Brussels: EU Defence Ministers gathered in Brussels for a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, focusing on the current situation in Ukraine and strategies for providing medium and long-term support to the nation. Among the attendees was Cyprus’ Defence Minister, Vasilis Palmas. The discussions aimed to outline the European Union’s commitments to Ukraine’s security and explore ways to expedite support.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Palmas also participated in the European Defence Agency’s Board of Directors’ deliberations and met with Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Robert Kalinak. The Defence Ministers were briefed on Ukraine’s situation, future EU commitments, and methods to provide timely assistance to the country. Discussions included progress on Ukraine’s financing through frozen assets and the G7 loan.
The meeting also covered the European Defence Industrial Strategy and the review of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). Palmas contributed to the approval of the
European Defence Agency’s 2025 budget and the Planning Framework for 2025-2027. The Board of Directors adopted the CARD 2024 Report, highlighting a 31% increase in defence spending since 2021, and signed a declaration of intent in four cooperation areas: Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions, and Combat Surface Vessel.
Palmas signed declarations of intent in all areas, emphasizing the importance for Cyprus, given its proximity to conflict zones. He advocated for collaboration with the European Defence Industry and incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises to develop defence capabilities.
On the sidelines of the Council, Palmas and Kalinak discussed regional issues, including Cyprus’s ongoing division since 1974 due to Turkish occupation, the situation in Ukraine, and potential defence and security collaborations between Cyprus and Slovakia. Cyprus remains divided, with previous UN-led peace talks failing to resolve the issue, the latest in 2017 at Crans-Montana.