist country and Greeks know the importance of hospitality.
Supportive data: Zeus, the King of the Greek Gods, according to the Greek Mythology, named as Xenios (the one who offers hospitality) Zeus.
·  The overall number of demonstrations in Greece is lower than the E.U average.
Supportive data:All demonstrations occurred in Athens, in specific and isolated areas. In their vast majority they were peaceful.

· The picture that global media paint is, to say the least, in many cases exaggerating. In many occasions, library images were re-broadcasted as live feeds.
Supportive data: Greece is a pluralist, democratic western European country. Media freedom is protected and encouraged. During the last two weeks Greece hosted more than 300 foreign journalists.
(Greek National Tourism Organisation)

Blue Flags 2010

Greece was awarded Blue Flags for 421 Beaches and 9 Marinas by the International Blue Flag Jury, winning second place among 41 countries. 
The prefectures of Lasithi (on Crete), and Halkidiki (northern Greece), as well as the islands of Corfu and Rhodes were awarded the highest number of Blue Flags.
The Blue Flag is an internationally recognized standard for quality, develporewarding sustainable development at beaches and marinas, relying on strict criteria, such as water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety.
Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature: Greek Beachs awarded the Blue Flag for 2010
Greek News Agenda: 425 Blue Flags for Greece

Online petition to save department of Greek Studies at King`s College London

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) A petition has been submitted in an effort to persuade King’s College London not to dismantle the department of Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies at the university.
“We would like to express our deep concerns over the projected dismemberment of the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at King’s College London. […]

The great strength of King’s has always been that it is the only university in the UK to offer a combined programme in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, thus  emphasising the importance of continuity through the centuries,” reads the petition which may be found at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/sdbmgs10/petition.html
Foundation of the Hellenic World:  The Byzantine Empire &  
Modern Greek Studies Association: www.mgsa.org & European Society for Modern Greek Studies: www.eens.org

Ελένη Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ “Γιατί το Βυζάντιο”

Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ Ελένη

Γιατί το Βυζάντιο

Το «Γιατί το Βυζάντιο», το καινούργιο βιβλίο της Ελένης Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ, γραμμένο απευθείας στα ελληνικά, αποτελεί ένα απόσταγμα σχεδόν βιωματικό, από την πολύχρονη διδασκαλία της διαπρεπούς βυζαντινολόγου στη Σορβόννη. Απευθύνεται στο ευρύ κοινό και ειδικά σε εκείνους που τους απασχολεί το ζήτημα της ελληνικής ιστορικής συνέχειας.
«Το πόνημα αυτό», αναφέρει η ίδια, «απευθύνεται σε όσους από τους Νεοέλληνες ταλανίζονται με το πρόβλημα της ελληνικής ιστορικής συνέχειας και στους ξένους (κυρίως τους Δυτικοευρωπαίους και τους Αμερικανούς βλαστούς τους) που αρκούνται στην επιλεκτική γνώση του παρελθόντος τους, άσχετα από κάθε ιστορική πραγματικότητα και με μόνο μέλημα τη δικαίωση μιας σύγχρονης πολιτικής προσέγγισης, που υπαγορεύουν συμφέροντα και ενδιαφέροντα, ξένα συχνά από την ιστορία και το αντικείμενό της».
Η συγγραφέας επιχειρεί να αποσαφηνίσει το Βυζάντιο δια του Βυζαντίου, με πολλαπλές αναφορές σε κείμενα – κλειδιά (Τριακονταετηρικός του Ευσεβίου, Κοσμογραφία του Κοσμά Ινδικοπλεύστη, Τακτικά του Λέοντος ΣΤ’ τυο Σοφού, Βίος Ιακώβου του Νεοφωτίστου, Σχόλια του Τζέτζη, Επαναγωγή κ.ά.), τα οποία, κατά τη γνώμη της, εκφράζουν συνοπτικά τα χαρακτηριστικά της βυζαντινής ψυχοσύνθεσης ή σημαδεύουν παραστατικά τομές και στροφές της ιστορίας του Βυζαντίου.
Ο στόχος της Ελένης Γλύκατζη-Αρβελέρ είναι ο εξής, όπως τον διατυπώνει στον Πρόλογό της: «Να βάλω, κατά το δυνατόν, έστω εκ του πλαγίου και λάθρα σχεδόν, το Βυζάντιο στη θέση που τα επιτεύγματά του μας υπαγορεύουν: να πω συνοπτικά, εννοώ, αυτά που το αναδεικνύουν ως την πρώτη ευρωπαϊκή αυτοκρατορία και που εξηγούν, όχι μόνο το πολιτιστικό μεγαλείο του (και αυτό ανεπαρκώς ακόμη γνωστό), αλλά και την ασυνήθη για παγκόσμια δύναμη (όπως ήταν κάποτε το Βυζάντιο) μακροβιότητά του».
Η επιλογή των θεμάτων που αναπτύσσονται σχετίζεται κυρίως με φαινόμενα μακράς διαρκείας και μπορούν να ερμηνεύσουν το «Γιατί» της βυζαντινής πολιτικής εμβέλειας (εξ ου και ο τίτλος «Γιατί το Βυζάντιο»).
Αναλύονται οι σχέσεις της πολιτείας με την εκκλησία (αυτοκράτορα και πατριάρχη), του κέντρου με την περιφέρεια (Κωνσταντινούπολης και επαρχιών), του Βυζαντίου με τους πολυποίκιλους γείτονές του, φίλους, συμμάχους ή εχθρούς. Οι συνοριακές συρρικνώσεις, οι δογματικές διαμάχες, οι στρατιωτικοπολιτικές αντιπαλότητες και οι άνισες κοινωνικές διαβαθμίσεις που ρύθμιζαν την καθεστηκυία τάξη εξηγούν τη δυσκολία της βυζαντινής κοινωνίας αλλά και της πολιτικής να ανταποκριθεί στις απαιτήσεις των καιρών. Η πτώση της αυτοκρατορίας πρώτα στα χέρια των Σταυροφόρων (1204) και τελικά στους Οθωμανούς (1453) προλογίζουν την χαλεπότητα της μετέπειτα εποχής που θεμέλιό της ωστόσο μένει η πολύχρονη βυζαντινή εμπειρία: θρησκευτική, ιδεολογική και βιωματική. Απόηχός της ως τις μέρες μας μπορεί να θεωρηθεί η αμφίσημη σχέση των Νεοελλήνων με τη Δύση και με την Ανατολή, πρόβλημα της νεοελληνικής ταυτότητας.
Εκδόσεις: Ελληνικά Γράμματα

Athens International Film Festival Opening Nights

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Three new awards, two much awaited Greek releases, twenty rare cult gems, a Danish pioneering filmmaker and a Polish poet who forever changed the way cinema is experienced are just some of the few surprises the 15th Athens International Film Festival has in store for this year.

Organised by the Athens Film Society, the 15th Athens International Film Festival – Opening Nights will bring the best of international cinema to the Greek capita, for 11 days, from September 16 to 27. Promoting the work of Greek filmmakers has always been one of the Festival’s main aims.  This year, three new awards have been introduced: An Award for Best First Time Director, Best First Time Actor and Actress.  Regular sections of the 15th Athens International Film Festival – Opening Nights include: Panorama – a selection of last year’s productions; Midnight Movies, Premiers – the chance to watch some of the coming season’s best features: Cinema on the Edge, documentaries and, short stories.

Prespa Lake Conservation Project Gets EU Award

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Conservation of priority bird species in Lake Mikri Prespa in northern Greece – a project developed by the Society for the Protection of Prespa and WWF Hellas has been named one of the top five environmental projects carried out in the EU during 2007-2008, winning a  ‘Best LIFE-Nature’ Projects award.  The Best LIFE-Nature Projects is a new award that aims to identify some of the best LIFE Nature projects that were completed during the reference period 2007-2008. All projects completed within the reference period were initially technically assessed by the LIFE Unit’s External Assistance Team to produce a first list of Best Projects.   The principal aim of the ‘Prespa Lake project’ was to improve the conservation status of the Dalmatian Pelican and the Pygmy Cormorant, but activities have also benefited directly at least 18 other species covered by the Birds Directive.   Secretariat General of Information: About Brand Greece- Greek Environmental Strategic Policies & Hellenic Ornithological Society: www.ornithologiki.gr

