The Defence and Security Academy of the Ministry of Defence, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Ministry of Defence of Austria have organized the “European Armaments Cooperation (EAC) Course” under the auspices of the European Security and Defence College.

According to an announcement by the Ministry, the purpose of the course, held in Larnaca from November 6 to 10, 2023, is to strengthen the understanding and awareness of the participants regarding the practices and benefits of the joint supply of armament systems and, more broadly, of the joint development of defence capabilities.

With the contribution of leading European experts, there will be an analysis of the institutional framework, tools and processes already in place or planned at the European level, with the aim of mobilizing those responsible to support more and closer collaborations in the field of armaments.

The course is attended by 29 officials of national or international organizations related to the field of armaments from 12 countries (Cyprus, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland and Slovakia).

At the opening ceremony of the course, the Director of General Procurement and Defence Capabilities Development of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Panagiotis Chatzipavlis, and the Ambassador of Austria in Cyprus, Dorothea Auer, gave an address in the presence of ambassadors and accredited diplomats in the Republic of Cyprus.

The closing ceremony will be addressed by the Director of the Staff Brigadier General Haris Georgiou, on behalf of the Minister of Defence, Michalis Giorgallas, and by the Ambassador of Austria in Cyprus, Dorothea Auer.

On the last day of the seminar, the participants who will successfully complete the course will be given certificates signed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell.

At this point, it should be pointed out that the President of the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises (CARIE), Mr. Tasos Kounoudis, presented the achievements of the Cyprus Defence Industry Cluster to European experts in the field of armament cooperation.

Also read: CARIE | Participation in the European Network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR)