The City of Adelaide is one step closer to forging a formal Sister City relationship with Athens, after councillors voted unanimously this week to recommend signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Greek capital.
The Municipal Council of the City of Athens has already endorsed the proposed partnership, which was initiated by the Hellenic Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) South Australia Chapter on behalf of the state’s large Greek community.
This comes as Australian Parliamentarian and Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas MP, recently met with the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, at the Athens Municipal Mayoral office on Saturday, July 19, to discuss the Sister City concept between Adelaide and Athens.
Mr Georganas conveyed best wishes from the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith AM, and members of the Adelaide City Council, while briefing the Mayor of Athens on the strong enthusiasm for the proposal among Adelaide residents.
The discussion centred on the next steps toward establishing the Sister City relationship, with both councils already working on a draft MOU.
“There are enormous benefits to both Athens and Adelaide in strengthening the bond between our two cities, such as the people-to-people ties, business opportunities, educational opportunities, tourism and cultural ties,” Mr Georganas said.
The timing is also significant, with Adelaide the preferred host city for the 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in November 2026, pending a final decision. Mayor Doukas indicated he would consider attending the conference if the bid succeeds, highlighting the environmental and sustainability priorities both cities share.
Mr Georganas concluded by reflecting on the symbolic significance of the relationship: “The late Premier of South Australia, Don Dunstan, famously coined the phrase that Adelaide was the ‘Athens of the South’. It is fitting that our two cities, Adelaide and Athens, who have been intertwined for many years now, formalise this great relationship.”
The matter will return to the Adelaide City Council chamber for further discussion and a final decision next week.
