By Gifts Antoniou

The first step in shaping an up -to -date coherent strategy on the issue of domestic defense industry was, according to sources by the Grand Maximus, the meeting held yesterday under the prime minister, with the participation of representatives of the Greek Defense Industry. The aim is to claim Greek companies with claims by the common European Defense Program Rearm Europe, but also to actively participate in the National Equipment Program, which has been developing in a 12 -year depth and is one of the largest in recent decades. The message of yesterday’s meeting was that the government wishes to support the domestic defense industry both in relation to the equipment programs it launches and in the context of the EU’s joint defense planning.

At yesterday’s meeting, according to the same sources, Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to the data currently set at the European Union’s level regarding the single defense policy and the priority given to the strengthening of European defense through a large equipment program. It is estimated that in its final form it can reach up to € 800 billion, of which 150 billion relate to the lending program for large, joint equipment programs, and the rest of the budgets of the Member States.

The meeting aimed to make a reflection of the data on the potential of the domestic defense industry, so that these data can be used in the discussions and negotiations that will be done at the EU level, as an important aspect of the European Defense Program is the aim of supporting European businesses. According to a government source, the representatives of the industry have been given the opportunity to sit around the same table, as in a highly competitive field one of the important challenges for the domestic industry to claim a share of the programs that will begin to be implemented, are to overcome competitions. Co -production with other European companies, in order to undertake parts of the equipment programs to be implemented.

Thus, after the prime minister’s placement and his notes on the data currently available and the way the procedures are expected to move, the representatives of the companies have presented their infrastructure, their capabilities and the project that each of them implemented, cooperation with progress, contracts, etc.

On the government’s side, the intention has been expressed in the equipment programs and contracts concluded for equipment supplies from abroad, there is a forecast of for compulsory Greek participation in 25%.

The data that is being shaped open an important window of opportunity, as recognized at yesterday’s meeting by the industry. It is no coincidence that even new investment in facilities and technology has been expressed that will allow the domestic industry to enter into co -productions with greater claims. A special parameter discussed yesterday and concerns not only the domestic equipment program but also the European defense spending, it concerns the dual nature systems, which can be used not only for defense but also for civil protection and security, such as early risk recognition and warning systems.

At the meeting under the prime minister, the Deputy Prime Minister participated on the government’s side. Kostis Hatzidakisthe relevant Ministers of National Defense Nikos DendiasCitizen Protection Michalis ChrysochoidisShipping and island policy Vassilis KikiliasDigital governance Dimitris PapastergiouClimate crisis and civil protection Giannis Kefalogiannis and the Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor Thanos Dokos.