The Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos participated today, Tuesday 15 November 2022, in the EU’s Foreign Affairs-Defence ministerial meeting, held in Brussels.

The Minister underlined that the current circumstances and security environment ask today, more than ever, for full utilization of European initiatives, regarding the cooperation in the production and common defence capabilities supply, in a way that will ensure the security interests of the EU m-s, decisively contribute to the enhancement of European security and defence, and will have a positive impact on European strategic autonomy and the enhancement of national defence industries of the EU m-s.

He also underlined the active Greek participation in sending Military Assistance to Ukraine, so that their Armed Forces will be reinforced, to defend their territorial integrity and sovereignty, and to tackle Russian revisionism.

He also highlighted the importance of the European Peace Facility (EPF), regarding the immediate and essential support of Ukraine for the supply – based on specific criteria – of defence materiel, as well as the need for geographical balance in the activities funded by the Facility.

Regarding EU’s activity in Africa, he underlined Niger’s positive role, being a democratic country, and its contribution to tackling security challenges in the area; he also asked that this country’s efforts be supported, in order to face terrorism, and control migratory flows.

At the discussion on Ukraine, also attended via VTC by the Ukrainian Defence Minister Mr. Oleksii Reznikov, and NATO General Secretary Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, the Minister reiterated Greece’s full support to Ukraine’s just war, and repeated the need to carry on giving all possible assistance and defence equipment.