of improving coordination, reinforcing collaboration
and maximizing the utilization of the production
potential of our companies, also includes the
reconsideration of the legal framework on defence
material procurements, which transposed EU
Directive 2009/81/EC (on the coordination of pro-
cedures for the award of certain works contracts,
supply contracts and service contracts by contract-
ing authorities or entities in the fields of defence
and security) into our national legislation.
The revision of that law is planned in a manner
that safeguards the vital security interests of the
country, in the context of the provisions of article
346 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union, which stipulates that any mem-
ber state of the EU can take any measure
deemed necessary for protecting its vital interests
and its security, and in regard to the production or
trading of arms, munitions and defence material.
This was recently corroborated by the President
of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Konstantinos Michalos, who not only
pointed at the negative impact this law could have
on the indigenous Defence Industry, but also
stressed that, although Greece is one of the most
important buyers of Defence material in Europe, it
has the obligation to reclaim its negotiation power
and claim back the rights on behalf of the nation-
al Defence Industry, a thesis that we wholeheart-
edly agree with.
Our immediate priorities are:
● to develop the non-productive assets of our
companies, which will include among others,
the unification of production lines, the abolish-
ment of veiled activities, the assurance of jobs
and the coverage of known shortages in highly-
skilled personnel.
● to explore all possibilities, on the European and
international level, for contracting transnation-
al agreements regarding defence products and
services that will boost the viability prospects
of our indigenous Defence Industry. For this
purpose, in collaboration with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, we integrate military diplomacy
in our planning, using our country’s embassies
all over the world.
● to reinforce research and innovation in the
defence sector; to affiliate all Research
Centres of the Hellenic Armed Forces under a
single national carrier, which will network with
domestic and foreign defence industries, uni-
versities and R&D centres, as well as the
Military Academies and Military Schools of the
Armed Forces.
Concluding, I would once again like to point out
that, the political will of the government of
SYRIZA and the Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras,
would not be enough to change the development
path that we are planning for Greece, as the only
prospect of escaping the economic crisis (which
causes suffering and misery to the Greek people)
is to face difficulties with dignity and abnegation.
My daily interaction with the personnel of the
Armed Forces assures me that my judgment is
right, and allows me to declare that the greatest
asset of this place is its human resources: worthy,
capable, highly experienced professionals, with a
great sense of responsibility.
Trade with Greece
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