On 24 September 2026, the research seminar EU Politics in Times of Disasters: Climate, Energy, Environment was held at the History Museum of the University of Athens.

The seminar was organized by Αsst. Prof. (under appointment) George Dikaios, in the framework of his Marie Curie Fellowship, ‘Climatization of EU Policies: The Case of Maritime Transport’ (funded by the European Union), which is hosted at the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University in the Netherlands. The event was organized in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair for Climate Diplomacy of the University of Athens.

The seminar was attended by seven members of the academic community of Leiden University (professors Karolina Pomorska, Adina Akbik, Stefan Cetkovic and Christina Toenshoff; Marie Curie Fellows George Dikaios and Patricia Rinaldi; PhD(c) Nika Kratsashvili); four members of the academic community of the University of Athens (professors Emmanouella Doussis, Antonia Zervaki; PhD(c) Rania Papadopoulou and researcher Marianna Terezaki); professor of the Athens University of Economics and Business, Spyros Blavoukos; European Commission officials, Elisabeth Lipiatou (ret.-DG CONNECT) and Giannis Skiadaresis (DG HOME), and the expert of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Othon Kaminiaris.

The seminar analyzed issues of implementation of climate, energy and environmental policies, the constraints they face, and possible solutions that could enhance their effectiveness, as well as the role of diplomacy in their better coordination. In addition, discussions were held with experts on practical issues of climate and ocean policy, as well as disaster management. Finally, a parallel objective of the seminar was to develop relations between professors/researchers of the two Universities and to explore opportunities for cooperation.