On Tuesday, 21 October 2025, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, along with the Department of Economics at the School of Economics and Political Sciences, honoured Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece and Professor Emeritus of the University of Athens. The event included the presentation of an honorary volume entitled ‘Studies in Honour of Professor Yannis Stournaras’.
The occasion was graced by the presence of His Excellency, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos An. Tasoulas.
In attendance at the ceremony were, among others: the former Prime Minister and Professor Emeritus of the University of Athens, Lucas Papademos; the former Prime Minister and doctor honoris causa of the University of Athens, Panagiotis Pikrammenos; the Deputy Prime Minister and graduate of the University of Athens, Kostis Hatzidakis; the Minister of Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis; the Minister of Health and graduate of the University of Athens, Adonis Georgiadis; the Minister of the Environment and Energy and graduate of the University of Athens, Stavros Papastavrou; the Minister of Development and graduate of the University of Athens, Takis Theodorikakos; the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Niki Kerameus; the Minister of Justice, Georgios Floridis; Deputy Ministers and Secretaries General of the Government; the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament; Members of Parliament; the former Vice-President of the Government, Professor Evaggelos Venizelos; the President of the Council of State; the President of the Court of Audit; representatives of the Supreme Courts, the Armed, and the Security Forces; the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic; Rectors and former Rectors of Greek Universities; Members of the Academy of Athens; Chairpersons, Chief Executives, and members of the Banking Community; representatives of the Business and Shipping Sector; members of the Administration Council, Vice-Rectors, members of the Senate, Deans, and Chairs at the University of Athens; Emeritus Professors; representatives of political parties; and the representative of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.
Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the University of Athens, delivered the opening remarks, followed by a welcome address from the Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences, Professor Nikolaos Eriotis.
Professor Stelios Kotsios, in his capacity as former Chair, spoke about the honouree’s contributions to the Department of Economics, while Evangelia Papapetrou outlined his academic and broader work. Shortly afterwards, the incumbent Chair of the Department of Economics, Professor Georgios Dotsis, presented the honorary volume.
Professor Gerasimos Siasos, the Rector of the University of Athens, was the one to confer the volume on the honouree.
The event concluded with a speech by Yannis Stournaras on the international economic environment and the challenges of the Greek economy.
The event, attended by numerous members of the academic community, officials from various Institutions, and the honouree’s colleagues, emphasized the University of Athens’ steadfast commitment to recognizing excellence and its contributions to economic theory and practice. Yannis Stournaras, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Economics at the University of Athens, has held many distinguished positions, including Governor of the Bank of Greece and a Member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. His long-standing engagement in academic research, economic policy-making, and public administration formed the foundation for the decision to award him the honorary volume.
In his opening remarks, the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, stated: ‘Today’s ceremony honours a scholar whose impact has been profound, both at the University and on the public life of our country. Yannis Stournaras, a graduate of the University of Athens, joined the academic staff of the Department of Economics in 1989, initially as an Assistant Professor. In 1994, he was promoted to Associate Professor, and in 2001, to full professorship, a position he held until his retirement in August 2024. Throughout his career, he developed a rich teaching portfolio at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, offering modules on Macroeconomic Theory, Theory of Economic Policy, and International Macroeconomics, while also supervising numerous doctoral students. With his extensive body of work, marked by academic excellence, profound scientific knowledge, and international recognition, he made significant contributions to the development of key areas within economic theory, including applied macroeconomics, the theory of optimal taxation, the dynamics of public debt, and monetary policy. His publications in prestigious international journals stand as evidence of his scientific reach and the global renown he has earned.
Yannis Stournaras seamlessly blends his academic career with his practical experience in economic and monetary policy, as well as the restructuring of the banking sector, having successfully held top leadership positions. The honouree rose to the highest level of academic acclaim as a Full Professor in the Department of Economics before taking on the role of Minister of Finance, the highest political office in the Greek economy. Today, he serves as Governor of the Bank of Greece and as a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. His involvement in tackling the economic crisis in Greece was pivotal. His steadfast consistency, strong determination, and exceptional effectiveness in addressing critical economic challenges were crucial in stabilizing the Greek economy and restoring the country’s credibility in international markets’.
Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis
