Theofilos Zafeirakos

Personal details:

Dr. Theofilos I. ZAFEIRAKOS, Born in 1978, in Athens. Head of the D3 Directorate for Council of Europe, United Nations Human Rights, Minorities, Migrations and Refugees.

Professional Career:

  • October 2023 to date: MFA, Head of the D3 Directorate for Council of Europe, United Nations Human Rights, Minorities, Migrations and Refugees.

  • 2017 - September 2023:  MFA, A1 Directorate for Political Affairs with EU Countries, Head of the Department for the Bilateral Affairs of Greece with United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Vatican, Malta, Netherlands.

  • 2011 – 2017: Permanent Representation of Greece to the Council of Europe (Strasbourg), Head of the Department for Group of Experts for Human Rights, Minorities, Legal Cases of Greece to the European Court of Human Rights, Interstate Case of Cyprus vs Turkey, CoE Budget, ECRI, GRECO, GRETA, etc.

  • 2009-2011: MFA, D3 Directorate for Council of Europe and OSCE, Head of the Department for Council of Europe.

  • 2007 – 2009: Embassy of Greece in Vienna and Permanent Representation of Greece to the U.N. in Vienna and to the other International Organizations. Secretary of Embassy and Consul of Greece in Vienna. Desk Officer for bilateral affairs, balkan issues, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), COPUOS, UNCITRAL.  

  • 2004- 2007: Embassy of Greece in New Delhi. Deputy Head of Mission and Consul of Greece. Parallel accreditation to Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Boutan.

  • 2004: MFA, Deputy Spokesman in the Information Department.

  • 2003: Desk Officer to the Secretary General for International Economic Relations.

  • 2002-2003: Diplomatic Academy of the MFA – Presidency of the EU Council by Greece.

Education:

  • 1989-1995: Varvakeio Higher Experimental School of Athens-Psychiko, High School and Lycium

  • 1995-1998: National Copodistrian University of Athens, Legal Faculty

  • 1999-2001: Military Service, Higher Ranking Officer, Artillery Fire Brigade, Mytilini island, Special Forces training Polihnitos Mytilini island.

  • 2001-2002: Biennial Post Graduate Studies in Panteion University in International Relations and Strategic War Studies.

  • 2003: Scholarship of National Institute for Scholarships (IKY) for highest average grade in Post Graduate Programs in Greece.

  • 2010 -2016: Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, in University of Manchester, United Kingdom, Legal and International Affairs.

  • Foreign Language skills: English, French, Italian, Spanich, Turkish. Russian beginners level. National Copodistrian University of Athens’ Certificate for Legal Documents Falsification. U.N. Certificate for Negotiation tactics.