Spyridon Danelis was born in Heraklion. He studied architecture and engineering at the University of Florence. Since 1986, he has worked as a freelancer and researcher.
He speaks Italian and English. He has been active in politics since 1990, assuming several political and social responsibilities. From 1996 to 2000, he served as MP and from 2009 to 2014 as Member of the European Parliament, where he also participated in the Committee of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Committee of Transportation and Tourism.