Press Release
Diaspora Civic Duty Program Incorporated into Greece’s New Armed Forces Law
Contact: Theodora Kachrimanidi
Email: media@deonpolicy.org
Boston, February 3, 2026 — Deon Policy Institute is proud to announce that its proposal for the introduction of a Diaspora Civic Duty Program has been incorporated into the latest Armed Forces Law (Law 5265/2026: Roadmap for the Transition of the Armed Forces to a New Era) passed last month. The inclusion marks a significant milestone in redefining national service for a global Hellenic population and reflects growing recognition of the Diaspora as a strategic national asset.
The proposal originated as an idea by Georgios Laskaris, President of Deon Policy Institute, was refined with the contribution of Symeon Tegos, Consul General of Greece in Boston, and was developed and detailed by Afroditi Xydi, Executive Director of Deon Policy Institute, and Aristotle Vossos, Deon Contributor and Research Fellow at 10a Labs.
The Deon Diaspora Civic Duty Program was designed to allow Greek male citizens living abroad to fulfill their service obligation by contributing their professional expertise to the Greek state from their country of permanent residence. Deon’s proposal envisioned three service tracks:
High-Specialization Service (Ministry of National Defence): Project-based service supporting defence technology, cybersecurity, research, and strategic or technical advisory work under a dedicated cooperation and IP framework.
Service at Consulates, Embassies, and Consular Authorities: Service supporting diplomatic and consular operations abroad, community engagement, cultural and educational initiatives, and economic or public diplomacy.
Remote Civic Service with Public Bodies: Fully remote, project-driven service with public institutions in areas such as health, education, digital governance, and climate resilience.
“The Diaspora Civic Duty Program opens the door to reconnecting Greeks abroad with their home country and provides a boost to existing efforts such as “Rebrain Greece” that seek to bring the knowledge, skills, and experience of Greeks living abroad, back to Greece”, said Aristotle Vossos.
The new law incorporated core elements of the recommendation.
Under Article 262, paragraph 6, enlisted personnel may be assigned or transferred to complete the remainder of their military service in Defence Attaché Offices at Greek Embassies abroad, formally enabling service while residing overseas. This is equivalent to track 1 as identified by Deon Policy Institute.
According to the new law, Article 193 defines eligible participants as permanent residents abroad, meaning individuals who resided abroad continuously between the ages of 16 and 18. It is worth clarifying that, although the law includes transitional provisions for permanent residents abroad under Article 242 (paragraphs 9 and 10)—covering individuals who already hold this status or are expected to acquire it by the end of 2028—these individuals are not included within the scope of the Diaspora Civic Duty provisions as currently defined.
“The Diaspora Civic Duty Program has the potential to reinforce national bonds, enable meaningful contribution, build a stronger diaspora community and remove barriers to repatriation by creating structured, purpose-driven pathways for Greeks abroad to engage with the Greek state.” said Georgios Laskaris. “We hope to see it achieve its full potential” he continued.
Georgios Laskaris
About Deon Policy Institute
Founded in 2023 by young Greeks from the Diaspora, the Deon Policy Institute is an independent think tank aiming to become the bridge between the Hellenic Diaspora and Greek policymakers through rigorous research and evidence-based policy proposals.