Chief of Defense General Michalis Kostarakis was elected this afternoon as the new chairman of European Union Military Committee (EUMC) for the next three years.

This is a great success for Greece, since it is probably the first time that a Greek official takes the helm of a European institution with increased power.

The voting to elect the new chairman took place in Brussels and General Kostarakis prevailed  with 20 of the total 27 votes of the other candidates from Spain and Finland.

Greek Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikos Dendias congratulated the Chief of Defense on his personal  twitter account while in a statement the Minister spoke of ” recognition of our Armed Forces high level ” and expressed  his confidence that General Kostarakis will work productively and effectively to build a new strategy for the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Union.