N. Panagiotopoulos: Top protection of the EU should be the protection of its borders

The EU Strategic Compass, recent developments in EUFOR ALTHEA, military mobility, permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) and EU training missions were the main topics discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council. and EU Defense that took place yesterday and today in Brussels, where Greece was represented by the Minister of National Defense, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos.

In his speech, N. Panagiotopoulos referred to the final phase of instrumentalization of migratory flows by air to Europe, which are faced by Poland, Lithuania and Latvia on the land border with Belarus, similar to the one faced by Greece. on the land border with Turkey in March 2020. He stressed that these actions, which violate the EU border, are unacceptable and promote the geopolitical aspirations and financial interests of their organizers. Dealing with them effectively must be a top priority for the EU and an expression of solidarity with its Member States.

Regarding the Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP), N. Panagiotopoulos underlined that the Eastern Mediterranean, as a Maritime Area of ​​Interest (MAI), located in the immediate neighborhood of the EU, where interests for Member States and there are challenges and threats to security and stability, must be a strategic priority for the EU.

In addition, a working lunch was held with the participation of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU-NATO cooperation was discussed. In this meeting, N. Panagiotopoulos pointed out that the productive cooperation of the EU is necessary. – NATO, based on the principles of inclusion, transparency, reciprocity and respect for the autonomy of the two organizations.

Within the council, a series of PESCO programs were approved, which include the Greek-coordinated program “Main Battle Tank – Simulation and Testing Center”.

On the sidelines of the meeting, N. Panagiotopoulos chaired the informal meeting of the Ministers of Defense of the European People’s Party, while he held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Defense of France, Florence Parley and the Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, Pano issues of mutual interest.

Finally, the Minister of National Defense participated today in the work of the Management Board of the European Defense Agency (EDA), where the contribution of the organization was discussed, in terms of promoting innovation in European defense.