Eustratios (Stratos) Charchalakis was born on August 29, 1981 in Athens. His parents were Athanasios Charchalakis (fisherman) from Antikythera and Maria Bikou – Katsanevaki (teacher-theologian) from Hydra and Antikythera. He is married to the philologist Angeliki Sgourou. He received his general education in Athens.
He has studied European Studies (Bachelor, University of Hertfordshire) and European Culture (Bachelor, Hellenic Open University of Patras). His Bachelor’s thesis for the European Studies degree (2002) is about Local Government Organizations in Greece and Europe. He has completed postgraduate studies at the Panteion University specializing in “European Union and Developing Countries” (Second European Chair Jean Monnet, Department of International and European Studies) and at the Department of Geology of the University of Athens with the subject “Environmental Management Strategies”.
He speaks English perfectly, while he has also been taught the Turkish language for a number of years.
He has studied music (European and Byzantine) at the Hellenic Conservatory. In 2005, he was co-founder and General Manager of the Urban Non-Profit Company “Euterpi”, which made a notable presence in the field of tradition and culture, while republishing for a short time the magazine “TRADITION” (first published in 1977) by the late Ioannis Hadjifotis, in which he was Editor-in-Chief. He has the organization and administrative supervision of the publication of the digital CD of Byzantine Music “Stratiotai Iesos Christou” of the “Holy Melodies” cantor dance, which is released by EMI.
Has worked:
A) at the Ministry of Culture (Credit Management Fund for the Execution of Archaeological Projects – TDPEAE) as the administrative officer of the Scientific Committees for the major archaeological projects of Herodion, Knossos, Mystras, Arcadia, Achaia and Nicopolis in Preveza,
B) at the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, as an instructor at the KEK of public Hospitals,
C) to the Municipality of Amaroussi, specifically the European Programs office of the Municipality as well as the Municipal Development Company and the Municipal Communication Company,
D) to the Hellenic Society for Local Development and Self-Government (EETAA) as Advisor to the President in matters of island policy and local self-government,
E) to the Greek Statistical Authority as a private partner.
He also had a very active participation in carrying out various activities of a developmental, social and cultural nature on the island of Antikythera, for a number of years, collaborating with the active Community of the island as early as 1999, when he began his involvement with the communities of Kythera and the Self-Government that continues uninterrupted until today.
He was an active member (Secretary General) of the Youth Association of Kythira “PORPHYRIS” and contributed significantly to the support with books of the Department of Greek Language of the University of Argyrokastro in Albania, as well as to other social and cultural actions.
Since 2010 he has been a regular member of the Domestic Property Committee of Kythera and Antikythera, while in 2012 he was unanimously appointed Deputy President of the Committee. From March 2013 until August 2014, he was President of the Commission, showing remarkable mobility at various levels. He is deeply knowledgeable about the history of the institution and has contributed decisively to its institutional armoring, especially in recent years.
On May 25, 2014 he was elected Mayor of Kythira and Antikythira and assumed his duties on 09/01/2014. He was re-elected on June 2, 2019 with a percentage of 62% for the period 09/01/2019 – 12/31/2023.
In November 2019, he participated in the ballot to nominate members of the Board of Directors. of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (K.E.D.E.) with the faction “MODERN STRONG MUNICIPALITIES” on the side of the President of K.E.D.E. Dimitris Papastergiou (Mayor of Trikkaia and already Minister of Digital Governance).
By decision of the Board of Directors of K.E.D.E. appointed President of the Islands and Political Cohesion Committee of K.E.D.E. for the current municipal term, while he is a member of the Board of Directors. of the Institute of Local Self-Government (ITA) of K.E.D.E. representing the Regional Union of Municipalities of Attica (PEDA). He is also Vice-President of the Tourism Development Committee of PEDA for the period 2019-2023.
Following the proposal of the Government, he is a member of the Greek Delegation to the Committee of the Regions of the European Union for the period 2020-2025.
From 2018 to 2020 he was President of the Program Management Committee (PMC) of the P.E. Municipal Cooperation Network. of the Attica Islands, in the establishment of which he took the lead, for the implementation of the CLLD/LEADER Program and in June 2020 he was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. of the Network of Municipalities of P.E. of the Attica Islands, having contributed to the financing and implementation of dozens of public and private investments in the 8 Municipalities of P.E. Islands through the LEADER and FISHERIES programs.
