On the occasion of the presentation of the new “Road Map for Defense Readiness until 2030”, the European Union is attempting to draw up a unified strategy in the field of security.

Vassilis Nedos, diplomat and defense editor of the “Kathimerini” Newspaper, talks to EURANET +’s weekly “Panorama” and to Marianna Pliakostamou, about the opportunities and impasses of European defense cooperation, but also about Greece’s position in a rapidly changing landscape.

The European Union presented this week its “Roadmap for Defense Readiness to 2030”, a plan which, according to European Council President Antonio Costa, should lead to concrete commitments and joint programmes. At the same time, Europe is already on high alert to deal with drones, following repeated airspace violations and growing concerns about hybrid threats.

The challenge for Europe and the role of Greece

Europe is trying to combine its technological readiness with its political cohesion. As Vassilis Nedos explains, “It is still too early to see tangible results. The fact that there is political will and that Europe seems to support a strategy of gradually building a new model of air defense is positive. But the real difficulty is the implementation of policies, that’s where the problem lies.”

He reminds that almost all EU member states are also members of NATO, which is moving in the same direction, looking for cheap and effective solutions. “The big issue is that Europe is trying to deal with very cheap threats, like drones, in a very expensive way. No state in Europe, not even the largest, currently has such solutions. Here, Greece is perhaps slightly ahead, due to its peculiarities in the South-East Mediterranean and the decisions of recent years that have led to the development of systems in the Aegean and on the mainland.”

The discussion, he notes, started from the need to shield the eastern wing against the Russian threat. “I believe that decisions in this direction will be refined and implemented by 2027.”

From theory to practice

The “Road Map for Defense Readiness”, explains Mr. Nedos, can be translated into action, but this requires political agreement. “It must be decided first whether we want an anti-drone protection model that will be primarily European, or whether third countries will be involved, such as the United States or Israel. Greece already cooperates closely with Israel in the field of defense. We will also have to decide whether the European response will be 360 ​​degrees, as the Europeans say, or whether it will initially only concern the eastern wing and then expand.”

Drones, legal loopholes and European preparedness

The drone incidents that led to the temporary closure of airports in Denmark and Germany show that “Europe is not prepared at all.” “Beyond the practical part, there is not even a legal framework to deal with these threats,” points out Mr. Nedos. “We need a system of rules to provide for how threats are dealt with and, secondly, to develop solutions that can be implemented in practice. The technologies exist, are cheap and available to European industry. The question is how Europe will use them.”

Greece, however, maintains reservations in the field of European defense, mainly due to Turkey’s attempt to gain access to European financial instruments.

Can there be a common European defense?

When asked whether European defense cooperation can evolve into something more than simple coordination, Mr. Nedos answers realistically: “The European Union in the field of defense remains an area of ​​minimal agreement — a minimal common point of contact between member states. Each country maintains its national interests and peculiarities. To be able to reach what we call a common European defence, there will have to be a Treaty change or qualified majority decision-making. And this is not something that all member states want.”

He also recalls that the first stage of the “SAFE” program allowed Turkey’s participation in the European Defense Mechanism, based on an “extraordinary procedure” under the standards of the Recovery Fund. “If Europe continues to rely on these kinds of emergency solutions, with a life horizon of a few years, without building a solid institutional foundation, it will not be able to form a real common defense,” emphasizes.

Measured expectations

The new European defense strategy sets ambitious goals, but political differences, economic imbalances and overlaps with NATO threaten to stall progress again.

As Vassilis Nedos concludes: “Europe must move quickly and efficiently. But for now, expectations should remain moderate.”