Must See in Greece: Antikythira

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Either for scientific purposes or sheer fun, bird-watching can be intriguing and can renew one’s contact with nature. Assisted by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (www.ornithologiki.gr), the Antikythira Bird Observatory offers a chance for population monitoring of the large birds of prey (buzzards, harriers, eagles etc) that pass through the Peloponnese and Crete, but also for the study of small birds’ migration by direct observation or ringing. The island of Antikythira qualifies as an ideal site for the study of bird migration in Greece, being one of the few areas where one can so easily identify a great number of bird species. Birdwatching tours: http://www.greecebirdtours.gr; Birding in Greece: greekbirding.blogspot.com; Agrotravel.gr, Greece from a different and exciting perspective: Birds Sanctuaries; Kythira; Kythira Island: http://www.kythera.gr

425 “Blue Flags” for Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature -coordinator of the international “Blue Flag” programme in Greece- announced yesterday (May 27) the awarded beaches and marinas for 2009.  Greece was awarded flags for 425 beaches and 8 marinas by the international non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), conquering the second place among 39 countries worldwide.  The Blue Flag is an internationally recognised standard for quality, rewarding sustainable development at beaches and marinas, relying on strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety.  Greek News Agenda: Blue Flags; Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature: Greek Beaches and Marinas awarded the Blue Flag for 2009

Society On-Line in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    WebSci’09: Society On-Line, March 18-20, 2009, Athens, Greece.  Web Science focuses on understanding, designing and developing the technologies and applications that make up the World Wide Web. But the WWW does not exist without the participation of people and organizations. Now that a significant proportion of everyday life is spent on-line in many countries, it makes sense for the first Web Science conference to be dedicated to the presentation of research into society on the Web. The conference is organised by the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) and the Foundation of the Hellenic World (FHW).

Open Access to Academic Information in Athens

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)      An international conference entitled “Open access infrastructures: the future of scientific communication” will take place on December 15 – 16 in Athens. Adapting the educational system to the needs of the digital age, the conference organised by the National Documentation Centre of the Hellenic Research Foundation, aims to present recent trends in open access infrastructure both in Greece and worldwide as well as to depict the future of scholarly communication in the field of dissemination of information concerning research results. The conference is part of the National Information System on Research and Technology project (phase III), as part of the “Information Society” Programme. Information Society: The “Information Society” Operational Programme & Equipping and networking schools and universities

Computer Seminars for Immigrants in Athens

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   An “Unlimited Potential” centre, which began operating in October in Athens, offers free certified computer literacy seminar series for up to 150 immigrants. The centre was set up by the City of Athens Centre for Employment and Entrepreneurship and Microsoft Hellas.  The programme aims to improve immigrants’ access to the job market. The Hellenic Professional Informatics Society has taken on the organisation of the programme, while Hellas ECDL is offering accreditation exams for free. The seminars have already begun in Igoumenitsa, Epirus and are being planned for other cities, including Thessaloniki and Patras.  Athens Plus: Free computer science seminars for immigrants (p. 17)  Microsoft Unlimited Potential: Helping Create a Positive Future for Migrants in Greece  &  Press Release – Gains Without Frontiers – Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential in Central and Eastern Europe (10.11.2008)  

Tribute to Nikos Kazatzakis

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    51 years since the demise of Nikos Kazantzakis, one of Crete’s most important personalities ever born, a commemorative series of events is being organised by the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis in Heraklio, Crete. On November 3, a conference will focus on the impact of the work of an author and thinker whose work is now considered a legacy shared by people throughout the world. The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum is also hosting an exhibition which will remain open until November 26.  Athens News Agency: Int’l Society of Friends of Kazantzakis celebrates 20th anniversary; Society of Cretan Historical Studies: The Nikos Kazantzakis Files; Secretariat General of Information: About Greece-Literature

International Award for Technical University of Crete

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Professor of the Technical Univresity of Crete has recently been awarded by the world’s leading professional association IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the “IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,” a distinction bestowed to IEEE members who have made significant contributions to the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems.  The award is being sponsored by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society, a society within IEEE who attracts mostly civil and mechanical engineers who apply intelligent systems technologies on traditional transportation disciplines. Markos Papageorgiou is professor at the Department of Production Engineering and Management and head of the Dynamic Systems and Simulation Laboratory at the Technical University of Crete. He was awarded for his valuable scientific contribution in model construction and traffic flow control. The awarding ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 11th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (October 12-15) in Beijing, where Papageorgiou delivered a lecture on the topic.

