Greece and Cyprus have launched an ambitious 2023 2027 Education Cooperation Program following broad parliamentary approval on 14 January. The initiative was highlighted in Parliament by Greek Minister of Education Religion and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, who underscored its strategic value for both countries.
The updated program revises and complements the 1993 memorandum by addressing current educational demands such as digital transformation, knowledge internationalization and evolving school community needs. New priorities introduce collaborations that include the exchange of educational material, joint curriculum work and unified approaches to school related issues.
Bilateral efforts also place significant weight on strengthening environmental and sustainability education. Enhanced commitment to Greek language instruction and Cypriot history further expands the shared cultural foundation that both nations seek to reinforce.
Preventing school violence and delinquency forms another major pillar of the cooperation framework. Cross border action is deemed essential for tackling what officials view as a complex social issue that requires coordinated national responses.
A joint education conference will be hosted in Athens in 2026, adding an institutional platform for continued dialogue and cooperation. Additional collaboration emerges through the Erasmus+ framework, supported by a new memorandum connecting the Cypriot Foundation for the Management of European Programs with the Greek State Scholarships Foundation.
Commemorations marking 70 years since the EOKA struggle will take place for the first time in Greek schools on 1 April, adding symbolic weight to the broader partnership in education and culture. Establishment of a branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Cyprus signals another step in academic integration, while a second Greek university has expressed further interest.
Movement in the opposite direction also appears, as a non state non profit Cypriot university began operating in Greece this year. Interest from another similar institution suggests growing bilateral momentum in higher education.
The cooperation program ultimately aims to support students, teachers and universities on both sides, reinforcing education as a mechanism for development and cohesion. The forthcoming national dialogue on education will also examine responsibilities participation and proposals spanning from kindergarten to the national high school diploma.
