The “ARGO AWARDS”, aimed at promoting Greece’s extroversion, creativity, cosmopolitanism and open horizons, is established this year by the Brussels-based “ARGO – European Union GREEK NETWORK”.

According to a relevant announcement, the “ARGO AWARDS” will be awarded every year, starting in 2019, to distinguished Greeks from abroad, who will be invited to Athens for a special event in their honour.

The “ARGO AWARDS” cover various sectors and activities and are articulated as follows:

– Science Prize

– Culture and Arts Prize

– Entrepreneurship Award

– Innovation Award

– Public Service Award

– International Organisations Executive Award

– Sport Award

– Gastronomy Award

The eight awardees, each year, will be selected by a special EVALUATION COMMITTEE, chaired by Mrs. Helen Arveler, Historian, and their members:

Marianna B. Vardinoyannis, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Panagiotis Giannakis, basketball coach, Nikiforos Diamantouros, Academic, former European Ombudsman, Christos Zerefos, Academic, Supervisor of the Centre for the Study of Atmospheric Physics and Climatology of the Academy of Athens, Stavros Benos, Founder of the NGO “DIAZOMA”, Michalis Bletsas, Researcher/Director of Informatics at MIT Media Lab, Dimitris Papalexopoulos, Entrepreneur, Spyros Pappas, Lawyer, President of the International Association “ARGO – GREEK FIRE NETWORK”, Athanasios Savvakis, Entrepreneur, Vassilis Skouris, Honorary Director of the MIT Media Lab. Professor of Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, former President of the I.E.E.E.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 15 October 2018. The EVALUATION COMMITTEE, chaired by Ms. Helen Arveler, met on 12 June 2018, in Athens, welcomed the initiative for the establishment of the “ARGO AWARDS” and decided that the first awards to eight Greeks who have distinguished themselves abroad will be presented at a special event in their honour in 2019, in Athens.

The Chair of the EVALUATION COMMITTEE, Ms. Helen Arveler said: “The world belongs to the excellent. We are rewarding the best of our Greek selves.”

Regarding the idea of creating the ARGO AWARDS, Mr. Spyros Pappas, President of “ARGO – GREEK BRIDGE NETWORK”, said: “The distance that separates Greeks abroad from Greece is inversely proportional to their meaning and their love for the land and culture of their origin. By establishing the institution of recognition of those Greeks who have distinguished themselves outside Greece in various fields, the aim is to remind them of their presence and availability at home, to set an example to other Greeks, wherever they are, and to acknowledge their contribution to the concept of Greekness.”

ARGO – GREEK BRUSSELS NETWORK is the Network of Greeks abroad who are active in the private sector with a focus on Brussels (freelancers: lawyers, doctors, engineers, economists, as well as business executives and entrepreneurs). The aim of this International Association is networking between members and cooperation, as well as joint reflection on current national issues, within the framework of the European Union, possibly drawing conclusions and making proposals when and where the common expertise of the members could serve the common good. Thanks to the Network’s prestige, Argo quickly attracted Greek officials working in the European Institutions, who now participate in its activities in a spirit of friendship. Similar similar Associations in key locations around the world are being established for the optimal communication and coordination of the Network of Greeks Abroad.