Logo & Campaign

Τhe Logo of the Greek Presidency

“Europe, Our Common Quest”

Each country holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union selects its own presidency logo, which serves as an integral visual symbol for the Presidency: a defining feature of each Presidency’s identity and a statement conveying its message to Europe and the world. The logo and the associated graphic design work feature in the Presidency’s publications and online presence, in decorations in the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels and in venues that host official presidency events.  

The Greek Presidency logo is austere and concise, extending a note of realistic optimism. It depicts a sailboat in full sail, formed by the initials of the European Union. It aspires to unite common European values and Greece’s unique identity, the beginning of the continent’s union and its future course, the solid principles that formed our past with our common aspirations for the future.    

The symbolic background of the logo is the sea: a fundamental element of Greek identity, but also a pivotal component of Europe’s past and future. The sea has historically united people and is nowadays a generator of growth and jobs across Europe thus, forming a horizontal thematic running through the Greek Presidency’s priorities. Against this background, the individual motifs forming the logo illustrate the Greek land’s indented terrain and coastline while, the “semicircle” represents the Parliament and the ancient theatre, cradles of Europe’s democratic traditions, institutional equality and our common cultural heritage.

The sailboat is at the forefront of the logo’s narrative power: a symbol of exploration and transition, but also of communication and unity. As such, it aspires to relay our decision to sail together towards a common future overcoming hardships and storms.

The journey is the symbolic essence of the logo’s narration: a shared course of democracy and participation, a common quest for prosperity through growth and employment, a vessel of mobility and security for the future. These ideals forged our past and are now the common inspiration that leads our course. This is the Greek Presidency’s message to Europe and to the world: Europe is our common quest and journey – united we sail further.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned the Greek creative design group Beetroot to design the logo and the associated visual identity which were unveiled on 25 November 2013.