The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tassos Chatzivasileiou makes it clear that the EU excludes from defense funding countries that threaten member states and do not align with the Common European Defense.
In a particularly strict and politically charged context for the future of European defense, the issue of access to the financial instruments of the European Union is back in the spotlight, with Deputy Foreign Minister Tassos Hatzivassiliou clearly stating his support for a framework of sanctions against states that challenge or threaten the security of member states. On the sidelines of the Athens Defense Conference, the Greek official highlighted as a central theme the need for the European defense architecture to be based on shared values, strategic convergence, and full respect for international law, directly linking the allocation of funds to the political and geopolitical behavior of third countries.
“Access to the SAFE tool is out of the question, or to the other defense instruments of the European Union, for those who illegally possess or threaten any EU member state,” stressed, among other things, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tassos Hatzivassiliou during his discussion with journalist Dimitra Kroustalli, as part of the Athens Defense Conference.
The Context
Mr. Hatzivassiliou pointed out that Greece says “yes” to cooperation with countries that share common values, common security interests, and a similar strategic orientation, as well as countries that align with the principles of the Common Foreign and Security Policy: “We want partners who are in step with European security principles and respect the priorities we have jointly set,” he said. He recalled, however, the Prime Minister’s public statement that as long as Turkey maintains a casus belli against Greece and continues to illegally occupy the territory of an EU member state, it cannot claim funds from the European defense budget.
Mr. Hatzivassiliou was also asked about the priorities of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027. As he noted, in the area of security and defense, Greece will seek to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the European defense industry, establish a strong single market for defense, stimulating public and private investment, and developing specialized human resources. Furthermore, he emphasized support for the domestic defense industry, noting that the government actively supports research and innovation in the defense sector, for example through the Hellenic Defense Innovation Center of the Ministry of National Defense. Finally, he emphasized the importance of maritime security as a distinct thematic priority of the Greek Presidency: “Greece, as a leading power in commercial shipping, places emphasis on the safety of navigation, based on respect for international law and international treaties, including UNCLOS,” he said, while also recalling the important initiatives undertaken by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis at the United Nations regarding maritime security.
