Policy paper

Second annual review of the UK-Greece Strategic Bilateral Framework, 30 January 2024

Published 31 January 2024

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

The Minister for Europe at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Leo Docherty MP, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Papadopoulou, chaired the second annual review of the UK-Greece Strategic Bilateral Framework (SBF) on 30 January 2024. The Ministers discussed progress under a variety of the SBF pillars to further strengthen the ties between the UK and Greece in support of our shared objectives, and in pursuit of new opportunities for our shared prosperity and security. The Ministers also mapped out a range of future initiatives to build on our important and historic relations and reaffirmed a joint ambition to work ever closer to overcome shared regional and international challenges. The Ministers noted the remarkable breadth and depth of the longstanding people to people ties between the UK and Greece, which underpin our historical mutual respect and understanding, and our shared interests and priorities.

Foreign and regional policy

The Ministers welcomed the wide spectrum of our shared foreign policy cooperation in bilateral and multilateral fora over the last 12 months.

The UK and Greece remain steadfast in their support for the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine against Russian aggression. Both countries have made significant military and financial contributions to bolster Ukraine’s capabilities.

Greece and the UK have taken a robust position in response to the situation in Israel and Gaza. Both sides support Israel’s right to self-defence whilst urging restraint and respect for international law including international humanitarian law. The two Ministers reiterated their concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for swift, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access in order to avoid further worsening of an already dire situation. To this end, Greece supports the Cypriot-led initiative of a maritime aid corridor which was operationalized by the UK and the Republic of Cyprus with the aim of getting desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.

There has been a regular exchange of views on developments in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, on the Western Balkans and on Russia/Ukraine. The UK and Greece agree that the security and stability of the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, on the basis of full respect for International Law, including the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, is a key common objective and remain committed to engaging pro-actively towards this aim. The Ministers re-affirmed their desire to further deepen our foreign policy cooperation and committed to holding a series of strategic dialogues on priority foreign policy issues over the coming year, including on the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and Russia/Ukraine.

The Ministers noted Greece’s candidacy for the United Nations Security Council 2025/26 and agreed on further enhancement of the already excellent cooperation in the UN. The Minister for Europe looked forward to working with Greece on the Council, should they be successful. They also welcomed the idea of pursuing ways of extending cooperation in different International Organizations and Fora.

The Ministers acknowledged the close cooperation between Greek and UK officials during the wildfires in Greece this summer, with the Minister for Europe reiterating his thanks to the Greek Government and the Greek people for their critical role in getting British Nationals to safety.

Defence and security

As long-standing NATO allies and partners, both Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to continue to work towards strengthened defence cooperation.

The UK and Greece signed the Joint Vision Statement (JVS) in February 2023 which has proven a useful vehicle to increase and deepen our defence and defence industry partnership. The Ministers looked forward to further deepening and enhancing cooperation between the defence industries and the defence ecosystems of Greece and UK.

The signing of the JVS was the first UK-Greece Ministerial engagement of the year and was followed by three significant Ministerial meetings on defence cooperation that took place throughout the year.

The Ministers welcomed the substantial advancements on interoperability between UK and Greek Armed Forces in part delivered by the completion of exercises and training courses in both UK and Greece. They welcomed plans to hold further exercises and training courses.

The Ministers looked forward to the implementation of the Defence Roadmap, which is scheduled to be signed in early 2024. Building on the JVS, the Roadmap sets out further proposals for enhancing Bilateral Defence Cooperation between Greece and UK.

They also looked forward to progress on Government-to-Government proposals for cooperation regarding defence assets.

Migration

The Ministers noted the excellent operational cooperation and exchange of best practice between the Home Office and the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, on disrupting organised immigration crime, and exchanging best practice on asylum processing, including returns of failed asylum seekers.

During the visit of the then Home Secretary to Greece in November 2023, both sides identified areas where cooperation could be further strengthened. The Ministers agreed to hold a Strategic Migration Dialogue as stipulated in the Joint Action Plan of 2020.

Law enforcement, serious organised crime and terrorism

The Ministers reiterated that cooperation in these areas is a central pillar of our bilateral relations.  They commended the ongoing excellent operational and capacity building activity on countering Serious Organised Crime, notably on organised immigration crime, tobacco fraud, and illicit finance, and on countering the threat from Terrorism.  They also highlighted both sides’ collaboration on tackling issues of gender-based violence.  It was agreed that in 2024 both sides should further develop cooperation in these areas and on wider issues of public order, notably on usage of CCTV, police reform and sports-related violence.

Maritime affairs

As representatives of historic maritime nations, the Ministers welcomed the deepening of discussions and cooperation over the previous year. Looking ahead, they welcomed the signature in early 2024 of a Memorandum of Understanding on the recognition of seafarers’ certificates in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation and Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Convention, as well as working towards a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on broader maritime affairs, including decarbonisation, green shipping and naval education and training. The Ministers committed to further cooperation and expertise-sharing on achieving the reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions as set out in the IMO’s 2023 strategy, and welcomed the opportunity to continue multilateral cooperation as newly-returned IMO Council Members following the 2023 elections.

Education, culture, science and innovation

The Ministers recognised the vital role that education and culture play in fostering the deep people to people ties that underpin our bilateral relationship and present valuable opportunities for our shared prosperity and development. The Ministers welcomed the nine agreements reached last year between UK and Greek Higher Education Institutions under our Strategic Partnership for Education and agreed to further build on this cooperation in the year ahead. They looked forward to the signature of a related MOU between Study In Greece, the British Council and the British Embassy, to further enhance these relations. The Ministers also committed to initiating discussions with a view to agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), encompassing wider aspects of our education cooperation.

The Ministers welcomed successful efforts to facilitate partnerships between UK and Greek stakeholders across the technology sector, including the particular focus on science parks and innovation centres. Work will also continue to promote closer collaboration in research and innovation.

Tourism

The Ministers recognised the shared importance of tourism to both countries’ Soft Power, economies, and people to people relations. They again welcomed the high number of UK visitors to Greece, with the UK again the highest sending country. The Ministers looked forward to signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism to further enhance cooperation, particularly around diversification and sustainability, professional training and education, and Destination Management.

Climate and energy security

The Ministers underscored the valuable and timely discussions on energy security and climate change which took place between Ministers, business leaders and academics at the 7th Greek-British Symposium in London in October 2023. They welcomed plans for a strategic dialogue between officials on energy security, as well as the opportunity to deepen cooperation and expertise-sharing around climate resilience and civil protection, also in view of Our Ocean’s Conference, scheduled to be held in Greece in April 2024.

Trade and investment

The Ministers welcomed the increase in bilateral trade between the UK and Greece, valued at £10.7 billion in 2023. Both Ministers committed to supporting further efforts to promote trade and investment opportunities between the UK and Greece, with a particular focus on priority sectors including clean energy, life sciences, healthcare, real-estate, agri-food industry, technology and digital, defence, and transnational education. In this regard, the UK and Greece are keen to engage further in the cooperation between the UK Export Finance (UKEF) and eligible Greek companies, as well as in supporting the institutionalization of a bilateral investment forum in London and Athens in turn.

London, 30 January 2024

Leo Docherty MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Alexandra Papadopoulou, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic