THE SECRETARY GENERAL
LA SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRALE
057 CIR 22 E
28 February 2022
TO SECRETARIES OF DELEGATION FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ALL MEMBERS
Dear Member,
I am profoundly saddened to inform you that NATO PA Vice-President Marietta Giannakou of Greece
passed away yesterday after a month-long struggle in intensive care to recover from a severe hematoma
caused by a fall.
Marietta was one of the most experienced and highly respected political figure in Greece. A medical
doctor by training, Marietta quickly became active in politics. She was a founding member of the youth
organisation of the New Democracy party and a member of its Executive Board. She rose quickly
through the ranks of the party to become member of its Executive Committee and Political Council and
Secretary for International Relations.
Marietta was elected to the European Parliament in 1984, serving three terms from 1984-1990, from
1999-2000 and again 2009-2014. She was Greece’s Minister of Health, Welfare and Social Security
from 1990-1991.
Marietta also served three terms in the Greek parliament from 1993-99, from 2000-2007 and again since
July 2019. In the Hellenic Parliament, she was a member of the Standing Committee on National
Defence and Foreign Affairs, the Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and
Justice, the Special Standing Committee on European Affairs and the Constitutional Revision
Committee.
Among her many achievements, Marietta represented the Hellenic Parliament on the Convention on the
Future of Europe. She was also National Coordinator of Greece in the EU for combating drugs and
chaired the European Parliament’s Inquiry Committee on the Drugs problem in the Member States.
Marietta Giannakou has been honoured by Chile, France, Germany, Italy and Poland for her work.
Marietta joined the NATO PA in September 2019 as Head of the Greek delegation and member of the
Political Committee and Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group, bringing both her vast European
experience and a profound sense of commitment to the transatlantic relationship. She was elected
Vice-President of the Assembly in November 2020. Marietta in fact hosted our online annual session in
2020 and was due to host the Standing Committee for its spring meeting in April 2022.
Besides her political insights and experience, her friends in the NATO PA will miss her courage, resolve
and kindness.
Our thoughts are with Marietta’s daughter Zoe, her sister, relatives and loved ones.
I will let you know as soon as possible where messages of condolence can be addressed.
Yours sincerely,
Ruxandra Popa
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT
· SECRÉTARIAT INTERNATIONAL
Place du Petit Sablon 3
B-1000 Brussels
T.
+32 2 504 81 55
E.
www.nato-pa.int