“A secure Europe means a secure homeland for every European citizen,” stated Deputy Minister of National Defense, Giannis Kefalogiannis, during his address at the joint session of the Special Standing Committee on European Affairs and the Standing Committees on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, and Production and Trade. He added that “when a member state falls victim to an armed attack on its territory, it means that the entire EU is in a state of legitimate defense.”

“The same, of course, applies when there is a clear threat of armed attack or even war. Even more so when we are faced with the unacceptable reality of an EU candidate country—Turkey—threatening an EU member state, Greece, with casus belli, while simultaneously illegally occupying part of the territory of another EU member state, the Republic of Cyprus,” the Deputy Minister of National Defense emphasized.

According to Mr. Kefalogiannis, “Greece has long been committed to European strategic autonomy.” In this context, the Deputy Minister highlighted that “the proposal in the report for the development of a European air defense shield confirms the already undertaken initiative by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to create a European air defense system capable of addressing pan-European security needs.”

Furthermore, Mr. Kefalogiannis noted that “through the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation (ELKAK), startups as well as companies in the domestic defense industry will have the opportunity to develop their own business plans, directing investments and infrastructure towards the needs of the Hellenic Armed Forces. This will, of course, add value to relevant European intergovernmental research and development cooperation programs and, consequently, contribute to strengthening European defense autonomy.”

It should be noted that the agenda of the meeting included the review of a report by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, titled “Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Political and Military Readiness and Preparedness.” This report, commissioned by the European Commission, assesses the challenges facing the European Union and its member states within an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape, while also proposing ways to enhance political and military readiness across Europe.