Three questions for Patrick Pailloux
Président de SEKPY
“Maritime security is a strategic issue for Greece and for Europe”
At Euronaval, Greece is reaffirming its ambitions in the field of naval systems and calling for greater European industrial cooperation. Tassos Rozolis, president of SEKPY, the Hellenic defence industry association, discusses maritime security issues, Greece’s presence at the show and the prospects for cooperation with France and the European Union.
Greece has historically been a seagoing nation. In what way is maritime security now a major strategic issue?
The sea is in the DNA of the Greek people, dating back to Odysseus and even before him. Our geography, our islands and our history have forged a deep bond between us and the sea. Today, the protection of maritime areas is essential. It is no longer just a matter of security on the surface and on maritime routes, but also in relation to underwater infrastructure: telecommunications cables, gas pipelines and other critical equipment. We must develop the capabilities to protect these vital assets: frigates, submarines, USVs and underwater systems. This is a challenge for Greece and for Europe as a whole.
Greece has a strong presence at Euronaval, with 18 companies. What message would you like to convey to your European partners?
Our presence demonstrates the dynamism and competitiveness of the Greek naval defence industry. We wish to promote more concrete European cooperation in the development of naval systems. Positive progress has already been made in R&D thanks to the European Defence Fund (EDF), in which our companies are successfully participating. But it is now time to move on to production. We propose that when two or more European countries decide to jointly develop a naval platform, the European Union should finance this joint effort via the EDF.
Franco-Greek cooperation in the naval sector has taken concrete form through Naval Group’s FDI frigates. How do you intend to build on this momentum?
The FDI frigate programme was a major milestone. We hope that this cooperation will continue and deepen. It is mutually beneficial: Greek companies can integrate into the international supply chains of the major manufacturers, while the latter benefit from the expertise and competitiveness of our innovative companies. We need these close partnerships with major French groups and, more broadly, with our European partners. This is how we will build a genuine European naval defence technological and industrial base.
- Linda Verhaeghe
