Mariana Symeonidi (Greece)

Mariana holds an MSc in European Politics and Governance from Neapolis University Paphos and a BA in English Language and Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her research focuses on EU foreign policy, strategic alliances, and energy security, with her postgraduate thesis examining the impact of Turkish foreign policy on the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electricity interconnector project. She currently contributes to Geopolitico.gr as a Research Writer, analyzing geopolitical developments in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. She also serves as a Researcher at the NUP Human Rights Observatory, where she supports legal research on European and Cypriot human rights cases. She has completed a research internship at the European Institute for International Relations and participated in several international webinars and trainings, including «The NEXT Young Global Leaders Camp» in Riga. Mariana's research interests also include conflict dynamics and democratic legitimacy. She is fluent in Greek and English and is expanding her technical skillset through GIS training.

Research Associates

Georgios Koukakis

Georgios has graduated from the Hellenic Military Academy and  holds a Master of Arts in "Government, Development and Security in the Mediterranean" from the department of Mediterranean Studies of the University of the Aegean. His Master thesis focused on the Hellenic National Security Council. He is currently a member of the Hellenic Institute of Strategic Studies (HEL.I.S.S.), a member of the global network of Greeks and friends of Greece for solidarity in the professional field (ALLILONnet) and an Analyst in the Center for International Strategic Analyses (KEDISA). During his military career, Georgios has served in Kosovo (KFOR) and in Cyprus Republic. He has attended several seminars and conferences regarding international relations and more specifically in the field of Defense and Security. His research interests focus national security, foreign policy, national defense, strategy, energy security and international law (UNCLOS). He speaks excellent English, Greek (native language), Turkish (elementary level) and Italian (elementary level).