The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos attended the EU Foreign and Defence Ministers Joint session held in Brussels.   

During the session the progress achieved so far was evaluated for the closer defence cooperation of member-states of the European Union.

The Minister stressed that the prerequisite for defending the European Union and its citizens is to establish a protection zone from the Eastern Mediterranean to Gibraltar, with the cooperation of coastal Mediterranean countries, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.
 
He also highlighted the paradox that it is required of t he European Union and NATO to increase their defence expenses and at the same time  the EU Ministers of Finance  are asking for the reduction of defence budgets , especially Greece’s,  up to 30%. He stressed that the prerequisite for the success of the European Defence is to fund various programmes from the Community Budget.
 
Additionally, the Minister suggested the establishment of group of Foreign and Defence Ministers representatives, which will contribute to the swifter and more effective preparation of decisions on European Council Defence matters, to be held in June.