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Cyprus Hosts Workshop on Defence Industry of Small States

Published January 20, 2026, 18:10
Cyprus Hosts Workshop on Defence Industry of Small States

The Cypriot Ministry of Defence hosted a workshop in Brussels, as part of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, on the defence industry of small states. The workshop highlighted the disproportionately important role that small states can play in European defence through innovation, flexibility, and the development of specialized technological solutions. The workshop was attended by Military Representatives from EU member states, as well as representatives from the EU's institutional bodies. The keynote speaker was Dr. Panagiotis Chatzipavlis, Director of Equipment and Development of Defence Capabilities at the Ministry of Defence. Dr. Chatzipavlis developed the strategic value of small states and SMEs for strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. He emphasized the importance of supply chain resilience, cross-border industrial cooperation, and the link between operational needs and defence research and development. The workshop is part of the overall effort of the Cypriot Presidency to strengthen European defence readiness, strategic autonomy, and the industrial resilience of the EU, while also supporting the development of the Cypriot defence ecosystem.