Στην
ετήσια συνεδρίαση του Ευρωπαϊκού Οργανισμού Άμυνας (EDA)που διεξήχθη
στις Βρυξέλλες, συμμετείχε ο Πρόεδρος του ΣΕΚΠΥ, Tάσος Ροζολής,
εκπροσωπώντας την Ελληνική Αμυντική Βιομηχανία.
Στην
τοποθέτησή του ζήτησε να υπάρξει Ενιαία Ευρωπαϊκή Βιομηχανική
Στρατηγική η οποία και να χρηματοδοτηθεί από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, ώστε η
Ευρωπαϊκή Αμυντική Βιομηχανία και ειδικότερα οι μικρομεσαίες εταιρείες
των μικρότερων Χωρών Μελών, να οδηγηθούν σε ανάπτυξη προς όφελος της
Ευρωπαϊκής Άμυνας και Οικονομίας.
The
second part of the European Defence Agency (EDA) Annual Conference held
on 16 November 2015 was built around a question on research
opportunities at the EU level.
Prior
to the fruitful discussions on various aspects of research and the
“dual-use” concept, the floor was taken by Mr Conrad Bruch, Director of
Defence at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg,
who represented Etienne Schneider, Vice-Minister, Minister of Economy
& Minister of Minister of Defence: “We welcome work on a global
strategy that will encompass all the tools at our disposal to create a
stronger and more secure Europe,” he said and continued: “We need to become more effective in facing crisis, we have the right tools and structures at our disposal,” he said, also mentioning the role of the European Defence Agency.
Special addresses
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, and Federica Mogherini, Head of the European Defence Agency, High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, marked their presence during the conference and delivered special addresses. “We cannot afford to act without a rational strategy and a vision what we want to achieve and how we want to get there,” said
Federica Mogherini about the upcoming global strategy, stating that
defence and security will be part of each chapter. High Representative
also emphasised the European Defence Agency’s achievements in terms of
capability development.
A
common element of speeches of both Federica Mogherini and Jens
Stoltenberg was the focus placed on the EU-NATO complementarity and
partnership in facing common challenges. As NATO Secretary General
stated: “European security is interconnected”. He also emphasised that determination for closer cooperation is on both sides: “it is not something we should do but something we must do.”
Roundtable 2 „New research opportunities at EU level: a game changer for the industry?”
The discussions of the second roundtable were steered by Michel Barnier, Special Adviser to the European Commission President on defence matters, Antoine Bouvier, President & Chief Executive Officer of MBDA Millie Systems, Ana Gomes, Member of the European Parliament and Tassos
Rozolis, Chief Executive Officer of AKMON and Chairman of the Hellenic
Manufacturers of Defence and Security Material Association.
The speakers
were especially referring to the reduced funding of European defence
research as well as the Preparatory Action, which is expected to include
financing defence research by the EU budget for the first time in
history.
“No Member State has the means to ensure the full capability spectrum,” admitted Michel Barnier.
Antoine Bouvier drew attention to the need of identifying the level of ambition and “set a new dynamics in Research & Technology”.
Also Ana Gomes stated there is a need for political will that will be translated into concrete programs.
Tassos Rozolis called for an industrial strategy so that “the industry knows where it should go” and underlined the importance of practical implications of the programmes that shall lead to procurements.
