Costas Simitis, who served as Greece’s Prime Minister for two consecutive terms, is remembered as a European visionary and a leader whose tenure marked a transformative era for modern Greece.
From 1996 to 2004, Mr. Simitis led the country through a period of profound change, steering Greece into the core of the European Union, overseeing the adoption of the euro, and securing Cyprus’s accession to the EU.
Born in Piraeus on June 23, 1936, Mr. Simitis studied law and economics in Germany and the United Kingdom, where he also met his wife, Daphne Simitis, née Arkadiou.
The couple has two daughters, Fiona and Marilena. Mr. Simitis’s political career began during Greece’s dictatorship (1967-1974), when he became an active member of the resistance. In 1970, while in Germany, he joined the Panhellenic Liberation Movement (PAK).
After the fall of the junta, he became one of the founding members of Pasok in 1974, contributing significantly to the formulation of the "Declaration of the 3rd of September."
On January 18, 1996, Mr. Simitis succeeded Andreas Papandreou as Prime Minister following a parliamentary vote by Pasok’s parliamentary group.
Later that year, he was elected President of Pasok at the party’s fourth congress, defeating Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
He was re-elected as Pasok’s leader at the fifth and sixth party congresses in 1999 and 2001, respectively. In the national elections of April 2000, Mr. Simitis secured a second term as Prime Minister, bolstered by increased support for Pasok.
On January 7, 2004, he announced his resignation as Pasok leader, aiming to ensure a smooth political transition, while continuing to serve as Prime Minister until the end of his term in March 2004.
Mr. Simitis’s premiership is widely recognized for pivotal achievements that reshaped Greece’s trajectory. His leadership saw Greece’s entry into the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 2001 and the subsequent introduction of the euro in 2002. Equally significant was his role in Cyprus’s accession to the EU in 2004. The historic signing of the Accession Treaty at the Stoa of Attalos in Athens on April 16, 2003, marked a triumph of national strategy, despite years of skepticism and external pressure.
During Greece’s presidency of the European Union in 2003, Mr. Simitis skillfully navigated the geopolitical tensions following the U.S.-led intervention in Iraq, fostering a unified EU stance. The period also saw the adoption of the Thessaloniki Agenda, advancing the European integration of the Western Balkans.
Domestically, Mr. Simitis oversaw major infrastructure projects that transformed Greece’s landscape. These included the construction of the Athens Metro, the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, the Egnatia Motorway, and the "Eleftherios Venizelos" International Airport.
Under his administration, preparations for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games advanced significantly, while new hospitals and social initiatives such as the Citizen Service Centers (KEP) and the "Help at Home" program were introduced.
Mr. Simitis consistently emphasized modernization and reform, seeking to stabilize and grow the Greek economy while strengthening the nation’s position within Europe and on the global stage.
His efforts have left an enduring legacy, defining a critical chapter in Greece’s modern history.
As Greece reflects on Mr. Simitis’s tenure, his vision for a European Greece and his role in pivotal national milestones remain central to his lasting impact on the country.