Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, who participated on Thursday in the informal meeting of European Union defence ministers, expressed his conviction that a common European Defence is necessary, emphasising the need for funding to achieve it. 

"We need to discuss very seriously which third countries will participate in this European project. Because the third countries that will participate should subscribe to the principles and values of the European Union," Dendias said, adding that "it is inconceivable that countries that threaten EU member states should participate in the European defence architecture in any way. Ultimately, Europe is an alliance and a common existence or coexistence of values, and we must always remember this." 

The main themes of the Council were the ReArm Europe project, the White Paper on European Defence and the situation in Ukraine.
Dendias underlined that discussions on ReArm Europe, but also on the Ukraine issues, are critical. On the European "Readiness 2030" agenda, he said that it coincides with the Greek "Agenda 2030". 

"It is critical to discuss joint initiatives. Greece, together with Poland, has proposed the creation of a European Protection Vault," he noted