The topic of reparations by Germany for World War II continues to be a live issue in Greece, described by Artur Lompart, the Polish ambassador to Athens, as a field for ongoing cooperation between Poland and Greece. He spoke in an interview with PAP, highlighting that the dispute remains an active matter in bilateral talks.
Greece and reparations from Germany
Recent high‑level discussions led by Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk in Greece demonstrated a shared interest in expanding collaboration with Poland on the reparations question.
Lompart affirmed that the Polish‑Greek talks will naturally persist, underscoring a mutual willingness to explore legal and political avenues tied to compensation from Germany.
In mid‑June, the Polish Embassy in Athens, in collaboration with Greek partners and the European Organization of Public Law, organized an international conference focused on the legal aspects of pursuing reparations from Germany.
READ ALSO: European consultations on war reparations. Mularczyk: The Greeks are an inspiration to us in our efforts to obtain reparations
READ ALSO: Greece demands 289 billion euros from Germany as reparations for WWII. “There is a burden from the past that will not go away through unilateral actions”
Support for Ukraine
Greece has backed Ukraine since the outset of the Russian invasion, partly because direct hostilities affected areas with large Ukrainian populations. The Polish ambassador in Athens noted this historical pattern and the shared belief that every state has the right to determine its future while respecting territorial integrity.
Greece has taken in more than 100,000 refugees, primarily Ukrainian nationals arriving through Romania and Bulgaria. The Greek government has supported Ukraine politically and diplomatically, aligning with EU and NATO frameworks, though it has not supplied heavy military equipment at this stage. The ambassador stressed that Greek assistance will continue as part of broader European efforts.
According to the Polish diplomat, Greek support for Ukraine is expected to endure despite differences in approach compared to Poland’s own contributions.
Invitation to the Three Seas Initiative
In regional cooperation terms, the diplomat recalled that Greece was invited to join the Three Seas Initiative during its early formation. The previous Syriza government declined entry due to the crisis, but the current government under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has signaled interest in joint energy and infrastructure projects, particularly rail and road connections. The ambassador hopes Greece will be invited to the next summit in Bucharest this year, which would clarify Athens’ participation in the initiative.
Greece’s ports lie closest to the Suez Canal, which helps shorten supply chains linking Central Europe to the broader region, Lompart observed.
Additionally, Greece is evolving into an energy hub for the area. New links to Egypt or the Middle East could streamline energy supplies, including renewables, to Central Europe, he added.
A notable example of Greece’s growing role as a logistics hub is the port of Alexandroupolis. Goods passing through this hub can reach Warsaw within five days and Klaipėda in Lithuania within six days, the diplomat noted.
He emphasized that improvements in road and rail infrastructure will benefit Polish transport firms already active in Greece and could attract more Polish tourists.
Poland in Greece
The ambassador observed that the Polish community remains visible in Greece. Four Polish schools currently provide supplementary education, with another to open in Rhodes in September at the request of parents. About 30 children are expected to attend.
Statistics show that before the 2009 financial crisis, roughly 100,000 Poles lived in Poland. It was a byproduct of the 1990s economic boom and Greece’s preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games, Lopart explained. Polish workers actively contributed to building Olympic facilities and remain valued across Greece today.
During the crisis, many Poles left Greece or moved to other EU states. Recent data indicate around 14–16 thousand Poles still reside in Greece, working in various sectors and integrating well into Greek society while continuing to serve as ambassadors for Poland.
Another evolving trend is the emergence of a new category of residents, digital nomads, who live in Greece and work remotely with favorable tax arrangements, Lompart added.
With European Union mobility making Warsaw and Athens a quick two‑hour flight apart, relocating to Greece can feel like crossing a regional boundary rather than crossing international borders, the ambassador remarked.
Currently, Polish‑Greek trade turnover exceeds 2 billion euros, a robust figure that bodes well for future cooperation. Each year, more than a million Poles visit Greece for holidays, continuing even during the pandemic when tourism from many nations paused.
olk/PAP
Source: wPolityce