www.TheSeaNation.gr

Mr. Varvitsiotis was born in Glyfada, Athens in 1969, and is the eldest son of long serving politician Ioannis Varvitsiotis and Sophia Lanara. He graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens and subsequently completed postgraduate studies in International Relations at Harvard University, Cambridge, Ma.

As a lawyer he has been involved in Maritime and Commercial Law in the areas of the Stock Exchange, capital markets and telecommunications.

His political activity began in the Youth Organisation of New Democracy Party O.N.NE.D. In 1997 he was elected member of the Central Committee of New Democracy Party. In 2001-2004 he was made responsible for the Merchant Marine sector and, in 2004-2007, for the development sector of the New Democracy Party. He has also participated in several conferences in Greece and USA on the Balkans and security in the region.

He was elected member of Parliament with the New Democracy Party for the Athens B' precinct in 2000, and has been re-elected to Parliament several times since.

He served as Chairman of the Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs and Defense (2007-2009) and as alternate party lead representative in Parliament (2006-2007). He was also a member of the Standing Committee for Production and Trade and the Environmental Permanent Committee.

He was also a regular member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and of the Western-European Union Assembly (2004-2009).

His most recent government post prior to becoming Minster of Shipping the Aegean, is that of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs which post he has held since 2009 and in which post he was responsible for economic diplomacy and international development assistance.
In addition to his native Greek, he is fluent in English, Italian and French.

GSCC Chairman, Charalambos J. Fafalios, has written to the new minister, Mr. Varvitsiotis, congratulating him on his appointment, pledging the support and co-operation of the our association in his task and outlining the major issues which the GSCC considers to be of current concern to the Greek shipping industry.

Source: http://www.mvarvitsiotis.gr/Default.asp?langID=2