The First Balkan Geophysical Congress took place in Athens between 23-27 September 1996. 282 oral and poster papers have been presented related to the applied geophysics, solid earth and space geophysics, earthquake seismology, instrumentation and case histories. 381 individuals from 33 countries have been officially registered in the congress. Two round tables (Earthquake Prediction and Environmental Protection) and a managerial session (New Frontiers of Hydrocarbon Exploration and Exploitation in South-Eastern European Countries ) were organized. An interesting workshop on Seismic Imaging and Reservoir Characterization was held in the second day of the congress. The latest technologies on the instrumentation and services were demonstrated in the technical exhibition area by 17 companies from all over the world.