On 15 October, former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt received an honorary doctorate of the University of Athens from the Law Faculty’s President and Dean, during a ceremony in the city hall of Hamburg, Germany. He was awarded the honorary doctorate as an acknowledgement of his important role in promoting European integration.

Schmidt, a Social Democratic (SPD) politician, served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. While in office, he focused on international affairs, seeking "political unification of Europe."