The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos made the following intervention at the EU Defence Ministers Meeting in Brussels:
“Due to the variety in regions, as well as in areas of action, of EU’s missions and operations in the context of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), we managed to obtain valuable experience. However, we recognise that it is necessary to constantly enhance and exploit the possibilities we have in the area of defence and security to that effect.
One of our greatest accomplishments is the conduct of CSDP operations at the Horn of Africa, where we successfully assumed action against piracy. Even though a relative stability and security in the area has been established, we believe that we should preserve our presence there. A possible resurgence of piracy, given the fact that the true reasons for its manifestation have not yet completely disappeared, will have unfortunate in areas such as the transit trade, energy security and, ultimately, European economy. We should preserve Europe’s Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) open.
As far as the EUFOR ALTHEA operation is concerned, before rethinking the way we act, we should assess the situation in the broader region of the Balkans, particularly after the recent events.
Taking advantage of NATO’s Secretary General presence here, I would like to underline that the two organizations should cooperate at political level, aiming at confining extremism, fundamentalism, irredentism and nationalistic ideas who destabilize the Balkan area.
Moreover, beyond the external factors, including the jihadist fighters who return from the Middle East, it is obvious that certain circles inside the countries but also in the surrounding areas encourage the destabilizing actions.
According to my point of view, the next nightmare for Europe will be:
1. Terrorism of Jihadists who is already forming within the European family and demand immediate solution.
2. Human trafficking from North Africa and the Middle East towards the European area and especially the South countries of the European Union. I underline that on the other side of the Aegean, 3.5 million immigrants are waiting.
3. The possible exploitation of real or imaginary minorities by third parties”.
