The European Defence Agency plays a key role as a central catalyst for defence cooperation, innovation, interoperability and standardisation, Cyprus Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said on Tuesday.
Palmas participated on Tuesday in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Defence Ministers configuration, held in Brussels, where discussions focused on continued EU support for Ukraine, developments in the Middle East and the strengthening of the Union’s defence readiness, a Defence Ministry press release said.
During the first session of the Council, Defence Ministers exchanged views on the European Union’s support to Ukraine, with particular emphasis on strengthening Ukraine’s defence industry and enhancing EU-Ukraine cooperation in the defence sector.
The discussion also covered the EU’s financial and economic assistance to Kyiv through instruments such as the Ukraine Support Loan, the European Peace Facility (EPF) and the SAFE programme.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, participated in the session via videoconference. Ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle East and its implications for European defence and security, focusing on developments affecting maritime security and regional stability.
They were briefed on the outcomes of the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES operation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and exchanged views on initiatives aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on the EU’s defence preparedness and the implementation of the relevant agenda, including efforts to strengthen the European defence industry and the single defence market, as well as the revision of the directive on defence procurement.
At the opening of the session, the President of the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), Michael Johansson, referred to ongoing efforts to increase production capacity in the air defence sector.
Ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council, Ministers also attended a meeting of the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency at Defence Ministers level. During the meeting, ministers were invited to agree on the implementation of the Agency’s first reinforcement measures and on the desired level of ambition for its future role.
In his intervention, Palmas expressed the Republic of Cyprus’ firm support for the work of the Agency and stressed the need for its further strengthening in order to implement the priorities outlined by the European Council.
‘The European Defence Agency plays a key role as a central catalyst for defence cooperation, innovation, interoperability and standardisation,’ Palmas said, underlining the Agency’s contribution to enhancing the military capabilities of EU member states.