15th January 2014 Athens, Greece
How can defence possibly be interesting? For me it can be if it’s about people – the people behind events, their roles and lives. How they think. What they think and what inspires them. What they do and how they work with others. I’ve never been a great fan of Doctor Who. But I like […]
31st December 2013 Athens, Greece
On the banks of the magnificent Rhine, in my room on the sixth floor of the Hyatt Hotel, I’m watching the comings and goings of the container boats that ply their trade between the industrialised cities of the Rhineland. From above it’s as if they’re gliding effortlessly, bearing their cargo without sound, without propulsion. The […]
22nd November 2013 Athens, Greece
On New Year’s Day 2014, Greece will pick up the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, and run with it for six months. The last time Greece presided was 2003. That Presidency broke new ground: it created a new vision and new prospects for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, and, at the same […]
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16th October 2013 Athens, Greece
When they appointed me ambassador, I knew almost nothing about the maritime world – whether naval or mercantile. Sure, I had grown up near one of the most important ports in England and had gone to school there. In the 19th century, the fleet of Hull was principally occupied with whaling. In the 20th century, […]
17th September 2013 Athens, Greece
When I was 19 I tried for the first time to gain a permit to enter the Holy Mountain. I am an Anglican and a believer, and have long been interested in monasticism and Orthodox spirituality. In 1987, my application was unsuccessful and I rather lost heart; I have waited over 25 years to fill […]
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2nd August 2013 Athens, Greece
I’m preparing for my holidays. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not actually doing any practical preparations. I always plan early, but pack very late. I know where we’re going and have been thinking fondly about our various destinations for some weeks now. But after booking tickets and rooms, I have done nothing except think and […]
5th July 2013 Athens, Greece
At Lough Erne in Northern Ireland recently, leaders of the G8 discussed some of the fundamental questions facing our societies and economies. They came up with a short list of practical steps to take. Those steps are set out in a remarkably short and punchy declaration, which you can find here. Representing half of the […]
20th June 2013 Athens, Greece
Rania Kossiori, VC Rhodes, blogs about her shadowing trip to EUMed department and the Minister of Europe’s private office. I have been working as Vice Consul in Rhodes for the last 8 years. During this time, a lot of changes have taken place in the way that we provide assistance to British nationals overseas […]
1st February 2013 Athens, Greece
In many of the countries I have worked around the world there has been an active Caledonian or St Andrew’s Society, run by those with full or sometimes tenuous Scottish heritage, but enjoyed by people of many nationalities. One of the highlights of my year whilst working abroad has been the annual St Andrew’s Day Ball, […]
20th December 2012 Athens, Greece
Despite the economic crisis, Greece remains an important market for British goods and services. Greece is the UK’s 39th largest export market and in 2011 bilateral trade in goods was worth £ 1.77 bn. Although the value of UK exports of goods to Greece dropped, as a result of the continuing five year recession, Greece […]
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