User:Aperioriston/sandbox/ARGO-Brussels Hellenic Network

22:11, 1 November 2020 (UTC)Aperioriston (talk)

'New article name goes hereARGO-Brussels Hellenic Network' new article content "History and purpose: International Organisation (association Internationale sans but lucrative) with its seat in Brussels. It was set up by Royal Decree of 12 March 2017 on the proposal of its statutory President Spyros A. Pappas, an international lawyer and former Director General of the European Commission, Professor of European law and Director General of the European Institute of Public Administration (Maastricht), Secretary General of the National Centre of Pubic Administration in Athens and Judge in the Hellenic Supreme Administrative Court. ARGO started in 2014 as an association of facts at the initiative of Andreas Yannopoulos. Its original purpose was to create a platform of solidarity and support network for Greeks who worked in the private sector in Brussels, whether in companies, associations or NGOs, as well as to cultivate and disseminate a positive message about Greece and to foster and build relationships and partnerships with similar or related organisations in Brussels and abroad. It quickly acquired notoriety and visibility thanks to the quality of the activities it organised and the high level of the keynote speakers it invited. As a result it opened its doors to the public sector, namely to those who work in the European Institutions and later on to all those the work of whom is related to the European Union and its functioning. In this way it offered the forum for a dialogue between the private and pubic sectors. At the same time the notion of “Greeks” begun to mean those who have adopted the European way of life and believe in the fundamental values of the EU that are based on the Greek and Roman legacies. The objective of Argo is to contribute to the deepening and consolidation of European integration in which Greece would play a constructive and pioneering role. Among its emblematic projects distinguishes the annual award of Prizes to Greeks outside Greece who have excelled in the sectors of entrepreneurship, science, innovation, civilisation, humanitarian aid, contribution to the public causes, athleticism and gastronomy. With these awards Argo aims at promoting the excellence by making known to the large public the awardees, rewarding their efforts and capitalising on their expertise, while offering their examples to the young generation. The ARGO AWARDS take place in Athens annually under the aegis of the President of the Republic.

First Awards Committee: -Ahrweiler Eleni, Historian, President of the Awards’ Committee

-Benos Stavros, Founder of the NGO “DIAZOMA”, former Culture Minister

-Bletsas Michael, Research scientist and the Director of Computing at the MIT Media Lab.

-Diamandouros Nikiforos, Member of the National Academy, former European Ombudsman

-Iliopoulou Annie, Publisher of Athinorama

-Giannakis Panagiotis, Basketball Coach

-Papalexopoulos Dimitris, Entrepreneur, CEO TITAN International S.A.

-Pappas Spyros, Attorney at law, President of the International Association ARGO-Brussels Hellenic Network

-Savvaki Athanassio, Entrepreneur, President of Federation of Industries of Northern Greece

-Skouris Vassilios, peer Professor of Aristotle University, former President of the Court of Justice of the European Union

- Vardinogianni Marianna, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

-Zerefos Christos, Member of the National Academy, Supervisor of the Atmospheric Physics and Climatology Research Center of the Academy of Athens

2019 Awardees: Mary Katrantzou, Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur, UK; Athena Kousthenis, Director of Research in the National Centre for Scientific Research of France; Maria Themeli, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor at VUmc Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands; Yorgos Lanthimos, film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter, UK; Afksediyos Kalangos, Cardio-vascular Surgeon- Director of Dept. Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiac Surgery, SW; Andromache Karakatsanis, Member of the Supreme Court of Canada; Katerina Stefanidi, Gold medal pole vaulter at 2016 Olympic Games, USA; Konstantin Filippou, Chef, 2 Michelin stars, Vienna, o Boufés, Austria.

2020 Awardees: Albert Bourla, CEO Pfizer, USA; Eleftheria Zeggini, Director of the Institute of Translational Genomics in Helmholtz Zentrum München in Neuherberg, Germany; Michael Tzannes, Technology entrepreneur, Boston, USA; Teodor Kourrentzis, conductor, musician and actor, Russia; George Velmachos, Division Chief of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care John F. Burke Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, USA; Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos, President of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France; Giannis Antetocounmpo, Basketball player, USA; Asimakis Chaniotis, Chef, 2 Michelin stars, Pied à Terre, London, UK.