National Guard chief calls for comprehensive European defence readiness

Rome, Italy. National Guard chief Lieutenant-General Emmanouel Theodorou said European defence readiness requires a comprehensive approach that considers challenges across all strategic regions directly affecting Europe’s security.

He made the remarks at the second European Chiefs of Defence and National Armaments Directors conference, held in Rome on September 21 and 22.

Conference discussions

According to the National Guard, the conference examined how European defence industrial production can adapt to changing defence requirements among member states.

Military chiefs discussed lessons from modern conflicts, capability requirements and whether Europe’s defence industry can meet those needs.

Readiness and capabilities

Theodorou said the new security environment requires reducing the time between the design and production of defence systems and their operational deployment.

He said modern defence capabilities must be adaptable and interoperable. European readiness, he added, should not focus narrowly on individual areas but must address challenges across the strategic regions directly affecting European security.

EU defence investment plans

The comments come as the European Union seeks to accelerate defence investment and expand joint procurement through its Readiness 2030 plans.

A European Commission spokesperson told the Cyprus Mail that the €150 billion Security Action for Europe, known as Safe, is intended to allow member states to jointly procure defence capabilities, mainly ammunition, missiles, air defence and ground combat systems.

Safe is part of the Commission’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to mobilise more than €800 billion in defence investment across the bloc.

“Joint procurement ensures interoperability and predictability, reduces costs, and creates the scale needed to strengthen the European defence industrial base,” the spokesperson said, adding that it also supports European competitiveness and industry.

The spokesperson said Safe was designed to enable “swift, coordinated action”, improve the capacity of European armed forces to operate together and strengthen Europe’s defence industry.