The informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers, which was held on 16 June 2020 through a videoconference, was attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis. The key points of the discussion regarded the strengthening of the EU operational engagement, the next steps to be taken for the defence initiatives and particularly the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), as well as the issue of the financial means to be used for Defence and Security.

In his intervention, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stressed the need of solidarity among the member states of the EU, which is a crucial factor for the maintenance of EU’s strength against the many challenges it faces, and he made a particular reference to the massive and organized movement of migrants towards the Evros frontier, which was incited by Turkey, as well as to the organized misinformation campaign which supported it.

Regarding operational matters, the Deputy Minister of National Defence pointed out the importance of the operation IRINI for the security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, in particular under the present circumstances, as well as the significant contribution of Greece, despite the challenges it faces at national level. At the same time, he criticized Turkey’s intervention in Libya and he pointed out, before the Council of the EU, the need to reinforce IRINI with naval assets, and reminded the role that EU is called on to play in the wider region.

Regarding the defence initiatives, Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis underscored the particular importance Greece attributes to drafting an analysis of common threats estimation, as well as the emphasis that should be given to the reinforcement of the defence capabilities of the member-states. He stressed, in particular, that, in the context of the Review of the Permanent Structured Cooperation, the EU Level of Ambition should not be reduced in any case, but there should be a total implementation of its Global Strategy.