The Ministry of Defence will convene the Cyprus Defence Industry Council in the coming days to finalise the national action plan for the EU’s SAFE financial instrument, defence capability development and armament director Panayiotis Hadjipavlis told CNA in an interview on Sunday.
The council, chaired by Defence Minister Vassilis Palmas, will hold an extraordinary meeting to review the ministry’s progress and make final recommendations ahead of the plan’s submission to the European Commission by November 30.
30 Cypriot companies
Since June, the ministry has been systematically preparing the SAFE investment plan, aiming to include Cypriot defence and technology companies wherever possible. The council brings together key stakeholders, including the presidents of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve), the Employers and Industrialists Federation (Oev), and the Cyprus Defence Industry Association.
Hadjipavlis said around 30 Cypriot companies are currently active in the defence sector, with growing interest from firms producing dual-use technologies. Several companies are already part of European Defence Fund consortia, placing Cyprus seventh in Europe for successful funding bids.
Strengthening international ties
The ministry has been co-organising events with foreign partners to boost cooperation between Cypriot and international defence companies. Upcoming activities involve the UK Ministry of Defence and the embassies of France and Poland, focusing on joint research, technology development, and procurement.
A European Defence Agency (EDA) team visited Cyprus on October 23-24 to explore new cooperation opportunities. Hadjipavlis described relations with the EDA as excellent, noting that Cyprus is one of the agency’s strongest supporters within the EU framework.
On November 10, a demonstration of two completed projects under the Athena defence research programme will take place at a National Guard base. Projects include an anti-drone system and a situational awareness platform to assist battlefield decision-making.
Two new initiatives, Athena 2 and Athena Plus, are planned for 2026 to build on these developments.
Strategic planning
The ministry will also participate in an even organized by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Embassy of France in Cyprus, in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Research and Innovation, regarding modern technologies and dual-use products.
Hadjipavlis added there will be an event held in collaboration with the British Ministry of Defence at the Cyprus High Commission in London, with the participation of the two Ministries and the Defence Industry Associations of the United Kingdom and Cyprus, with the aim of creating the necessary networking and contact.
Another event with the cooperation of Polish Embassy will focus on cybersecurity and cyber defense.
The ministry is also developing a comprehensive toolkit for the Cypriot defence industry, including a national strategy, action plan, legislative updates, and an updated industry registry. Cyprus has received €500,000 in EU funding to support this work, he specified.
CNA