SEKPY – the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Materiel Association – successfully hosted a high-profile closed-door meeting of National Defence Industrial Associations (NDIAs) on 7 May 2025, during the international defence exhibition DEFEA 2025, in which SEKPY is a proud co-organizer.
The event brought together senior representatives from Portugal, Austria, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus, Greece, Netherlands, Spain and Czech Republic to advance dialogue at a critical moment for the future of Europe’s defence and security landscape. The meeting also featured the observing participation of the chair of the SME Council of ASD, Mr. Andrea Barbagelata.
The gathering underscored the indispensable role of Europe’s defence industries in upholding peace, security, and strategic autonomy, particularly in the wake of the war in Ukraine. As participants highlighted, the defence sector has evolved from a policy recipient to a core enabler of European resilience and sovereignty.
In this context, the meeting served as a clear and urgent call to adapt the European defence procurement framework in an effort to change the tide against recent procurement trends led by non-European suppliers. Central to the discussion was the need to reform the EU’s defence procurement rules – specifically through pragmatic updates to Directive 2009/81/EC – ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives outlined in the European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS), the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), and the ReArm Europe initiative. These adaptations are deemed essential to reflect the EU’s novel defence posture and status.
Further on, participants stressed the imperative for a unified stance among National Defence Industrial Associations (NDIAs) to effectively articulate the regulatory, financial, and operational challenges confronting the sector. In this light, participants underscored the necessity of allocating additional resources to bolster Europe’s defence industrial capacity—particularly through targeted investment in a highly skilled workforce capable of sustaining innovation and resilience across the entire value chain.
The group also examined strategies to safeguard the competitiveness and continuity of the defence sector, including the adoption of targeted aid and investment support tools as well as financial and human resources. Further on, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was a recurring theme, with participants endorsing the establishment of a dedicated ASD-SME Council to promote fair access to funding, procurement, and innovation opportunities within the European defence ecosystem.
Finally, the importance of strengthening the European Defence Fund (EDF) was highlighted, with calls for increased budget allocations, improved co-funding mechanisms, stronger procurement commitments from Member States, and the promotion of skills development and innovation transition.
Overall, the consensus and priorities shaped during this meeting will serve not only as a foundation for coordinated action in the demanding years to come but also as the starting point of a structured, ongoing dialogue between NDIAs, policymakers, and European institutions. SEKPY, along with its respected counterparts, remains committed to fostering cooperation, representing the Greek defence industry, and contributing actively to Europe’s collective defence preparedness and industrial strength.
