The Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, participated on Friday, 30 August 2024, in the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers that was held in Brussels.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell informed the members of the Council on the latest developments in the Ukraine war. During the Council meeting, the further support of the European Union in Ukraine was discussed, while at the opening of the meeting, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Mr. Rustern Umerov also participated via teleconference.
During the second meeting, with the participation also of the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning Mr. Angus Lapsley, the President of the EU Subcommittee on Security and Defence Ms. Marie Agnes Strack – Zimmermann and the UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix, the Informal Meeting focused on the situation in the Middle East, the operation “ASPIDES” in the Red Sea, the strengthening of the European defence industry and the strengthening of Europe’s defence readiness.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence referred to Greece’s support to Ukraine so far, the contribution of our Country to operation “ASPIDES” and the coordination of the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis with European partners and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman on the safe towage of tanker “MV Sounion”, as well as to the telephone communication between the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikos Dendias and Mr. Josep Borrell on the prevention of an environmental disaster.
Mr. Kefalogiannis stressed the need to support the defence industry and to strengthen the European strategic autonomy, while he stated that to achieve this commitment, the access of the European defence industry – including small and medium-sized enterprises – to sufficient public and private sources of funding is required. Finally, he pointed out that during the previous meeting in March, Greece proposed that a bond be issued and again called on the members to support this.
In the margins of the Meeting, Mr. Kefalogiannis met in private with the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Vassilis Palmas.