The Greek Idea

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Maria Koundoura: The Greek Idea: The Formation of National and Transnational Identities, I. B. Tauris, 2007  How do those living in diaspora form their own national and transnational identity? The Greek Idea offers a new critical paradigm from which to explore these identities. Drawing upon postcolonial theory, Maria Koundoura addresses and analyzes the cultural material that produced Greece’s representation as both Europe’s origin and “other”.  The long association of Greece and English Literature began with English travellers’ “discovery” of Greece in the late-eighteenth century and the reinforcement of the myth which placed Greece as the location of Western culture. Koundoura maps what this representation signifies for Greeks, both national and diasporic. In doing so she touches on England, Greece, the United States, Australia and twentieth century diaspora cultures.  Reading Greece: A Comprehensive Guide & Hellenic Authors’ Society & National Book Centre; Modern Greek Studies Association, US 

Competitive Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   In a recent interview with DiplomaticTraffic.com, Greece’s ambassador to Washington, Alexandros P. Mallias, described the transformation of his country. The most fundamental change, he said, was that Greece had become an “extroverted economy.”  Within the new framework of a globalised society, Greece recognizes the importance that competitiveness and entrepreneurship possesses for its growth and the upgrading of its place in the international arena. The Greek economy can achieve even better performances, since structural reforms to further strengthen competitiveness are being pursued. A new portal (www.competitive-greece.gr) launched by the National Council for Competitiveness and Development offers information about Greece’s efforts and achievements. 

A Unique National Marine Park in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    The Mediterranean Monk Seal also known as Monachus Monachus, is Europe’s most endangered marine mammal, and is among the six most endangered mammals in the world.  Greece has allocated a vast area for the preservation of the Monachus Monachus and its habitat in the Aegean Sea. The Greek National Sea Park of Alonissos – Northern Sporades(www.alonissos-park.gr), which extends around the Northern Sporades island complex, and is the main action ground of the Hellenic Society for the study and protection of the monk seal (Mom). It should be stated that legislation in Greece is very strict towards the hunting of the seal and that the public in general is very much aware and supportive of the effort for the preservation of the Monachus Monachus. The National Marine Park of Alonnisos – Northern Sporades was the first designated Marine Park in the country and is currently the largest marine protected area in Europe (approximately 2,260 Km2). Besides the sea area, the Park includes Alonnisos (www.alonissos.gr), six smaller islands (Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Psathura, Piperi and Skantzoura), as well as 22 uninhabited islets and rocky outcrops. The Northern Sporades island-complex stretches out into the Aegean, east of the Pelion peninsula. On the serene Sporades, life still continues along its old rhythms. Tourism has brought prosperity to these islands without affecting much of their traditional lifestyle, especially on the island of Alonissos.  National Marine Park of Alonnisos – Northern Sporades: Photo Gallery 

Digital Greece: A Leap Forward

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The European Commission has presented the results of the i2010 mid term review (April 2008). Regarding Greece, the review notes: “Strong policy commitment, notably the National Digital Strategy (2006-2013), has lead to a stable improvement of most benchmarking indicators.” However, despite this, the information society in Greece is still lagging behind in comparison to general developments in the EU. In January 2008, broadband penetration reached 9.1% after significant growth, even though this is still far below EU average. The “National Digital Strategy (2006-2013)” has set ambitious objectives to stimulate the growth of broadband markets and align Greece to the EU average by 2010. Greece has made significant advancement over the last year in fully-online availabilityand is steadily closing the gap with the EU average. These improvements have been equally balanced between services to citizens and to businesses though both remain below the EU average.  Commission of the European Communities: Country Profiles – Greece (p.25); Information Society in Greece: Digital Strategy (2006 – 2013)