Filenews 21 January 2026
Small states can play a disproportionately important role in European defense, through innovation, flexibility and the development of specialized technological solutions, it was underlined at a workshop organized by the Ministry of Defense in Brussels in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, according to a press release from the Ministry.
As reported, the Ministry of Defence, in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, "successfully" organized a workshop on "The Defence Industry of Small States: The role of small and medium-sized enterprises and their cooperation with the Ministries of Defence".
It is noted that the event took place in Brussels, with the participation of the Military Representatives of the Member States, as well as representatives of the institutions of the European Union.
The keynote speaker was the Director of Armaments and Defense Capabilities Development of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Panagiotis Hadjipavlis, who developed the strategic value of small states and small and medium-sized enterprises to strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, it is reported.
"During the workshop, it was underlined that small states can play a disproportionately important role in European defense, through innovation, flexibility and the development of specialized technological solutions," it states. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of the resilience of supply chains, cross-border industrial cooperation and closer interconnection between the operational needs of the Armed Forces and defence research and development, it is added.
Dr. Hadjipavlis, according to the press release, also presented the dynamic development of Cyprus' defence ecosystem, the recent institutional reforms in the Ministry of Defence, as well as the initiatives to strengthen the domestic defence industry, with an emphasis on areas such as unmanned systems, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced materials.
It is noted that the workshop is part of the overall effort of the Cyprus Presidency to strengthen the European defence readiness, strategic autonomy and industrial resilience of the Union, while at the same time actively supporting the promotion and further development of the Cypriot defence ecosystem.
CNA
