ELIAMEP is an independent, non-profit and policy-oriented research and training institute. ELIAMEP neither expresses, nor represents, any specific political party view. It is only devoted to the right of free and well-documented discourse.
ELIAMEP can trace its origins to informal meetings in the mid-1980s among academics, diplomats, military officials and journalists. That group's goal was to introduce an independent and scholarly approach to policy options regarding European integration, transatlantic relations as well as the Mediterranean, South-eastern Europe, the Black Sea and other regions of particular interest to Greece. In April 1988 these meetings were institutionalized and became the Hellenic Foundation for Defence and Foreign Policy (Greek acronym, ELIAMEP).
Since its official establishment, ELIAMEP has experienced significant growth and has attracted the attention of scholars, government officials and corporate entities in Greece and abroad. As developments in the wider region moved rapidly, the focus of the institute was enlarged to include more policy-relevant research projects assisting post-communist democracies in the creation of a civil society, providing training and networking services and acting as a contact point to public and private sector bodies on politico-economic and security matters, as well as on European affairs. This was reflected in the 1993 amendment of ELIAMEP's statutes to include a change of name (without abandoning its original acronym), which would illustrate the Foundation’s wider scope of concerns and activities: Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy. The message is clear: in the context of the EU and shared sovereignties, a distinction needs to be drawn between European policy and traditional foreign policy.
Over the years, ELIAMEP expanded its activities with a view to having a greater impact on the public through the dissemination of information and of policy proposals, the organisation of training and conflict management seminars and international conferences, the publication of books, journals and monographs. ELIAMEP is frequently visited by journalists from various parts of the world requesting the Foundation’s help for information, analysis and interviews. It is now generally recognised as one of the leading think-tanks in the region.
Objectives:
Addressing challenges in interesting times
The challenges of the 21st century require ELIAMEP to reaffirm its commitment to achieving the goals and objectives that have guided it since its founding: 
- to research topics pertaining to European foreign and security policies in the wider Southeast European, Black Sea and Mediterranean regions, as well as issues related to international politics, transatlantic relations, security and economics in order to contribute to and influence public debate 
- to provide decision-makers, both in the public and private sectors in Greece and abroad, with authoritative and independent information, analysis and proposals for action 
- to train professionals (civil servants, politicians, journalists and academics, among others) in a variety of areas such as conflict prevention, management and resolution skills, European integration, the monitoring of democratic elections and civil society building, the role of the media in civil societies, and the creation of international networks of leaders committed to working together to enhance cooperation and good governance in Europe and the Mediterranean region 
- to raise the level of the domestic research community and to raise public awareness about foreign policy and international affairs