ATHENS – European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel are visiting Greece on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in order to participate in the Olympic Flame Lighting and have contacts with the Greek government.

At 14:45, Gabriel will meet with Education and Religious Affairs Niki Kerameus. At 16:00, the Commissioner will be received by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion. Afterwards, the Commissioner will meet Deputy Development and Investment Minister Christos Dimas, responsible for Research and Technology, at his office – at 17:15 – and with the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni at the ministry at 18:15.

Schinas will attend the signing ceremony of the Olympic Truce Declaration at 10:00 at the Arty Grand Hotel. The vice president will then attend the ceremony for the presentation of the Olympic Gold Medal to the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos at the Olympia Archaeological Museum, at 10:40, by the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach.

Schinas and Gabriel will attend the Olympic Flame Lighting ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and participate in the Olympic Torch Relay.

The Vice-President of the Commission will then meet with Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis to discuss the impact of the coronavirus on tourism and the economy in general. The Vice President of the European Commission will brief him on the decisions of the Council and then have a meeting with the Mayor of Ancient Olympia.