The need for the European Union to understand the contemporary challenges coming from the South was highlighted by Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias during his participation in today’s meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, in its Defence Ministers’ configuration (FAC-Defence). Mr Dendias also raised the issue of mobilising the relevant resources, while holding a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts.

Specifically, the main issues discussed by the Defence Ministers were tackling hybrid threats, the situation in the Middle East and its implications for European security, as well as developments in Ukraine.

At today’s meeting, the Council also approved European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI) aimed at strengthening Europe’s defence readiness.

Upon arriving at the FAC-Defence meeting, Mr Dendias made the following statement:

“Today, at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council (FAC – Defence), in addition to the usual issue of Ukraine, we will also discuss the challenges facing the European Union, our European family, from the South. The crises in Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and, generally, in the wider Middle East region.

“I would like to say that Greece, for its part, has consistently done everything it can to raise the European Union’s awareness of the problems we face from the southern side as well, and has also been participating for years in Operation ‘Irini’ and Operation ‘Aspides’.

“It is therefore time for the European Union to fully understand that the challenges do not come only from the North, but also from the South. And to provide the necessary resources required to implement the 360-degree policy that we have been advocating for many years.”

On the sidelines of the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, Mr Dendias met with the Minister of Defence of the Italian Republic, Guido Crosetto, with whom he discussed the common course of Greece and Italy on critical issues concerning the European defence and security architecture. They also agreed on the need for all other EU member states, in addition to Greece, Italy and France, to contribute to Operation “Aspides”.

The Greek Minister also met with the Dutch Minister of Defence, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, with whom he discussed geopolitical risks and security challenges, as well as strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.

Mr Dendias also held a brief meeting with Portugal’s Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo. Following their meeting in Lisbon, they discussed the Portuguese Minister’s visit to Athens.

It should be noted that Mr Dendias will take part in a discussion in Brussels on Military Mobility, as part of the “Connecting Europe Days” event. The discussion will also be attended by Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, Romanian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Acting Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Radu-Dinel Miruță, and Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Military Mobility Roberts Zīle.