The European Commission characterizes as a “normal procedure” within the framework of evaluating national programs of the SAFE mechanism, a letter sent to Greece requesting the resubmission of the Greek plan for strengthening European defense. Responding today to a related question, the Commission’s spokesperson for defense matters, Thomas Renier, explained that “when the Commission has questions regarding a national plan, as is the case with Greece, it addresses the national authorities to request clarifications. This constitutes an absolutely normal procedure.” He avoided giving more details, noting that these are “extremely sensitive” defense investments, but emphasized that “no national plan has been rejected.”
Commission: The Committee examines whether national plans comply with regulation criteria
When asked whether a delay is expected in evaluating the Greek plan and, consequently, in the first disbursement of 15% of approved loans, Renier responded that “it is still too early to talk about delays.” As he mentioned, the Commission examines whether national plans comply with regulation criteria, such as: participation of at least three countries, the Commission’s provisional allocations, and the purely defensive nature of investments. “For this reason we conduct bilateral discussions with member states. I will not quantify the issues identified in the plans. This is a routine procedure,” he noted. It is recalled that on September 9, the Commission approved the provisional allocation of SAFE funds, totaling 150 billion euros. For Greece, an amount of 787.67 million euros was approved, compared to the 1.2 billion euros it had requested at the end of July. On December 1, the Commission confirmed it had received 19 national investment plans, including the Greek one, and announced that their analysis and evaluation would last throughout December – possibly longer. If there is a positive evaluation, the Commission will request EU Council approval for each national plan, so the first disbursement can proceed.
It is noted that the Big Mouth column of powergame.gr had first revealed the Commission’s letter to the Ministry of National Defense regarding the obligation for our country to resubmit to the SAFE program a new plan whose cost should not exceed 787 million euros for armament programs. In fact, in response to a parapolitika.gr question, the Pentagon had explained why this happened.
Ministry of National Defense source: “We included all armaments that are high in our hierarchy”
Speaking to parapolitika.gr, a Ministry of National Defense source explained that “this is a negotiation that is open with various deadlines. We included all armaments that are high in our hierarchy, in our prioritization, so that if an issue of non-eligibility of some arises or additional funds are allocated, because some might be cut from other countries, we are ready to utilize them.” According to the same source, “the amount is 2.98 billion euros so we are ready. It is a prudent move because SAFE is still open for various reasons. The amount approved (for Greece) by the European Commission is 787 million euros. The issue for us is to be ready to utilize every opportunity. That’s why our list has beyond the 787 million euros other armament programs in order of hierarchy.”
“For technical reasons the Commission asked us to adapt our proposal”
The unofficial Pentagon source continued telling parapolitika.gr that “for technical reasons the Commission asked us to adapt our proposal. We had done this as a move to declare that we are ready to utilize potential additional reallocation of funds or if for some reason a program is not selected, to proceed to the next one. It’s supplementary. It wasn’t oversight.” And concludes that the Ministry of National Defense’s renewed response will be given within the timeframes, given that the European Commission’s proposal to the European Council is on December 31.
