The Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikos Panagiotopoulos attended the Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers on 20 November 2020, held through teleconference.
During working sessions, the Minister addressed the Threat Analysis, drafted by the EU’s competent authority and pointed out that the first decisive step has been taken, leading to a Strategic Compass, emphasizing that through this procedure a memorandum of the Member States will be effected, regarding the threats the EU and the Member States face, moving on gradually to a common European culture of security and defence.
Mr. Panagiotopoulos invited his counterparts to show strong political will, aiming at a strategic compliance in basic areas, like the reinforcement of operational capability and EU’s resilience, the development of capabilities of the member states and the building up of cooperation among them, for the promotion of EU’s role, not only as a trustworthy security guarantor, capable of safeguarding the stability in the wider region, supporting its partners, but also mainly protecting the territory and the civilians of the Member States against external threats.
The Minister of National Defence stressed in particular the need for solidarity on behalf of the Member States and for developing their defence capabilities, as a prerequisite to achieve EU’s level of ambition, projecting the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) as a “tool” towards this goal. In this context, and in view of PESCO’s Strategic Review, he pointed out the great importance our country attributes to this defence initiative, as well as that all 5 Greek PESCO programs are included in the 26 (million, out of the 47 that currently exist) that are going to achieve Full Operational Capability until 2025. At the same time, he addressed the conclusion of an agreement concerning the sensitive matter of third states’ participation in PESCO programs, an agreement which took under consideration the security interests of all Member States.
Regarding the remaining matters of the Agenda, concerning the current developments, Mr. Panagiotopoulos, on the occasion of the incident of vessel “Royal Diamond 7” and our country’s immediate contribution, pointed out the importance of operation IRINI, inviting the Member States at the same time to participate more actively. In addition, he pointed out the Member States’ common interest to achieve stability in Sahel and reinforce security in the wider region, supporting the gradual reactivation of activities regarding Common Security and Defence Policy in Mali, as an integral part of EU’s regional strategy.
Finally, it is pointed out that before the Meeting, the meeting of the European Defence Agency (EDA) Board of Directors was conducted, during which the Minister stressed that a memorandum achievement regarding defence planning remains a substantial factor for the overcoming of military shortages in the context of the EU, and the reinforcement of defence cooperation of the Member States.
Before that, the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos had participated in the meeting of the Defence Ministers of the European People’s Party (EPP), held through teleconference.
