The Greek Path to Democracy
The next FREI international event takes place in Athens on 29 and 30 October 2026. It brings together young participants, students, researchers and stakeholders from across Europe to explore the Greek path to democracy.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The event reflects on the relationship between historical memory, political stigma and the legacy that the Civil War and the Dictatorship have left in Greece. It also looks at contemporary challenges facing democracy in Europe. Through first-hand accounts from key figures, presentations, expert discussions and visits to iconic sites of memory and museums, participants will explore how historical knowledge and civic empowerment can contribute to building a society free from discrimination and racism, and to a stable democracy.
Participants will develop a critical perspective on the past, strengthen their historical thinking and understanding, and connect history with the present, fostering a historical and democratic consciousness.
ORGANISERS AND PARTNERS
The two-day event is organised by European Expression (Evropaiki Ekfrasi). It is held in collaboration with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Athens (Day 1), Europa Experience (Day 2), the War Museum of Athens, the Museum of the EAM Resistance, the Municipality of Kaisariani and the Korai 4 historic site of memory. The FREI project partners also take part:
Foster Europe Foundation for Strong European Regions (Austria)
Consiglio Italiano del Movimento Europeo (Italy)
Fundação Mário Soares e Maria Barroso (Portugal) and
Liga Scriitorilor Timișoara (Romania).
The event is part of FREI – From Resistance to European Integration, a project funded by the European Union's CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme.
PROGRAMME:
DAY 1 – THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2026
Morning Venue: European Parliament Liaison Office in Athens
09:30–10:00 Registration
10:00–10:20 Institutional Welcome
Nikos Giannis, Founder of Evropaiki Ekfrasi
Stefan August Lütgenau, Foster Europe, FREI
10:20–10:50 "Still" Remains…? Memories of Prison under the Dictatorship
Nikolaos Manios, Doctor, Politician, Resistance Fighter, formerly exiled to the islands, General Secretary of the Association of Imprisoned and Exiled Resistance Fighters
10:50–11:10 Learning Democracy through Inclusion: Refugee Children and Europe's Test of Values
Gelly Aroni, PhD, Head of Directorate for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, Ministry of Migration and Asylum
11:10–11:30 Coffee Break
11:30–12:00 Art Meets Democracy: The Dark Heritage of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp
Panagiotis Kountouras, Director of the poetic documentary "Mauthausen", Filmmaker, Author, TV & Theatre Director
12:00–12:30 Chasing Light: Art, a Step towards Resistance and Freedom
Aristarchos Papadaniel, Author and Producer of the poetic documentary "Mauthausen", Comics Artist, Animator, Illustrator, Author, Musician, Director
12:30–13:30 Light Lunch
13:30–14:30 Overcoming the Past: The European Union as a Factor of Social, Economic and Political Stabilisation in the Face of Racism and Xenophobia, Emerging Fascism and Intolerance
Foster Europe (Austria)
CIME (Italy)
FMS (Portugal)
LSFTB (Romania)
Afternoon venue: War Museum of Athens / Altar of Freedom
14:30–15:30 Guided Visit to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and the Gestapo Headquarters in Athens
15:30–16:00 Transfer to the War Museum
16:00–17:00 Guided Visit to the Exhibition
17:00–17:30 Coffee Break
17:30–18:00 Walk to the Altar of Freedom, Kaisariani Shooting Range Park
18:00–19:00 Visit to the Museum Exhibition and Symbolic Commemorative Action at the Altar of Freedom In honour of the executed
19:00–19:30 Project Interviews and Partner Reflections, "Balloon Wishlist" Short interviews with one representative from each partner organisation
DAY 2 – FRIDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2026
Morning venue: Europa Experience / Korai 4
09:00–09:15 Registration at Europa Experience and Institutional Welcome
09:15–10:15 A Storytelling Circle: A "Tuning" Table into Each Other
Nesma Alnakhala, Lawyer, Mentor, Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Unaccompanied Minors, INOI shelter
10:15–10:30 Coffee Break
10:30–11:30 Role Play Workshop. Participatory Workshop: Become a Member of the European Parliament
11:30–12:00 Coffee Break and Light Lunch + Steering Group Meeting of the Project Partners
12:00–13:00 Guided Visit to Korai 4, Memorial Site 1941–1944
13:00 End of Programme
The conference is organised within the FREI – From Resistance to European Integration project, a two years project funded by the CERV - Citizens Equality Rights and Values programme of the European Union. The project highlights the facts that democracy was established in fierce struggles and against resistance in each of the countries and that European integration fostered and developed wealth, peaceful, free, liberal democracies. It analyses the pan European efforts to develop our representative democracy further, to find new ways of inclusion and participation (Conference on the Future of Europe) and highlight the fact that the integrated Europe created wealth. The project addresses the shared but highly divers history of totalitarian regimes in five EU Member States, the shared but again diverse process of overcoming totalitarian rule, democratic transition and the individual processes of joining the European Union. The project addresses a mixed target group with a focus on the younger generation (students 18-29) as they will be decisive for the future of our democracies and the European project of Integration. Finally, in the international events (final conference in Strassbourg) and by digital communication (digital exhibition space), the project will reach a wider European public interested in the issue or related to citizens education.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.