Overview

• Costas Simitis, who served as Greece's prime minister from 1996 to 2004, was honored with a state funeral attended by top officials and the public in Athens.
• Simitis is celebrated for his pivotal role in Greece's entry into the European Union's single currency in 2001 and Cyprus's EU accession in 2004.
• Under his leadership, Greece undertook major infrastructure projects, including preparations for the 2004 Athens Olympics, and pursued a pro-European modernization agenda.
• His tenure also saw moments of tension with Turkey, including near-conflict in 1996 and later diplomatic progress through 'quake diplomacy' following mutual earthquake aid in 1999.
• While widely respected for his reforms, his legacy has been scrutinized due to economic challenges and corruption scandals that emerged after his time in office.